Multi-location measurements of greenhouse gases and emission rates of methane and ammonia from a naturally-ventilated barn for dairy cows

• Published in: Biosystems engineering Vol. 103; no. 1; pp. 68 - 77
• Main Authors: Ngwabie, N.M., Jeppsson, K.-H., Nimmermark, S., Swensson, C., Gustafsson, G.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 2009; Elsevier
• Subjects: Agricultural machinery and engineering; Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; air pollution; ammonia; Animal and Dairy Science; Animal productions; barns; Biological and medical sciences; carbon dioxide; cattle housing; dairy cows; dairy manure; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; gas emissions; Generalities. Biometrics, experimentation. Remote sensing; grazing; greenhouse gases; Holstein; Husdjursvetenskap; indoor environmental quality; methane; milk production; natural ventilation; nitrous oxide; spring; Terrestrial animal productions; Vertebrates; Veterinary Science; Veterinärmedicin; winter; Sweden; Denmark; Methane; Bioengineering; Herbivorous; Barn; Ruminant animal; Dairy cattle; Nitrogen compounds; Emission; Ox; Inorganic element; Engineering; Saturated aliphatic compound; Greenhouse gas; Alkane; Female; Agriculture; Ungulata; Organic compounds; Macronutrient(mineral); Dairy animal; Farming animal; Aliphatic compound; Cow; Natural ventilation; Ammonia; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Inorganic nitrogen; Artiodactyla
• ISSN: 1537-5110; 1537-5129; 1537-5129
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biosystemseng.2009.02.004

Measurements of the gaseous emissions in livestock buildings are important as these pollutants may affect the health of farmers and the surrounding environment. Emission monitoring enables judgements on the effectiveness of mitigation strategies and controls on emission targets. The concentrations of CH 4, N 2O, NH 3 and CO 2 were measured in a naturally-ventilated dairy cattle building using a photoacoustic multi-gas analyser 1412 and a multiplexer 1309 (Lumasense Technologies SA, Ballerup, Denmark). The building had 164–195 Holstein dairy cows. The milk production was 31–33 kg cow −1 d −1. Manure gutters beneath the partially slatted floor in the building were scraped twice a day. Measurements took place during the winter when the cows were permanently indoors and during 1 week in the spring when the cows were indoors at night and outside grazing during the daytime. The indoor concentrations were measured at nine evenly distributed locations, while outdoor concentrations were measured at two locations. The mean ventilation rate in winter was 250–265 m 3 LU −1 h −1 and in spring, it was 401 m 3 LU −1 h −1. The emissions of NH 3 and CH 4 were in the range of 0.89–1.13 and 9–13 g LU −1 h −1, respectively. A strong positive correlation was found between enhanced CO 2 and CH 4 concentrations.