Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Ammonia, Nitrous Oxide, Carbon Dioxide and Methane Emissions from Commercial Broiler Houses in Mediterranean Portugal

  • Published:
Water, Air, & Soil Pollution Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Limited data are available on ammonia (NH3), nitrous oxide (N2O), carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4) emissions from poultry housing in Mediterranean countries. The aim of the present study was to assess the NH3, N2O, CO2 and CH4 emission rates from commercial breeding hen and broiler houses under Mediterranean climate conditions. Research was conducted at one commercial breeding hen house and in two commercial broiler houses located in central Portugal. The environmental conditions, gas concentrations and ventilation rates were measured in the cold (8.0 ± 2.1 °C) and hot (20.7 ± 1.9 °C) season for the breeding hen house, whereas for the two broiler houses, measurements were made during one fattening cycle in the fall (17.3 ± 1.7 °C) season. Results showed that the annual average emission rates for breeding hen and broiler houses were 0.52 ± 0.27 and 0.06 ± 0.01 for NH3, 0.030 ± 0.042 and 0.006 ± 0.001 for N2O, 169.6 ± 56.2 and 58.0 ± 15.1 for CO2 and 0.092 ± 0.131 and 0.0113 ± 0.0002 g day−1 bird−1 for CH4, respectively. The N2O emission rates observed in breeding hen houses may have been overestimated, being higher than previously reported for Mediterranean countries.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Alberdi, O., Arriaga, H., Calvet, S., Estellés, F., & Merino, P. (2016). Ammonia and greenhouse gas emissions from an enriched cage laying hen facility. Biosystems Engineering, 144, 1–12.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bittman, S., Dedina, M., Howard, C. M., Oenema, O., & Sutton, M. A. (Eds.). (2014). Options for ammonia mitigation: guidance from the UNECE Task Force on Reactive Nitrogen. Edinburgh, UK: Centre for Ecology and Hydrology.

    Google Scholar 

  • Broucek, J. (2018). Nitrous oxide release from poultry and pig housing. Polish Journal of Environmental Studies, 27, 467–479.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brouček, J., & Čermák, B. (2015). Emission of harmful gases from poultry farms and possibilities of their reduction. Ekológia (Bratislava), 34, 89–100.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Calvet, S., Cambra-López, M., Estellés, F., & Torres, A. G. (2011). Characterization of gas emissions from a Mediterranean broiler farm. Poultry Science, 90, 534–542.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chadwick, D. R., Sneath, R. W., Phillips, V. R., & Pain, B. F. (1999). A UK inventory of nitrous oxide emissions from farmed livestock. Atmospheric Environment, 33, 3345–3354.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • CIGR. (2002). 4 th Report of Working Group on Climatization of Animal Houses. Horsens, Denmark: International Commission of Agricultural Engineering (CIGR) 45 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Eugene, B., Moore, P. A., Li, H., Miles, D., Trabue, S., Burns, R., & Buser, M. (2015). Effect of alum additions to poultry litter on in-house ammonia and greenhouse gas concentrations and emissions. Journal of Environmental Quality, 44, 1530–1540.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fabbri, C., Valli, L., Guarino, M., Costa, A., & Mazzotta, V. (2007). Ammonia, methane, nitrous oxide and particulate matter emissions from two different buildings for laying hens. Biosystems Engineering, 97, 441–455.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Guiziou, F., & Béline, F. (2005). In situ measurement of ammonia and greenhouse gas emissions from broiler houses in France. Bioresource Technology, 96, 203–207.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hassouna, M., Robin, P., Charpiot, A., Edouard, N., & Méda, B. (2013). Infrared photoacoustic spectroscopy in animal houses: effect of non-compensated interferences on ammonia, nitrous oxide and methane air concentrations. Biosystems Engineering, 114, 318–326.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hayes, E. T., Curran, T. P., & Dodd, V. A. (2006). Odour and ammonia emissions from intensive poultry units in Ireland. Bioresource Technology, 97, 933–939.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • IPCC. (2006). 2006. IPCC guidelines for national greenhouse gas inventories. In H. S. Eggleston, L. Buendia, K. Miwa, T. Ngara, & K. Tanabe (Eds.), IPCC national greenhouse gas inventories programme, Technical support unit. Hayama, Japan: IGES http://www.ipcc-nggip.iges.or.jp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jugowar, J. L., Rzeźnik, W., & Mielcarek, P. (2017). Emission of ammonia, nitrous oxide and methane from hen house in deep litter/slatted floor system. Journal of Research and Applications in Agricultural Engineering, 62, 64–69.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lin, X., Zhang, R., Jiang, S., El-Mashad, H., & Xin, H. (2017). Emissions of ammonia, carbon dioxide and particulate matter from cage-free layer houses in California. Atmospheric Environment, 152, 246–255.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Méda, B., Hassouna, M., Aubert, C., Robin, P., & Dourmad, J. Y. (2011). Influence of rearing conditions and manure management practices on ammonia and greenhouse gas emissions from poultry houses. World’s Poultry Science Journal, 67, 441–456.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Méda, B., Hassouna, M., Lecomte, M., Germain, K., Dourmad, J.-Y., & Robin, P. (2015). Influence of season and outdoor run characteristics on excretion behaviour of organic broilers and gaseous emissions. Biosystems Engineering, 139, 35–47.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Misselbrook, T.H., Gilhespy, S.L., Cardenas, L.M., Williams, J., Dragosits, U., (2016). Inventory of ammonia emissions from UK agriculture 2015. DEFRA contract SCF0102, UK, 36 pp.

  • Naseem, S., & King, A. J. (2018). Ammonia production in poultry houses can affect health of humans, birds, and the environment-techniques for its reduction during poultry production. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 25, 15269–15293.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ngwabie, N. M., Acobta, A. N., Manga, V. E., & VanderZaag, A. C. (2018). Emission factors of greenhouse gases from layer and broiler barns in Cameroon. Atmospheric Environment, 176, 54–59.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nimmermark, S., Gustafsson, G., (2005). Influence of temperature, humidity and ventilation rate on the release of odor and ammonia in a floor housing system for laying hens. Agricultural Engineering International: the CIGR Ejournal. Vol. VII. Manuscript BC 04 008.

  • Pereira, J. L. S. (2017). Assessment of ammonia and greenhouse gas emissions from broiler houses in Portugal. Atmospheric Pollution Research, 8, 949–955.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pereira, J. L. S., Ferreira, S., Garcia, C. S. P., Conde, A., Ferreira, P., Pinheiro, V., & Trindade, H. (2017). Assessment of ammonia and carbon dioxide concentrations in a breeding hen building under Portuguese winter. International Journal of Food and Biosystems Engineering, 5, 1–6.

    Google Scholar 

  • PIIR. (2018). Portuguese informative inventory report 1990-2016. Submitted under the NEC directive (EU) 2016/2284 and the UNECE convention on long-range transboundary air pollution. Lisbon, Portugal: Portuguese Informative Inventory Report (PIIR), Portuguese Environmental Agency 616 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • REAP. (2013). Decree number 81/2013 of 14 June regarding animal manure management (REAP). In: Diário da República, Série I, number 113 of 14 June 2013. Portugal, pp. 3304–3329.

  • Roumeliotis, T. S., Dixon, B. J., & Van Heyst, B. J. (2010). Characterization of gaseous pollutant and particulate matter emission rates from a commercial broiler operation. Part I: Observed trends in emissions. Atmospheric Environment, 44, 3770–3777.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Shepherd, T., Zhao, Y., Li, H., Stinn, J. P., Hayes, M. D., & Xin, H. (2015). Environmental assessment of three egg production systems—part II. Ammonia, greenhouse gas, and particulate matter emissions. Poultry Science, 94, 534–543.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Simsek, E., Kilic, I., Yaslioglu, E., & Arici, I. (2013). The effects of environmental conditions on concentration and emission of ammonia in chicken farms during summer season. Clean Soil, Air, Water, 41, 955–962.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sommer, S. G., Zhang, G. Q., Bannink, A., Chadwick, D., Misselbrook, T., Harrison, R., Hutchings, N. J., Menzi, H., Monteny, G. J., Ni, J. Q., Oenema, O., & Webb, J. (2006). Algorithms determining ammonia emission from buildings housing cattle and pigs and from manure stores. Advances in Agronomy, 89, 261–335.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by: European Investment Funds by FEDER/COMPETE/POCI - Operational Competitiveness and Internationalisation Programme, under project POCI-01-0145-FEDER-006958, project Ovislab ICT-2013-05-004-5314 ID-64757, project POCI-01-0247-FEDER-003430 AMONIAVE and National Funds by FCT - Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology, under the project UID/AGR/04033/2013 and Portugal2020. The authors acknowledge Pedro Ferreira, João Borges and André Conde (LUSIAVES) for the facilities and technical data, as well as the reviewer for their comments and suggestions.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Agrarian School of Viseu, Polytechnic Institute of Viseu, Quinta da Alagoa, 3500-606, Viseu, Portugal

    José L. S. Pereira

  2. University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, CITAB, Quinta de Prados, 5000-801, Vila Real, Portugal

    José L. S. Pereira, Sílvia Ferreira & Henrique Trindade

  3. University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, CECAV, Quinta de Prados, 5000-801, Vila Real, Portugal

    Victor Pinheiro

Authors
  1. José L. S. Pereira
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Sílvia Ferreira
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Victor Pinheiro
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Henrique Trindade
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to José L. S. Pereira.

Additional information

Publisher’s Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Pereira, J.L.S., Ferreira, S., Pinheiro, V. et al. Ammonia, Nitrous Oxide, Carbon Dioxide and Methane Emissions from Commercial Broiler Houses in Mediterranean Portugal. Water Air Soil Pollut 229, 377 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-018-4026-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-018-4026-4

Keywords

Search

Navigation