Effectiveness of reducing ammonia emissions from solid manure by using bio-covers

I. Knoknerienė*, I. Strelkauskaitė-Buivydienė and R. Bleizgys

Vytautas Magnus University, Agriculture Academy, Faculty of Engineering, Department of Mechanical, Energy, and Biotechnology Engineering,
Studentu 15a, LT-53362 Akademija, Kauno r., Lithuania
*Correspondence: ieva.knokneriene@vdu.lt

Abstract:

According to the European Environment Agency, in 2021, 93 percent of ammonia was released into the environment due to agricultural activities. Almost half of the pollutants were released from cowsheds. The next significant source of pollution is liquid and/or solid manure storage facilities. Many dairy farms use liquid manure systems, but inevitably there is some solid manure produced in every cattle farm. Ammonia emissions increase when air penetrates the top layer of the manure pile. This is the reason why it is recommended to reduce the surface area of the manure piles that contact with open air. Straw, peat, sawdust, or other materials can be used as bio-covers. The purpose of this study is to determine the efficiency of bio-covers while covering solid manure. Experimental studies were carried out in field conditions, covering solid cattle manure with a > 10 cm thick layer of chopped straw. As the results show, chopped straw reduced ammonia emissions by up to 44.49 percent, but the emission declination rate is 1.85 times higher during the period when NH₃ volatilization is the most intensive.

Key words:

air pollution, ammonia, bio-covers, cattle manure, emissions

Microclimatic conditions in the poultry houses

P. Kic

Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Faculty of Engineering, Department of
Technological Equipment of Buildings, Kamýcká 129, CZ 165CZ 21 Prague,
Czech Republic; Correspondence: kic@tf.czu.cz

Abstract:

The aim of this paper is to present the results of microclimatic research focused on the indoor conditions in several agricultural buildings used for fattening of chicken broilers. The attention is paid mainly to the construction of the building and its position in the farm area, which together with technological equipment of the building, floor covering, and system of ventilation, can influence the microclimatic conditions inside the halls. In the frame of this research main parameters of internal and external properties of climate were measured and evaluated. Themeasurement results of the air temperature, humidity, globe temperature, concentration of CO2, dust pollution and surface temperatures show rather important role of the overall layout of buildings, influence of the wind and solar radiation together with surroundings. The research results show that to the improvement of internal microclimate can contribute significantly the use of principles of passive air conditioning. The acquired new knowledge can be useful not only to improve the current situation on the farm, but mainly for the improvement of the building
constructions in similar new farms.

Key words: