Tag: animal air quality

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Air Regulations and How the Bedded Beef Barn Research Study Relates to Reporting

monoslope beef barnThis presentation from the Beef Facilities Conference focused on air quality regulations and what it might mean regarding the research project. You can find a paper in pages 10-17 of the written proceedings published by Iowa State University.

What Are the Relevant Air Regulations?

The federal air quality regulations that may apply to animal feeding operations include:

  • EPCRA – Environmental Planning and Community Right to Know Act
  • CERCLA – Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act or “Superfund” (not discussed in detail because EPA has determined animal operations are exempt)
  • Mandatory Greenhouse Gas Reporting Rule More…
  • Clean Air Act More…
  • State and local regulations
  • Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA)

What Does the Research Project On Bedded Beef Barns Show?

It is difficult to draw broad conclusions on the air emissions from a single study and in the absence of guidance from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The emissions of hydrogen sulfide, carbon dioxide, and particulates are likely to be below most regulatory threshholds for worker health or reporting. Ammonia is the one area where daily emissions from a system could reach amounts requiring reporting under EPCRA for large operations.

Acknowledgements

Presenter: Rick Stowell, University of Nebraska rstowell2@unl.edu

This page was developed as a part of the Mono-Slope Air Quality Research project funded by Agriculture and Food Research Initiative Competitive Grant no. 2010-85112-20510 awarded to South Dakota State University, USDA ARS U.S. Meat Animal Research Center, Iowa State University, and University of Nebraska – Lincoln from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture. For more information about the research study, contact Erin Cortus erin.cortus@sdstate.edu or Mindy Spiehs mindy.spiehs@ars.usda.gov. For more about the outreach and extension, contact Beth Doran doranb@iastate.edu. project partner logos - South Dakota State University, USDA-ARS, Iowa State University, and University of Nebraska - Lincoln

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Air Quality Waste to Worth 2013 Proceedings

W2W13 proceedings | Waste to Worth home
On this page: Ammonia | Anaerobic Digestion | Partnerships | Dust | Greenhouse Gases | Monoslope Barns

Ammonia (NH3)

Rocky Mountain National Park Emissions & Measurement

Ammonia: A Volatile, Promiscuous Fugitive

Nitrogen Isotopes to Distinguish Ammonia Sources

Activation Energy of Urea Hydrolysis and Ammonia Henry Constant Effects

Comparing Dairy Manure Application on Ammonia, Odor, and Costs

Estimating Ammonia Using Low-Cost, Time-Averaged Concentration
Mitigation & Management Nutrient Recovery

Feedlot Ammonia BMPs: Barriers and Opportunities

Management to Reduce Nitrogen Losses from Feedlots

Acid Scrubber for Reducing Ammonia

Ammonia Mitigation Using Electrolyzed Water Spray Scrubber

 Ammonia Mitigation and Capture Using Gas-Permeable Membrane

Anaerobic Digestion

Potential Air Quality Impacts of Digestion of Dairy Manure

Dust, Particulate Matter (PM)

Management & Mitigation Emissions & Measurement
Stocking Density Manipulation at Cattle Feedyards

Photometric Prediction of Ground-level PM10

Dissipation of Fine Particulates Downwind of Poultry

PM Adjacent to Deep-Bedded Monoslope Facilites

Partnerships Between Industry and Agencies

Affecting Change Through Collaboration: An Industry Driven Apporach (Colorado regulators, livestock associations, farmers)

Yakima, WA Partnership Model to Address Air Emissions from Dairy

Greenhouse Gases (GHG)

Emissions & Measurement Management & Mitigation

GHG Nitrogen Gas Losses Comparing Bulking Agents for Composting Separated Hog Solids

Ammonia and GHG Surface Measurements from Beef Bedded Manure Packs

 Reducing Gas Emissions from Manure Application in Semi-Arid Regions

Monoslope Beef Barns

Particulate Matter Adjacent to Cattle Deep-Bedded Monoslope Facilites

Ammonia and Greenhouse Gas Surface Measurements from Beef Bedded Manure Packs

Manure Management and Temperature Impacts on Gas Concentrations in Monoslope Cattle Facilites

 

 

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Making Sense of Smells – Communicating Odors to Diverse Audiences

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Example of odor visualization system using colors and shapes to replace chemical jargon.

