Methodology for Measurement of Ammonia Emissions from Intensive Pig Farming

Abstract

Determination of ammonia (NH3) emissions for intensive livestock facilities (pork, poultry) is important from both a regulatory and a research point of view. Buildings housing livestock are a large source of ammonia emissions from the agriculture sector. However, measurements to determine emissions can be time-consuming and costly. Therefore, it is essential to find a suitable methodology for monitoring NH3. The methodology for determining NH3 emissions is legislatively unified in terms of sampling methodology, including sampling time (24 h), sampling points (input/output), number of sampling days, and their distribution during the year, and to determine only a general calculation of the annual average NH3 emissions. For this reason, the researchers chose different approaches for the calculation of NH3 emissions, and these approaches are not unified. Based on accurate monitoring and created models, the authors proposed a methodology for calculation of NH3 emissions, which divides the 24 h measurement into time windows (30 min), from which the arithmetic mean and standard deviation are determined, and the total emissions for one year is determined. The chosen time windows for the partial calculation are important from the point of view of reflecting the microclimatic conditions inside the stable and the device limits for sampling the NH3 concentration and airflow.