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Title: NITROGEN AND OTHER TRACE-GAS EMISSIONS FROM SWINE PRODUCTION IN THE CENTRAL GREAT BASIN

Author
item Harper, Lowry
item WEAVER, L - SOUTHERN UTAH UNIVERSITY
item FLESCH, T - UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA
item WILSON, J - UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA
item Millner, Patricia
item Ingram, David

Submitted to: Government Publication/Report
Publication Type: Other
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/22/2005
Publication Date: 4/22/2005
Citation: Harper, L.A., Weaver, L.H., Flesch, T.K., Wilson, J.D., Millner, P.D., Ingram, D.T. 2005. Nitrogen and other trace-gas emissions from swine production in the central great basin. Government Publication/Report for Agreement Number 58-6612-3-234. April 22, 2005. p. 38

Interpretive Summary: .

Technical Abstract: Current storage, processing/recycling, and disposal techniques for wastes in animal production systems present a challenge to minimize negative impacts on air-quality and global change trace-gas losses to the environment. The use of animal wastes for biofuels production represents a potential to convert organic waste carbon to a useable fuel. The purpose of these studies was to evaluate nitrogen emissions from a Biomass Energy Sustainable Technology (BEST) Biofuels production system. Dispersion analysis and chamber techniques were used to evaluate ammonia (NH3) and other nitrogen (N) gases emissions to the environment. Ammonia emissions from the BEST site were expectedly low because there was only a small emitting surface. Wintertime NH3 emissions (10 kg NH3-N d-1) were much smaller than summertime emissions (61 kg NH3-N d-1) and concentrations downwind were close to normal background within a few hundred meters of the site during both seasons. All other N gas emissions were smaller in winter than summer. Bacteria were sporadically emitted (100-500 microbes m-3) from BEST Thickener tanks and lagoons, but in no cases were Salmonella, E. coli, or pathogenic bacteria recovered from any of the air samples at any of the measured BEST sites. Reduced concentrations (compared to the wastes accumulator and buffer systems) of fecal coliforms were found in the waste thickener tank. No Salmonella, fecal coliforms, or E. coli were found in selected BEST or control farm lagoons. Odor concentrations in summer and winter were greatest at the surface of the waste thickener tanks and immediately at the edge of the farm lagoons, but dissipated within several hundred feet of these sources to levels about 2-fold greater than those in background samples. Conversion of organic waste carbon to useable fuels is a potential means of recycling animal wastes and reducing greenhouse gas emissions for the animal production industry with only small increases in bioaerosol or odor emissions.