Use of Bedding Materials in Beef Bedded Manure Packs in Hot and Cool Ambient Temperatures: Effects on Ammonia, Hydrogen Sulfide, and Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Highlights Lab-scale beef manure bedded packs were constructed to evaluate the temperature effect on gaseous emissions. Temperature had a tendency increase ammonia, hydrogen sulfide, and greenhouse gases in headspace above over time. Abstract . Throughout Upper Midwest, producers have observed increased land fertilizer prices, resulting popularity of confinement feeding facilities such as mono-slope hoop barns with packs. Environmental public pressure has been placed agriculture community reduce ammonia (NH3), sulfide (H2S), gas (GHG) emissions from concentrated animal operations (CAFOs). This study was conducted determine effects bedding material (corn stover (CS), bean (BS), wheat straw (WS), or pine wood chips (PC)) ambient (15°C (COOL) 30°C (HOT)) NH3, CH4, CO2, N2O, H2S flux air samples collected lab-scale All housed at 18°C for an initial three weeks before being their respective environmental chambers 15°C remainder 6-week period. Significant two-way interactions by NH3 (p = 0.0094). Ammonia greater higher temperature, while CS lowest compared other materials. A significant interaction < 0.0001), significantly produced COOL-BS all treatments. Additionally, 0.0357) age pack flux. Hydrogen appeared be influenced low pH extent than temperature. Greenhouse tended HOT 0.0422) among material, CH4. Significantly CH4 HOT-BS HOT-CS week 6 CO2 0.0189). The largest levels WS regardless Nitrous oxide decreased packs, PC greatest N2O results indicate that feedlot operators maintaining will reduction when using bedding, To emissions, should avoid allowing BS are maintained longer six (30°C) temperatures; frequent cleaning during summer months is recommended. Based equivalents consider option GHG Keywords: Ammonia, Bedding age, type, Beef, Carbon dioxide, gas, Methane, oxide, Temperature.