Why Is Smell and Odor Important to Animal Agriculture?

Smell is perhaps the least understood of our five senses.  Yet, the human perception of odor may mean the difference between war and peace for a livestock farmer and his neighbors.  Because the science of  smells is complex, there is a tendency to run straight for the organic chemistry book when we try to describe farmstead odors.  This approach goes right over the heads of most people.  There must be a better way to communicate odors to diverse audiences.  This workshop can be utilized by teachers or extension staff to teach about communication of a topic that is frequently encountered by farmers, ag professionals, and others. To see the presentation slides, scroll to the bottom of the page.

Learning Objectives

This two hour workshop will explain how to use an innovative visual technique to describe farmstead odors to general audiences without resorting to chemical jargon.  The visualization technique based on shapes and colors was developed at Oklahoma State University in the mid 1990s, and has been used to talk about odors with many diverse audiences.  The method demonstrates that odors have “structure”, and can be measured using the four concepts: character, concentration, intensity, and persistence.

Students will also participate in a mock laboratory exercise to demonstrate how odor intensity and pleasantness are measured.  Results of the exercise will be analyzed in “real time”.  Further analyses of previous exercise runs will be compared and contrasted to the workshop results.  This laboratory has been presented to over 250 college freshmen and their results are presented in this recording.

Workshop Introduction

What is an Odor?

Measuring Odors

Odor Experiment

Another Odor Experiment

Physiology of Smell

Author

Douglas W. Hamilton, Associate Professor and Extension Waste Management Specialist, Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service dhamilt@okstate.edu

Doug Hamilton is an associate professor of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering at Oklahoma State University.  He has three degrees in Agricultural Engineering from the University of Arkansas, Iowa State University, and Penn State University.  His sense of smell remains keen despite the fact he has worked with livestock manure for nearly 34 years.

For More Information

 

The authors are solely responsible for the content of these proceedings. The technical information does not necessarily reflect the official position of the sponsoring agencies or institutions represented by planning committee members, and inclusion and distribution herein does not constitute an endorsement of views expressed by the same. Printed materials included herein are not refereed publications. Citations should appear as follows. EXAMPLE: Authors. 2013. Title of presentation. Waste to Worth: Spreading Science and Solutions. Denver, CO. April 1-5, 2013. URL of this page. Accessed on: today’s date.

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Feedlot Ammonia (NH3) BMP Adoption: Barriers and Opportunities

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Purpose

Gaseous ammonia emissions from feedlot operations pose serious risks to human and ecosystem health. In particular, nitrogen deposition in Colorado‟s Rocky Mountain National Park may be associated with livestock feeding in the western Corn Belt and Colorado. Feedlot operators can implement a variety of Best Management Practices (BMPs) to reduce ammonia emissions. These BMPs vary in effectiveness, simplicity, managerial time, effort and financial capital. Although the ammonia-mitigating potential of various BMPs is well-researched, little research examines the barriers that prevent feedlot operations from adopting these BMPs.

What Did We Do?

To learn more about these barriers, a questionnaire was mailed to 1,998 dairy and feedlot producers in June 2007. Survey responses (overall response rate of 7.6% for feedlots and dairies) allow determination of current levels of BMP adoption as well as producer perceptions of the environmental impact and economic feasibility of each BMP.  This research uses discrete choice modeling to evaluate factors influencing adoption for the average producer as well as subsets of producers.

What Have We Learned?

