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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Columbia, Missouri » Cropping Systems and Water Quality Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #234650
Title: Controlling Swine Odor with Natural Windbreaks

Author
item LIN, CHUNG-HO - University Of Missouri
item WALTER, DUSTY - University Of Missouri
item GARRETT, HAROLD - UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI
item Lerch, Robert

Submitted to: North American Agroforestry Conference
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/15/2009
Publication Date: 6/1/2009
Citation: Lin, C., Walter, D.D., Garrett, H.E., Lerch, R.N. 2009. Controlling Swine Odor with Natural Windbreaks. In Gold, M.A. and M.M. Hall, editors. Agroforestry Comes of Age: Putting Science into Practice. Proceedings, 11th North American Agroforestry Conference, Columbia, Missouri, May 31-June 3, 2009. p. 340-349.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Emissions of malodor from swine facilities are an increasing environmental concern for swine producers and nearby local communities. Use of natural windbreaks for odor abatement is recent and the science in support of using windbreaks for this purpose is limited. To provide sound science to the study of windbreaks and odor control, the University of Missouri, Center for Agroforestry initiated a study in 2007 to evaluate the effects of windbreaks on transport of odors. A 3-row windbreak configuration was implemented consisting of pitch-loblolly pine (Cronartium quercuum f. sp. fusiforme), a conifer, on the inside row closest to the farrowing house; red maple (Acer rubrum) alternating with pin oak (Quercus palustris) a deciduous hardwood species that retains many of its leaves throughout much of the winter, as the middle row and; Viburnum ‘Allegheny’ (Viburnum rhytidophyllum X V. lantana), a semi-evergreen shrub that quickly reaches heights of 10 to 15 feet, as the outside row. Before the windbreak takes effect, air samples were taken at varying distances from the facility (up to a mile radius) during 2008 to monitor the baseline concentrations of odorous gasses, including ammonia (NH3), hydrogen sulfide (H2S), major volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and particulates. The spatial distribution and temporal variation in concentrations of these malodorous compounds was characterized and mapped. This baseline monitoring information will be used for evaluating effect of windbreaks on odor concentrations in the future.