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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Beltsville, Maryland (BARC) » Beltsville Agricultural Research Center » Hydrology and Remote Sensing Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #327461
Title: Evaluating the effectiveness of vegetative environmental buffers in mitigating particulate matter emissions from poultry houses

Author
item YAO, Q. - University Of Maryland
item Hapeman, Cathleen
item LI, H. - University Of Delaware
item BUSER, M. - Oklahoma State University
item Alfieri, Joseph
item Wanjura, John
item MCCONNELL, L.L. - University Of Maryland
item Holt, Gregory
item Downey, Peter
item YANG, ZIJIANG - University Of Maryland
item TORRENTS, A. - University Of Maryland

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/1/2016
Publication Date: 7/17/2016
Citation: Yao, Q., Hapeman, C.J., Li, H., Buser, M., Alfieri, J.G., Wanjura, J.D., Mcconnell, L., Holt, G.A., Downey, P.M., Yang, Z., Torrents, A. 2016. Evaluating the effectiveness of vegetative environmental buffers in mitigating particulate matter emissions from poultry houses. Meeting Abstract. Paper No. 162459918..

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Particulate Matter (PM) emissions from animal operations have been identified as a major air pollutant source with health and environmental impacts. Nearly 600 million broilers are produced annually on the Delmarva Peninsula, making it a hot spot for particulate matter emissions from poultry houses. Ventilation systems have been identified as the main source of PM, which includes total suspended particles, PM2.5 and PM10, to the atmosphere. Vegetative environmental buffers (VEBs) have been considered as a PM mitigation technology. VEBs consist of trees, shrubs, and grasses, which are implanted surrounding the poultry house, and can serve as a visual screen for the house. Although initial tests have indicated that VEBs can reduce PM concentrations, quantitative studies are needed to improve the overall design and assess their effectiveness. Therefore, the goal of this project is to provide the needed data for improve the National Conservative Practice Standards (NCPS # 380 and # 420). PM reduction efficacy by the VEBs was evaluated by conducting field experiments at different three poultry houses in the Pennsylvania and on the Delmarva Peninsula. Time-integrated PM samples were collected at multiple locations and heights in front of and behind the VEBs to quantify the PM removal performance. Preliminary results showed significant PM concentration decrease with VEBs at all poultry houses.