Of the thirteen BMPs surveyed, six of the BMPs had adoption rates greater than 50%, indicating sizeable overall adoption levels. Probit analysis enables estimation of the conditional probability of adoption given a set of attributes. Hiring a nutritionist, incorporating manure within 48 hours, collecting runoff from drylots and testing for nutrients are practices most amenable to large operations. These practices range from 50-75% adoption rates, indicating potential for increased adoption.  The perception of high cost seems to limit the adoption of hiring a nutritionist, especially for small producers who are unable to distribute the high fixed cost across as many animals.  A perception of technical expertise decreases the probability of testing manure and compost for nutrients, as well as for performing yearly soil tests.  The technical expertise constraint particularly impacts smaller producers for testing manure and compost, while it persists across all sizes for conducting yearly soil tests.  Both providing bedding in pens and shade in drylots (require less technical assistance than the average practice. This result, combined with the negative relationship between adoption and size indicates they are better suited for adoption by smaller operations, as well as operations where the feedlot represents the principal revenue stream

Future Plans

This study aimed to provide outreach professionals with a profile of ammonia BMP adoptees and factors influencing adoption decisions, based on findings from the survey sample. Two principal limitations characterized these findings. First, the low response rate limited the ability to generalize to the population of feedlot operators. Further research needs to improve the response rate, identifying issues that hindered operator participation. Potential reasons include the length of the survey and the sensitive political nature of ammonia emissions. Furthermore, dairy operations play a key role in managing ammonia emissions, yet the survey response rate for dairy operators was prohibitively low, preventing an empirical analysis similar to the feedlot analysis. This low response rate can likely be attributed to lower overall numbers of dairy operations, as well as reluctance to participate for unknown reasons. Our intention is to repeat the survey effort with an improved elicitation method, but also to update BP’s to those that are part of the feasible set of adoption by producers.

Authors

James Pritchett, Associate ProfessorDepartment of Agriculture and Resource Economics, Colorado State University  james.pritchett@colostate.edu

Carolyn Davidson, Economic Analyst, National Renewable Energy Laboratory

Nicole Embertson, Science and Planning Coordinator, Whatcom Conservation District

Jessica Davis, Professor and Director for the Institute for Livestock and the Environment, Colorado State University

Additional Information

https://extension.colostate.edu/topic-areas/agriculture/best-management-practices-for-reducing-ammonia-emissions-1-631/

The authors are solely responsible for the content of these proceedings. The technical information does not necessarily reflect the official position of the sponsoring agencies or institutions represented by planning committee members, and inclusion and distribution herein does not constitute an endorsement of views expressed by the same. Printed materials included herein are not refereed publications. Citations should appear as follows. EXAMPLE: Authors. 2013. Title of presentation. Waste to Worth: Spreading Science and Solutions. Denver, CO. April 1-5, 2013. URL of this page. Accessed on: today’s date.

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Managing Livestock Ammonia: A Volatile, Promiscuous Fugitive In the Atmosphere (Rocky Mountain National Park)

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Abstract

Livestock production is the largest source of atmospheric ammonia, accounting for over 50 % and 40 % of the national and global inventories, respectively. At beef feedlots for example, 40 to 60 percent of the fed nitrogen is lost to the atmosphere as ammonia. Once ammonia enters the atmosphere it can convert to an aerosol and travel long distances from the source. Most of this fugitive nitrogen is eventually deposited back to the ground when scavenged from the air by precipitation. Unfortunately, this unintentional nitrogen transport and fertilization is having a negative ecological impact on pristine ecosystems around the globe. Thus, it is not surprising that livestock ammonia is an area of growing public concern and regulatory debate. Perhaps nowhere is ammonia from livestock under greater scrutiny than along the Front Range of Colorado. Increased levels of atmospheric nitrogen deposition are having a negative impact on the ecology of Rocky Mountain National Park, a crown jewel of the National Park System. While studies suggest many different sources are contributing to nitrogen deposition in the park (e.g., urban, out of state sources), much attention has been directed to the beef feedlots and dairies that populate the plains just east of the mountains. The keynote address will briefly discuss ammonia emissions from livestock at global scales, with commentary on a new United Nations report “Our Nutrient World” that draws considerable attention to manure management and atmospheric ammonia. The remainder of the presentation will focus on Colorado’s regional ammonia issue and what is being done to reduce ammonia loss from feedlots and dairies along the Front Range. New technologies for measuring ammonia and minimizing environmental impacts will be discussed.

