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ARS Home » Plains Area » Bushland, Texas » Conservation and Production Research Laboratory » Livestock Nutrient Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #418544
Research Project: Strategies to Manage Feed Nutrients, Reduce Gas Emissions, and Promote Soil Health for Beef and Dairy Cattle Production Systems of the Southern Great Plains

Location: Livestock Nutrient Management Research

Title: Design, construction, and testing of a real-time ammonia measurement system using an electrochemical sensor: A Do-It-Yourself framework

Author
item LEE, MYEONGSEONG - Texas A&M University
item AUVERMANN, BRENT - Texas A&M University
item Koziel, Jacek
item BRANDANI, CAROLINA - Texas A&M University
item BUSH, K - Texas A&M University
item FERGUSON, GREG - Texas A&M University
item CASEY, KENNETH - Texas A&M University

Submitted to: MethodsX
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/14/2026
Publication Date: 2/6/2026
Citation: Lee, M., Auvermann, B.W., Koziel, J.A., Brandani, C.B., Bush, K.J., Ferguson, G., Casey, K.D. 2026. Design, construction, and testing of a real-time ammonia measurement system using an electrochemical sensor: A Do-It-Yourself framework. MethodsX. 16. Article 103801. Available: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mex.2026.103801.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mex.2026.103801

Interpretive Summary: The worldwide increase in livestock production in confined animal feeding operations (CAFOs) has raised concerns about the environmental impact on local and regional air quality. Ammonia (NH3) is often of prime focus due to its relevance to sustainable nutrient management in livestock and crop production systems. Proper and affordable instrumentation is pivotal to accurately measuring NH3 concentrations needed to quantify emissions and test mitigation technologies. Researchers from ARS (Bushland) and Texas A&M University developed an inexpensive and portable sensor to measure NH3 concentrations. Tests showed that the system was reliable. This paper presents all necessary components for assembling gas measurement system from relatively common components. This research adds affordable solutions for evaluating management practices to mitigate NH3 emissions in CAFOs and other emission sources.

Technical Abstract: Ammonia (NH3) emissions are of prime environmental interest due to air quality concerns, fine particulate formation, nitrogen deposition, and nutrient management in ecosystems. Proper instrumentation for measuring NH3 concentrations is needed to quantify emissions and test mitigation strategies. Commercial measurement systems are based on a similar principle to read the signal from the sensor that responds to the target pollutant gas through a data logger; however, the cost and scientific value vary depending on the quality of the parts used. Electrochemical sensors can be used to reduce costs and increase data availability. This method research reports a process for designing, manufacturing, calibrating, and testing an electrochemical sensor-based NH3 measurement system for a budget-oriented end-user. • System evaluation included sensor and airflow calibration, data acquisition and storage testing, performance assessment under different environmental conditions, and comparison with commercially available instruments. • The methods demonstrated that real-time NH3 data acquisition was reliable even with an electrochemical sensor-based system assembled from commonly available components. • This paper outlines the components and approach required to reproduce the developed system and highlights the potential for adapting similar electrochemical sensor–based approaches to other gases and environmental monitoring applications.