Research Article Open Access

Implications of Intensive Spatial Sampling of Broiler Litter: Characteristics and Gaseous Emissions

Authors

CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Dana M. Miles
USDA-ARS, Genetics and Sustainable Agriculture Research Unit, 810 Hwy 12 East, Mississippi State, MS 39762, USA
|
Dennis E. Rowe
Department of Experimental Statistics, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS 39762, USA
|
John P. Brooks
USDA-ARS, Genetics and Sustainable Agriculture Research Unit, 810 Hwy 12 East, Mississippi State, MS 39762, USA
Published on: February 15, 2017
DOI 10.3923/ijps.2017.60.68
PDF

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of the study was to gain an overall assessment of seasonal influences and location within houses on litter physical and chemical properties as well as litter gas flux in U.S. commercial broiler houses. Materials and Methods: More than 1000 litter samples as well as in situ gas flux of NH3, N2O and CO2 were collected spatially within four U.S. commercial broiler houses over a period of 4 years. Analysis of variance among the measurements was performed with season, bird age and location within the house as the sources of variation. Results: Total litter cleanout (where fertilizer is the end use) is recommended during winter where litter moisture is lower and litter total N is higher than at the end of summer flocks. At chick placement and during mid-flock, the highest NH3 losses were in the fan areas. At market age, fan area samples were extremely caked and gas volatilization was lowest. Conclusion: During the growout, NH3 gas flux could be minimized by zone litter treatments which could potentially enhance broiler productivity. The areas to treat near the end of the flock are in front of the cooling pads and in the brood and non-brood areas, where NH3 gas flux magnitude had tripled since chick placement.

Keywords:

Ammonia, broiler, emissions, gas flux, litter

Article Metrics

156 Abstract Views
94 File Views
0 Downloads

License

Copyright (c) 2017 The Author(s)

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

Article Citation Metrics

Find Implications of Intensive Spatial Sampling of Broiler Litter: Characteristics and Gaseous Emissions on PlumX

How to Cite

Miles , D. M., Rowe, D. E., & Brooks, J. P. (2017). Implications of Intensive Spatial Sampling of Broiler Litter: Characteristics and Gaseous Emissions. International Journal of Poultry Science, 16(3), 60–68. https://doi.org/10.3923/ijps.2017.60.68
Crossref
Scopus
Google Scholar
Europe PMC

References

1.
Sistani, K.R., G.E. Brink, S.L. McGowen, D.E. Rowe and J.L. Oldham, 2003. Characterization of broiler cake and broiler litter, the by-products of two management practices. Bioresour. Technol., 90: 27-32.
2.
Miles, D.M., D.E. Rowe and P.R. Owens, 2008. Winter broiler litter gases and nitrogen compounds: Temporal and spatial trends. Atmospheric Environ., 42: 3351-3363.
3.
Bullis, K.L., G.H. Snoeyenbos and H. van Roekel, 1950. A keratoconjunctivitis in chickens. Poult. Sci., 29: 386-389.
4.
Charles, D.R. and C.G. Payne, 1966. The influence of graded levels of atmospheric ammonia on chickens. I. Effects on respiration and on the performance of broilers and replacement growing stock. Br. Poult. Sci., 7: 177-187.
5.
Miles, D.M., S.L. Branton and B.D. Lott, 2004. Atmospheric ammonia is detrimental to the performance of modern commercial broilers. Poult. Sci., 83: 1650-1654.
6.
Reece, F.N., B.D. Lott and J.W. Deaton, 1981. Low concentrations of ammonia during brooding decrease broiler weight. Poult. Sci., 60: 937-940.
7.
Valentine, H., 1964. A study of the effect of different ventilation rates on the ammonia concentrations in the atmosphere of broiler houses. Br. Poult. Sci., 5: 149-159.
8.
U.S. EPA., 2012. Inventory of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions and sinks: 1990-2010. Office of Atmospheric Programs (6207J), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC.
9.
Wathes, C.M., M.R. Holden, R.W. Sneathr, R.P. White and V.R. Philips, 1997. Concentrations and emission rates of aerial ammonia, nitrous oxide, methane, carbon dioxide, dust and endotoxin in UK broiler and layer houses. Br. Poult. Sci., 38: 14-28.
10.
Miles, D.M., J.P. Brooks and P.A. Moore Jr., 2016. Mid-flock and post-harvest spatial characterization of broiler litter gas flux and nutrients. Int. J. Poult. Sci., 15: 175-181.
11.
Miles, D.M., J.P. Brooks and K. Sistani, 2011. Spatial contrasts of seasonal and intraflock broiler litter trace gas emissions, physical and chemical properties. J. Environ. Quality, 40: 176-187.
12.
Miles, D.M., P.R. Owens and D.E. Rowe, 2006. Spatial variability of litter gaseous flux within a commercial broiler house: Ammonia, nitrous oxide, carbon dioxide and methane. Poult. Sci., 85: 167-172.
13.
SAS., 2003. SAS System for Microsoft Windows, Version 9.1 (TSM1). SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC., USA.
14.
Carr, L.E., F.W. Wheaton and L.W. Douglas, 1990. Empirical models to determine ammonia concentrations from broiler chicken litter. Trans. ASAE, 33: 1337-1342.
15.
Lacey, R.E., J.S. Redwine and C.B. Parnell, 2003. Particulate matter and ammonia emission factors for tunnel-ventilated broiler production houses in the Southern U.S. Trans. ASAE., 46: 1203-1214.
16.
McWard, G.W. and D.R. Taylor, 2000. Acidified clay litter amendment. J. Applied Poult. Res., 9: 518-529.
17.
Weaver, W.D.Jr. and R. Meijerhof, 1991. The effect of different levels of relative humidity and air movement on litter conditions, ammonia levels, growth and carcass quality for broiler chickens. Poult. Sci., 70: 746-755.
18.
Francesch, M. and J. Brufau, 2004. Nutritional factors affecting excreta/litter moisture and quality. Worlds Poult. Sci. J., 60: 64-75.