[NH3, N2O, CH4 and CO2 emissions from growing process of caged broilers]

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Agricultural Science
• Atmospheric Chemistry

Context:

• Intensive broiler production systems contribute to air pollution.
• Accurate emission factors are crucial for environmental management in poultry farming.
• Shandong province's caged broiler production was the study site.

Purpose:

• To quantify ammonia (NH3) and greenhouse gas (GHG) emission factors for caged broilers.
• To monitor emissions of NH3, methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), and carbon dioxide (CO2) over a 42-day growth period.
• To analyze emission rates in relation to broiler age and growth phases.

Summary:

• Ammonia emissions peaked during the 18-27 day growth phase. Methane and carbon dioxide emissions increased with broiler age, with the final growth phase (28-42 days) accounting for 50% of their total emissions.
• Average daily NH3 emission rate was 137.9 mg/(d·bird), and average daily GHG emission rate was 154.5 mg/(d·bird) for CH4 and 65.9 g/(d·bird) for CO2.
• No nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions were detected during the study period.

Impact:

• Provides essential data for developing strategies to mitigate gas emissions in broiler production.
• Contributes to a better understanding of the environmental footprint of poultry farming.
• Supports policy-making and best practice guidelines for sustainable agriculture.