About the Author

Jay Ham joined the Department of Soil and Crop Sciences at CSU in 2008 with an appointment that includes research, teaching, and extension responsibilities. Prior to joining the faculty at CSU, he led a program in Micrometeorology and Environmental Physics for 18 years at Kansas State University. Dr. Ham’s research includes: (1) evaluation of air and water quality issues at animal feeding operations; (2) instrumentation development for environmental, soil, and crop research; (3) micrometeorological studies of water, carbon, and contaminant transport between the surface and atmosphere; and (4) air quality impacts of oil and gas development. His teaching responsibilities include courses in micrometeorology and research proposal development.

Dr. Ham acts as lead investigator for several federally-funded research projects ($1.75 million) that focus on ammonia emissions from feedlots and dairies. This work includes the develop of management practices to reduce emissions from livestock operations and track atmospheric transport of ammonia along the Front Range – including nitrogen deposition in Rocky Mountain National Park. Jay and his team were recently awarded a new grant as part of the National Robotics Initiative (NSF and USDA) to develop air quality robotics for use at feedlots and diaries. Other research interests include the air quality impacts of hydraulic fracturing used in oil and gas exploration.

He can be contacted at:
Jay Ham, Dept. of Soil and Crop Sciences, Colorado State University
970-491-4112
jay.ham@colostate.edu

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Impacts of Anaerobic Digestion and Solid Liquid Separation on Pathogen Destruction

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Abstract

A study was conducted to evaluate the pathogen inactivation on 9 dairy facilities in Wisconsin with a combination of anaerobic digestion and solid/liquid separation technologies.  Samples were collected every 2 weeks over the course of eight months to assess dairy pathogen inactivation in full-scale operational digesters and solid/liquid separators.  Samples were then analyzed by qPCR for pathogens including protozoa, bacteria. bovine viruses, and indicators. 

Preliminary results indicate full-scale anaerobic digesters reduce pathogen levels by 99% to 99.9%.  And after digestion and separation of the digestate, the liquid fraction contains the majority of pathogens.  Although the solids fraction contained fewer pathogens, the concentration could still be above the infectious dose, particularly for calves.  Results have implications for a variety of digestate end uses including bedding and land spreading.

Purpose

Anaerobic digestion and bedding recovery units are increasing in on-farm use around the United States as a component of manure management systems.  Nearly all on-farm systems with a digester in the United States have a mechanical solid/liquid separation system following digestion which fractions the digestate into a solid and a liquid product.  Processing of manure using digestion and/or a solid/liquid separation process can impact the nutrient and pathogen content of each stream.  Lack of data for real world performance has limited the use of end products and has reduced revenues and resulted in operational problems for many dairies in Wisconsin. 

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the fate of pathogens and nutrients through full scale anaerobic digestion and solid liquid separation systems to better understand the impacts of manure processing.

What Did We Do?

In order to assess real world performance of digesters and solid/liquid separation systems, an assessment of 9 on-farm systems was conducted over the course of one year.  The study design includes sampling every other week pre and post digestion (if a digester is on-farm) and the solid and liquid portion after separation.  This allows for assessment of the digestion process and the separation system.  Samples are evaluated for nutrients, solids, pathogens (particularly those associated with herd health) and pathogen indicators.  The results indicate impacts to pathogen and nutrient concentrations throughout the system. 

What Have We Learned?

Pathogen content from farm to farm and within one farm varies significantly.  Performance of digesters on pathogen destruction is extremely variable.  Through the solid/liquid separation process the majority of the pathogens within the stream remain in the liquid portion.

Future Plans

To continue evaluation through controlled systems to identify key operational techniques to increase pathogen removal.

