Effect of broiler litter stockpiling methods on ammonia and greenhouse gas emissions

Authors: KONETI, SHRUTHI - Auburn University; PRASAD, RISHI - Auburn University; CHAKRABORTY, DEBOLINA - Auburn University; Watts, Dexter; Torbert Iii, Henry

Submitted to: Poultry Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/17/2025
Publication Date: 10/18/2025
Citation: Koneti, S., Prasad, R., Chakraborty, D., Watts, D.B., Torbert III, H.A. 2025. Effect of broiler litter stockpiling methods on ammonia and greenhouse gas emissions. Poultry Science. 104:105979. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psj.2025.105979.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psj.2025.105979

Interpretive Summary: Broiler litter (BL) has the potential to lose ammonia (NH3), carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrous oxide (N2O), and methane (CH4) to the atmosphere, which can influence its fertility and the environment. Understanding how different storage methods impact the loss of these gases is essential. Thus, a study was conducted focused on quantifying N2O, CO2, CH4, and NH3 loss from BL stockpiles during 126 days of storage under three stockpiling conditions a) Broiler litter stockpile covered with tarp (treatment-T), b) uncovered litter stockpile (treatment-U), c) Broiler litter stockpile covered with 0.08 m layer of soil (treatment-S). Results from study suggested that over the 126 day storage period, treatment-T lost significantly lower cumulative NH3-N (89.5g m-2 ), N2O-N (47.85g m-2), CO2-C (9708.5 g m-2 ), and CH4-C (123.27 g m-2 )compared to treatments -U and -S. Covering the BL stockpiles with a tarp reduced the NH3-N, N2O-N, CO2-C, and CH4-C by 38%, 54%, 28%, and 19%, respectively, compared to the control (treatment -U). In contrast, covering BL with soil (treatment-S) increased the NH3-N, N2O-N, CO2-C, and CH4-C loss by 13%, 17%, 123%, and 9%, respectively, compared to the control (treatment-U). Overall, the CO2 equivalent (CO2-eq) loss was also low for treatment-T, also indicating its effectiveness in mitigating the environmental impact.

Technical Abstract: Broiler litter (BL) has the potential to emit ammonia (NH3) and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions such as carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrous oxide (N2O), and methane (CH4), which have a greater impact on climate change. Understanding the impact of stockpiling methods on emissions is essential, as they influence the emission rates. This study focused on quantifying the emissions of N2O, CO2, CH4, and NH3 from the BL stockpiles during 126 days of storage under three stockpiling conditions a) Broiler litter stockpile covered with tarp (treatment-T), b) uncovered litter stockpile (treatment-U), c) Broiler litter stockpile covered with 0.08 m layer of soil (treatment-S). Gas emissions were measured with an INNOVA-1512 photoacoustic gas analyzer. Daily emission rates were calculated by using the ideal gas equation and cumulative emissions were calculated from interpolated daily emissions rates. The results suggested that over the 126 days of storage period, treatment-T emitted significantly lower (P < 0.05) cumulative NH3-N (89.5g m-2 ), N2O-N (47.85g m-2), CO2-C (9708.5 g m-2 ), and CH4-C (123.27 g m-2 ) emissions compared to treatments -U and -S. Covering the BL stockpiles with a tarp reduced the NH3-N, N2O-N, CO2-C, and CH4-C emissions by 38%, 54%, 28%, and 19%, respectively, compared to the control (treatment -U). In contrast, covering BL with soil (treatment-S) increased the NH3-N, N2O-N, CO2-C, and CH4-C emissions by 13%, 17%, 123%, and 9%, respectively, compared to the control (treatment-U). Overall global warming potential (GWP) expressed as CO2 equivalents (CO2-eq) was also low for treatment-T, indicating its effectiveness in mitigating emissions.