Oral presentation at AgEng2018 Congress in Wageningen, Netherlands.

ABSTRACT

Maarit Hellstedt¹⁾, Sari Luostarinen²⁾, Juha Grönroos³⁾, Hannu Haapala⁴⁾

¹⁾Natural Resources Institute Finland, Kampusranta 9 C, 60320 Seinäjoki, maarit.hellstedt@luke.fi

²⁾Natural Resources Institute Finland,Vuorimiehentie 2, 02150 Espoo, sari.luostarinen@luke.fi

³⁾Finnish Environment Center SYKE, Mechelininkatu 34a, 00260 Helsinki, juha.gronroos@syke.fi

⁴⁾Agrinnotech, Kalevankatu 12b A26, 60100 Seinäjoki, hannuhaapala1@gmail.com

Ammonia emissions from dairy barns depend on several variable factors, most importantly on indoor temperature, ventilation, manure composition (type, nitrogen content and pH), manure handling method used, and the quality and quantity of litter. National Finnish emission model for nitrogen compounds, however, has been developed on the basis of international guidelines. In order to check and improve the reliability of these calculations, a sufficient number of domestic emission measurements is needed.

In this study, ammonia emissions were measured in six different dairy barns in four seasons. Continuous measuring data loggers were used and the measurements were done during one-week measuring periods. The measured results were compared to those of the national emission model.

The ammonia emissions measured varied considerably both between seasons and barns, being mainly less than 5 g / cow / day in loose housing. In stationary barns, ammonia emissions were on average less than 3.5 g / cow / day.

The share of volatile ammonium nitrogen calculated from the ammonium content of manure varied between 1% and 17%. The mean value for free stall barns was 5.5%. This is significantly lower than the 17.6% calculated with the emission model. The mean value for stationary barns, 9.3%, was, in turn, higher than the <6% calculated by the model.

The measured ammonia concentrations were lower than those previously measured in comparable circumstances. In Finland, relatively few ammonia emission measurements have previously been made on animal housing and none during all seasons. The results obtained also give new information on the seasonal variations in emissions.

Still, the results represent only few measurements and locations and their use is limited. In addition, a new kind of measurement method has been used and it should be further assessed and developed.

Keywords: dairy production, ammonia emission, manure