Authors

Rebecca Larson, Assistant Professor, University of Wisconsin – Madison, ralarson2@wisc.edu

Mark Borchardt, Research Microbiologist, USDA – ARS

Asli Ozkaynak, Post-Doctoral Researcher, University of Wisconsin – Madison

Susan Spencer, Research Microbiologist, USDA – ARS

Additional Information

Data is to be published

Acknowledgements

Funded by the USDA

 

The authors are solely responsible for the content of these proceedings. The technical information does not necessarily reflect the official position of the sponsoring agencies or institutions represented by planning committee members, and inclusion and distribution herein does not constitute an endorsement of views expressed by the same. Printed materials included herein are not refereed publications. Citations should appear as follows. EXAMPLE: Authors. 2013. Title of presentation. Waste to Worth: Spreading Science and Solutions. Denver, CO. April 1-5, 2013. URL of this page. Accessed on: today’s date.

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What Happens When You Mix Chitosan and Poultry Litter?

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Abstract

The solubility of phosphorus (P) and low nitrogen(N):P ratio of poultry litter present environmental challenges when using this resource to supply nutrients to crops and forages.  Here, we explore the use of chitosan to reduce water extractable P (WEP) in poultry litter and potentially increase the N:P ratio.  Chitosan is derived from chitin, which is a waste product from the commercial shellfish industry; chitin is processed into chitosan through deacetylation, removing acetyl groups from this long-chained molecule.  Chitin has been successfully used in manure separation and flocculation in wastewater treatment processes, as well as immobilizing algae in wastewater streams to uptake nutrients. 

We performed a series a lab studies to evaluate how chitosan might reduce WEP, influence ammonia volatilization and potentially increase the N:P ratio of poultry litter.  Our experiments showed that chitosan was effective at reducing WEP content of poultry litter and increasing the N:P ratio, but ammonia volatilization might be increased under moist conditions.  We would like to take this from the lab to small plot and then field trials in the near future.

Authors

Brian Haggard, Arkansas Water Resources Center, haggard@uark.edu

I.M. Bailey, Formerly Biological Engineering Program, University of Arkansas, D.A. Zaharoff, Biomedical Engineering Department, University of Arkansas

 

The authors are solely responsible for the content of these proceedings. The technical information does not necessarily reflect the official position of the sponsoring agencies or institutions represented by planning committee members, and inclusion and distribution herein does not constitute an endorsement of views expressed by the same. Printed materials included herein are not refereed publications. Citations should appear as follows. EXAMPLE: Authors. 2013. Title of presentation. Waste to Worth: Spreading Science and Solutions. Denver, CO. April 1-5, 2013. URL of this page. Accessed on: today’s date.

 

 

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On-Farm Field Days as a Tool to Demonstrate Agricultural Waste Management Practices and Educate Producers

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Abstract

Teaching Best Management Practices (BMP) or introducing new agricultural waste management practices to livestock producers and farmers is a challenge. This poster describes a series of on-farm field days designed to deliver information and demonstrate on-site several waste management techniques, most of them well established in other parts of the country but sparsely used in Idaho. During these field days, Extension personnel presented each technique and offered written information on how to apply them. But without a doubt, presentations by the livestock producers and farmers who are already applying the techniques and hosted each field day at their farms was the main tool to spark interest and conversations with attendees.

Four field days were delivered in 2012 with more programmed for 2013. Demonstrated techniques reduce ammonia and odor emissions, increase nitrogen retention from manure, reduce run-off risks, and reduce emissions of greenhouse gases. Topics addressed on each field day were, a: Dairy manure collection and composting, 20 attendees. b: Dairy manure land application ten attendees. c: Grape vine prunings and dairy manure composting, 50 attendees. d: Mortality and offal on-farm composting, 40 attendees. In all cases farm owners and their managers presented and were available to answer attendees’ questions, sharing their experience, and opinions regarding the demonstrated practices. Many attendees expressed their interest and willingness to adopt some of the demonstrated practices. On-farm field days are an excellent tool to increase understanding and adoption of BMP and new technologies. Hearing experiences first hand from producers applying the techniques and being able to see them in action are excellent outreach tools. On-farm field days also fit the fast pace, busy schedule of modern producers who can later visit with Extension and other personnel if they need more details, information, and help on how to adopt the techniques they are interested in.

Why Hold Field Days on Ag Waste Management?

