Assessing Influence Factors on Daily Ammonia and Greenhouse Gas Concentrations from an Open-Sided Cubicle Barn in Hot Mediterranean Climate
Measurement of gas concentrations constitutes basic knowledge for the computation of emissions from livestock buildings. Although it is well known that hot climate conditions increase gas emissions, in the literature the relation between gas concentrations from open barns and animal-related paramete...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2021-05-01
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| Series: | Animals |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/11/5/1400 |
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| author | Provvidenza Rita D’Urso Claudia Arcidiacono Francesca Valenti Giovanni Cascone |
| author_facet | Provvidenza Rita D’Urso Claudia Arcidiacono Francesca Valenti Giovanni Cascone |
| author_sort | Provvidenza Rita D’Urso |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Measurement of gas concentrations constitutes basic knowledge for the computation of emissions from livestock buildings. Although it is well known that hot climate conditions increase gas emissions, in the literature the relation between gas concentrations from open barns and animal-related parameters has not been investigated yet. This study aimed at filling this gap by evaluating daily gas concentrations within an open-sided barn in hot Mediterranean climate. The influence of microclimatic parameters (MC) and cow behavior and barn management (CBBM) were evaluated for ammonia (NH<sub>3</sub>), methane (CH<sub>4</sub>), and carbon dioxide (CO<sub>2</sub>) concentrations. Results showed that both MC and CBBM affected concentrations of NH<sub>3</sub> (<i>p</i> < 0.02), CH<sub>4</sub> (<i>p</i> < 0.001), and CO<sub>2</sub> (<i>p</i> < 0.001). Higher values of NH<sub>3</sub> concentration were detected during the cleaning of the floor by a tractor with scraper, whereas the lowest NH<sub>3</sub> concentrations were recorded during animal lying behavior. Measured values of CO<sub>2</sub> and CH<sub>4</sub> were highly correlated (C = 0.87–0.89) due to the same sources of production (i.e., digestion and respiration). The different management of the cooling systems during the two observation periods reduced significantly CH<sub>4</sub> concentrations in the barn when the cooling system in the feeding area was switched off. Based on methodological choices due to the specific barn typology, parameters related to animals can provide information on the variation of gas concentrations in the barn environment in hot climate conditions. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T11:25:16Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-df040c0c33d342f8a7f26a677d8ba77c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T11:25:16Z |
| publishDate | 2021-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Animals |
| spelling | doaj.art-df040c0c33d342f8a7f26a677d8ba77c2023-11-21T19:43:05ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152021-05-01115140010.3390/ani11051400Assessing Influence Factors on Daily Ammonia and Greenhouse Gas Concentrations from an Open-Sided Cubicle Barn in Hot Mediterranean ClimateProvvidenza Rita D’Urso0Claudia Arcidiacono1Francesca Valenti2Giovanni Cascone3Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment (Di3A), Building and Land Engineering Section, University of Catania, Via Santa Sofia, 100-95123 Catania, ItalyDepartment of Agriculture, Food and Environment (Di3A), Building and Land Engineering Section, University of Catania, Via Santa Sofia, 100-95123 Catania, ItalyDepartment of Agriculture, Food and Environment (Di3A), Building and Land Engineering Section, University of Catania, Via Santa Sofia, 100-95123 Catania, ItalyDepartment of Agriculture, Food and Environment (Di3A), Building and Land Engineering Section, University of Catania, Via Santa Sofia, 100-95123 Catania, ItalyMeasurement of gas concentrations constitutes basic knowledge for the computation of emissions from livestock buildings. Although it is well known that hot climate conditions increase gas emissions, in the literature the relation between gas concentrations from open barns and animal-related parameters has not been investigated yet. This study aimed at filling this gap by evaluating daily gas concentrations within an open-sided barn in hot Mediterranean climate. The influence of microclimatic parameters (MC) and cow behavior and barn management (CBBM) were evaluated for ammonia (NH<sub>3</sub>), methane (CH<sub>4</sub>), and carbon dioxide (CO<sub>2</sub>) concentrations. Results showed that both MC and CBBM affected concentrations of NH<sub>3</sub> (<i>p</i> < 0.02), CH<sub>4</sub> (<i>p</i> < 0.001), and CO<sub>2</sub> (<i>p</i> < 0.001). Higher values of NH<sub>3</sub> concentration were detected during the cleaning of the floor by a tractor with scraper, whereas the lowest NH<sub>3</sub> concentrations were recorded during animal lying behavior. Measured values of CO<sub>2</sub> and CH<sub>4</sub> were highly correlated (C = 0.87–0.89) due to the same sources of production (i.e., digestion and respiration). The different management of the cooling systems during the two observation periods reduced significantly CH<sub>4</sub> concentrations in the barn when the cooling system in the feeding area was switched off. Based on methodological choices due to the specific barn typology, parameters related to animals can provide information on the variation of gas concentrations in the barn environment in hot climate conditions.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/11/5/1400gas concentrationsopen barnclimatic parameterscow behaviorbarn managementtemperature humidity index |
| spellingShingle | Provvidenza Rita D’Urso Claudia Arcidiacono Francesca Valenti Giovanni Cascone Assessing Influence Factors on Daily Ammonia and Greenhouse Gas Concentrations from an Open-Sided Cubicle Barn in Hot Mediterranean Climate Animals gas concentrations open barn climatic parameters cow behavior barn management temperature humidity index |
| title | Assessing Influence Factors on Daily Ammonia and Greenhouse Gas Concentrations from an Open-Sided Cubicle Barn in Hot Mediterranean Climate |
| title_full | Assessing Influence Factors on Daily Ammonia and Greenhouse Gas Concentrations from an Open-Sided Cubicle Barn in Hot Mediterranean Climate |
| title_fullStr | Assessing Influence Factors on Daily Ammonia and Greenhouse Gas Concentrations from an Open-Sided Cubicle Barn in Hot Mediterranean Climate |
| title_full_unstemmed | Assessing Influence Factors on Daily Ammonia and Greenhouse Gas Concentrations from an Open-Sided Cubicle Barn in Hot Mediterranean Climate |
| title_short | Assessing Influence Factors on Daily Ammonia and Greenhouse Gas Concentrations from an Open-Sided Cubicle Barn in Hot Mediterranean Climate |
| title_sort | assessing influence factors on daily ammonia and greenhouse gas concentrations from an open sided cubicle barn in hot mediterranean climate |
| topic | gas concentrations open barn climatic parameters cow behavior barn management temperature humidity index |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/11/5/1400 |
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