The dairy industry is the number one revenue commodity in Idaho. At the same time Idaho is ranked third in milk production in the nation. Idaho has more than 580,000 dairy cows distributed in 550 dairy operations (Idaho State Department of Agriculture 1/2013). The Magic Valley area in south-central Idaho hosts 54% of those dairies and 73% of all dairy cows in the state (Idaho Dairymen’s Association internal report, 2012).  Odors from dairies and other animal feeding operations are a major issue in Idaho and across the country.  In addition, the loss of ammonia from manures reduces the nutrient value of the manure and generates local and regional pollution. Dairy farmers of all sizes need more options on how to treat and dispose of the manure generated by their operations. Odor reductions, capture of nitrogen in dairy manure, reduction of greenhouse gases emissions, off-farm nutrients export, water quality protection, and reduction of their dairy operation’s environmental impact are some of the big challenges facing the dairy industry in Idaho and around the country. There are many Best Management Practices (BMP) that are proven to work on providing results related to the challenges mentioned before. Some of these practices are widely adopted in certain parts of the country or in other countries, with a lack of adoption by dairy producers and farmers in other parts of the country. This poster shows a series of Extension and research efforts designed to introduce and locally test proven BMP to dairy producers and crop farmers in southern Idaho in an effort to increase their adoption and incorporate those BMP as regular practices in Idaho agriculture. The four projects described were delivered in 2012 and some will continue in 2013.

What Did We Do?

To demonstrate and test BMP we chose to develop on-farm research projects to collect data and couple these projects with on-farm field days to demonstrate the applicability of the BMP in a real-world setting. Extension personnel developed the research and on-farm field days and did several presentations at each location. But without a doubt the stars during those field days were the dairy producers and farmers who hosted the research and demonstration events and who are already using or starting to use the techniques showcased. These pioneer producers are not only leading the way in using relatively new BMP in southern Idaho, they also share their experiences with other producers and with the academia so everybody around can learn from them. Topics addressed in each field day were, a: Dairy manure collection and composting, 20 attendees. b: Dairy manure land application, 10 attendees. c: Grapevine prunings and dairy manure composting, 50 attendees. d: Mortality and offal on-farm composting, 40 attendees.

On-farm manure collection and composting field day.

Some highlights from each project are: a. The dairy manure collection and composting field day demonstrated the operation and use of a vacuum manure collection system and a compost turner. Dairy managers and machinery operators shared their experiences, benefits and challenges related to the use of these two technologies. During the field day attendees also visited the whole manure management system of the dairy and were able to observe diverse manure management techniques. As a result of this project Extension personnel determined the necessity of generating educational programs for compost and manure management operators for dairy employees. A composting school in Spanish and English proposal was presented and a grant was obtained to develop and deliver them in 2013.

b. The dairy manure land application field day featured the demonstration of a floating manure storage pond mixer and pump, and a drag hose manure injection system. We also showed an injection tank that wasn’t operated during the demonstration. The floating pond mixer serves as lagoon mixer and pump. It mixes and pumps the manure through the drag hose system to the subsurface injector. This system dramatically reduces the time required to land apply liquid and slurried manures. It also significantly reduces ammonia and odor emissions to near background levels, as well as avoids runoff after applications. This project included research of emissions on the manure injection sites (see Chen L., et al. in this conference proceedings).

Demonstrating dairy manure subsurface injection using a drag hose system.

c. The grapevine prunings and dairy manure composting project involves research on the implications of increasing the carbon content of dairy manures using grapevine prunings and other carbon sources to retain more nitrogen in the compost, and how it varies among three diferent composting techniques. This project includes two field days, one during the project (2012), and another one at the end of it in 2013. The demonstration includes how to compost using mechanically turned windrows (common in Idaho), passive aerated, and forced aerated windrows (both very rarely used in Idaho). Another novelty in this project is that it aims to bring together dairy producers and fruit & crop producers, or landscaping insustry so they can combine their waste streams to produce a better compost and to reduce the environmental impact of each operation. Several producers of the diverse audience who attended showed interest in adopting some of the composting techniques presented during the field day.

On-farm composting methods featuring grape vine prunings and dairy manure compost

d. The mortality and offal on-farm composting project was located at a diversified sheep farm that includes sheep and goat dairy and cheese plant, meat lambs, and chickens. A forced aerated composting box was used to compost lamb offal, hives, lamb and chicken mortalities, and whey from the cheese plant. A very diversified audience attended the field day and the composting system generated a lot of interest. The farm owner was so pleased with the system that she created a second composter with materials she had on-hand to increase her composting capabilities and compost all year round. The producer stopped disposing of lamb offal, hives, and mortalities at the local landfill.

What Have We Learned?

On-farm field days are a great tool to demonstrate and encourage the application of otherwise seldom applied techniques. They also can serve a dual purpose of demonstration and research, allowing for quality data collection if designed properly. Farmers’ collaboration and full participation during all phases of the project is paramount and pays off by having a very enthusiastic and collaborative partner. Identiying progressive and pioneer producers that are already applying new BMP or are willing to take the risk is very important to develop this kind of on-farm experience. In general these individuals are also willing to share their knowledge, experience, and results with others to increase the adoption of such techiques. Having a producer hosting and presenting during the field day, at their facilities (as opposed to a dedicated research facility) generates great enthusiasm from other producers and helps to “break the ice” and bring everybody to a friendly conversation and exchange of ideas if properly facilitated.

Future Plans

On both projects, a. manure collection and composting and b. manure injection we will generate a series of videos to demonstrate the proper application of BMP, and educational printed material will also be published. Project c. grape prunings and manure composting is still going on and we will finish collecting data by mid 2013. A second field day will be offered and videos and printed educational material will be developed. Project d. will see an expansion with a mortality composter for dairy calves being installed at a dairy, and with a field day following after the first compost batch is ready. Additional programs are in the works; these programs incorporate the on-farm demonstration and research dual purpose and have high participation from the involved producers.

Authors

Mario E. de Haro-Marti, Extension Educator, Gooding County Extension Office, University of Idaho Extension.  mdeharo@uidaho.edu

Lide Chen, Waste Management Engineer

Howard Neibling, Extension Irrigation and Water Management Specialist

Mireille Chahine, Extension Dairy Specialist

Wilson Gray, District Extension Economist

Tony McCammon, Extension Educator

Ariel Agenbroad, Extension Educator

Sai Krishna Reddy Yadanaparthi, Graduate student

James Eells, Research Assistant. University of Idaho Extension.

Acknowledgements

Projects a. and b. were supported by a USDA-NRCS Conservation and Innovation Grant (CIG). Project c. was supported by a USDA-NRCS Idaho CIG. Project d. was supported by a University of Idaho USDA-SARE mini grant. We also want to thank Jennifer Miller at the Northwest Center for Alternatives to Pesticides for her help and support with projects c. and d. Finally, we want to thank all producers involved in these projects for their support and openess to work with us, and for their innovative spirit.

 

The authors are solely responsible for the content of these proceedings. The technical information does not necessarily reflect the official position of the sponsoring agencies or institutions represented by planning committee members, and inclusion and distribution herein does not constitute an endorsement of views expressed by the same. Printed materials included herein are not refereed publications. Citations should appear as follows. EXAMPLE: Authors. 2013. Title of presentation. Waste to Worth: Spreading Science and Solutions. Denver, CO. April 1-5, 2013. URL of this page. Accessed on: today’s date.

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Assessing the Ability of Nitrogen Isotopes to Distinguish Ammonia Sources Affecting Rocky Mountain National Park

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Abstract

Extensive evidence has shown that Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP) has undergone ecosystem changes due to excessive nitrogen (N) deposition. Previously, the Rocky Mountain Atmospheric Nitrogen and Sulfur (RoMANS) study was conducted to identify the species of N that deposit in RMNP. Results from the RoMANS study showed that reduced N contributions from within Colorado were 45% and 36% for the spring and summer, respectively.  There is still much uncertainty as to how much each source within Colorado contributes to ammonia deposition in RMNP. The major goal of this study is to determine whether the isotopic signature of nitrogen can be used as a tracer for ammonia released from sources within Colorado into RMNP. Ammonium samplers were deployed in May of 2011.   All samples were collected using passive samplers, Radiellos, deployed for two week and monthly integrations periods. Samples were collected from confined animal feeding operations (beef production), dairies, wastewater reclamation, urban, cropland and RMNP. Sample locations were chosen based its proximity in comparison to RMNP and the availability of meteorological data. The collected ammonia was analyzed using Ion Chromatography, and then diffused onto filters or oxidized for isotopic analysis.  Additionally, soil emission studies (grasslands and forests) and weekly wet deposition were collected at two sites varying in elevation in RMNP.   Results thus far have shown that wet deposition in the park was similar to previous years based on the amount of precipitation and N deposition.  Ammonia isotopic data showed that some sources are significantly different than others, such as wastewater reclamation, dairies, and beef production. However, cropland sources did not significantly differ from dairies and beef production.

Why Study Nitrogen Isotopes?

To assess the potential of isotopes to indicate sources affecting ammonia deposition in Rocky Mountain National Park

What Did We Do?

Gas phase ammonia was measured at sources and in RMNP, as well as, weekly wet deposition was collected in RMNP.   Isotopes were measured on these samplers to compare differences and establish trends.

What Have We Learned?

Some source emissions isotope values can be distinguished, however, mixing and reaction chemistry in the atmosphere diminishes these differences.  The was seen in the measurements in wet deposition.  However, this type of study may be a useful tool to understanding modes of transoport.

Future Plans

Investigations into atmospheric reaction chemistry that can change isotopic values.  Furthermore, single deposition eveny measurements would provide more valuable information on

Authors

Joshua Stratton, Ph. D candidate, Colorado State Unversity, Joshua.stratton@colostate.edu

Jay M Ham, Colorado State University, Christina Williams, Colorado State University, Damaris Roosendaal, Colorado State University, Thomas Borch, Colorado State University

Additional Information

(video) Ammonia Deposition in Rocky Mountain National Park : What Is the Role of Animal Agriculture?

Acknowledgements

Jeff Collette Jr., Katie Benedict

The authors are solely responsible for the content of these proceedings. The technical information does not necessarily reflect the official position of the sponsoring agencies or institutions represented by planning committee members, and inclusion and distribution herein does not constitute an endorsement of views expressed by the same. Printed materials included herein are not refereed publications. Citations should appear as follows. EXAMPLE: Authors. 2013. Title of presentation. Waste to Worth: Spreading Science and Solutions. Denver, CO. April 1-5, 2013. URL of this page. Accessed on: today’s date.

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Activation Energy of Urea Hydrolysis and Ammonia Henry Constant Effects on Ammonia Release from Confined Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs)

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Abstract

Ammonia emissions from cattle feedlots have been a topic for much debate regarding air quality and environmental impacts. With increasing concern about future regulation of the industry, understanding the fundamentals of ammonia emission and volatilization from feedlots has become crucial. Wu et al. 2003 described ammonia flux as demonstrating a strong environmental dependency on the ammonium concentration, pH, and the product of the acid dissociation and Henry constant. The objectives of this research are to address the production of ammonia via urea hydrolysis and quantify its release from the soil surface based on the Henry constant. This will be accomplished by studying the rate of urea hydrolysis in feedlots systems, as well as by looking at a new approach to measuring the Henry constant. Urea hydrolysis results will be discussed from a variety of feedlot soils at a fixed water content and urea concentration. Measuring the Henry constant includes measuring the gas phase ammonia above the solution and the ammonia present in the solution. The Henry constant values should provide insight as to how feedlot soil matrices deviate from less complex systems. The results of this work will allow for a better understanding of the fate of ammonia in feedlot systems from production to emission.

Authors

Joshua  Stratton, Colorado State University; Department of Chemistry   joshua.stratton@colostate.edu

Jay M Ham, Colorado State University; Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, Thomas Borch, Colorado State University; Department of Soil and Crop Sciences and Department of Chemistry

 

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