S-1000 Regional Project
Animal Manure and Waste Utilization, Treatment and Nuisance Avoidance for a Sustainable Agriculture
2003 Station Reports

REPORTING SCIENTISTS: 

Dwaine S. Bundy
Iowa State University
Ag & Biosystems Engineering
204 Davidson Hall
Ames, IA 50011
515/294-1450

Wendy J. Powers
Iowa State University
Animal Science
109 Kildee Hall
Ames, IA 50011
515/294-1635

DATE:  September 24-26, 2003
OBJECTIVE 1.  DEVELOP MANAGEMENT TOOLS, STRATEGIES AND SYSTEMS FOR LAND APPLICATION OF ANIMAL MANURES AND EFFLUENTS THAT OPTIMIZE EFFICIENT, ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY UTILIZATION OF NUTRIENTS AND ARE COMPATIBLE WITH SUSTAINED LAND AND WATER QUALITY. 

Specific Objectives:
1.    Determine the role of soil and sward characteristics (under typical grazing treatments) in the movement of P and sediment from pastures to streams and establish whole-farm P flows through differ grazing management systems.
2.    Estimate the proportion of P and sediment contributed by sheet and rill, ephemeral gully, classic gully and stream bank erosion from riparian areas that are ungrazed or managed with different stocking systems relative to ungrazed riparian forests and riparian croplands.
3.    Model movement of water, sediment and P from pastures and stream banks to the channel water column on the field, farm and watershed levels.

In spring 2001, pastures were grazed at the ISU Rhodes Research and Demonstration Farm to determine the effects of grazing management on pasture productivity and phosphorus (P) content of forage.   Treatments included an ungrazed control, summer hay harvest with winter stockpiled grazing, continuous stocking to a residual height of 2 inches, rotational stocking to a residual height of 2 inches, and rotational stocking to a residual height of 4 inches.  Forage production was greatest in June and July, decreased in August, and had a slight rebound in September and October before going dormant in November.    Phosphorus concentration of forage was at a maximum in May at 0.27% and decreased to 0.11% in November.  Ungrazed paddocks had no net uptake of P during the grazing season, while forage harvest stimulated P uptake.  Forage growth and P uptake in buffers were unaffected by pasture management strategies that occurred upslope. This project was repeated in 2002 and 2003 with data analysis underway.

Impacts: Management strategies will be identified that will reduce sediment and nutrient losses in the grazing system. Sediment and P are two of the primary water quality concerns in Iowa and the Midwest.

OBJECTIVE 2. DEVELOP, EVALUATE, AND REFINE PHYSICAL, CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL TREATMENT PROCESSES IN ENGINEERED AND NATURAL SYSTEMS FOR MANAGEMENT OF MANURES AND OTHER WASTES.

OBJECTIVE 3. DEVELOP METHODOLOGY, TECHNOLOGY, AND MANAGEMENT PRACTICES TO REDUCE ODORS, GASES, AIRBORNE MICROFLORA, PARTICULATE MATTER, AND OTHER AIRBORNE EMISSIONS FROM ANIMAL PRODUCTION SYSTEMS.

Characterization of gases emitted from swine finishing facilities

Funding agency: Iowa Pork Producers Association
The objective of this study is to characterize emissions from swine facilities in Iowa and to study of the downwind movement of these emissions. To accomplish the objective we air sampled at 7 swine facilities in Year 1 (5 finishing facilities with minimum of 3 finishers per site and 2 sow sites) and 12 facilities (combination of finishers, nursery, and gestation facilities) throughout Iowa. Each site was visited twice weekly during a 10-wk period that occurs between May  and August of each year. Samples were collected from multiple locations at each site (at the building, 50 m 100 m, and 200 m downwind of the building). Onsite, samples were analyzed for hydrogen sulfide and ammonia concentration. Samples were also collected for analysis by gas chromatography of volatile compounds and olfactometry. Weather data was also collected during each visit. Project duration: July 1, 2002 – June 30, 2004.

Outcomes and impacts: Prediction equations were developed to estimate downwind concentrations of individual volatile organic compounds, hydrogen sulfide, and odor based on climatic conditions, distance from the facility, and building concentration. All data will be incorporated into a siting model currently under development at Iowa State University to be used in planning new facilities or in evaluating management strategies.

Direct Measurement of Dietary and Management Strategies Impacts on Ammonia Volatilization
 
Project duration: July 1, 2002 – June 30, 2003
Funding agency: Iowa Pork Producers Association

Project objectives
Project summary

Management strategies
Urine and feces were collected individually from pigs fed the control diets in order to explore some management strategies for effectiveness of ammonia volatilization reduction. The project evaluated three specific strategies:

1) Keeping urine and feces separate versus mixing of the two
2) Post-excretion acidification of manure
3) Application of urease inhibitors for different durations

In addition, the effect of temperature and stirring on ammonia losses was measured. Manure was stored in 2-L vessels for 24, 48, 72, or 96 hr with headspace concentration measured at the end of the designated time period. Manure samples were collected prior to and after storage to determine mass balance of N. Data analyses are underway.

Implications: Strategies that retain or inhibit the formation of ammonia will contribute to ammonia emission reduction goals. Once effective strategies are identified, practical implementation plans can be developed.

Title:    Modeling Odor Dispersion from Multiple Sources to Multiple Receptors
S. J.Hoff and D.S. Bundy

A model to predict the influence of odor dispersion from multiple sources to multiple receptors was developed.  The intention of this model was to provide a tool for evaluating the odor load changes to a community when siting new swine production systems or during expansion of exiting swine production system.  The model can also be used to predict the odor load for existing production systems and how a change in odor control technologies will impact the odor load in the community.  The model developed can handle up to 20 swine production sources with up to 100 receptors in a community of any size.  The model incorporates historical average local weather data, coordinate locations of all sources and receptors, source production arrangement, and any odor reducing technologies incorporated.  The model predicts the number of hours of exposure to odors of varying strength from which decisions can be made on whether or not a proposed siting decision is prudent, or, the odor control technologies that would result in an acceptable odor load of the community.

Outcome and Impacts:  The model will help to  site new livestock facilities and to identify existing facilities that need mitigation strategies to reduce environmental impacts on neighbors to help reduce tension between producers and neighbors living in the community of livestock systems

Title:    Automated Downwind Sampling for Analyzing Gas Dispersion from Livestock Systems
S.J. Hoff and D.S. Bundy

Much attention is being given in the United States to Ambient concentrations of odor, hydrogen sulfide, and ammonia.  Much of this attention is due to new ambient air quality regulations ready in enforcement or being considered for enforcement in many U.S. States.  A procedure is needed to help quantify the ambient concentration levels of these gases, and the influence of atmospheric stability on downwind concentrations for various livestock and poultry production practices.  This data is especially needed to assess the influence of siting and other factors on downwind gas concentrations,  This paper discusses the development of two automated downwind sampling systems for capturing static field samples fore evaluation in the laboratory.  Samplers being discussed include methods for assessing downwind area sources measurements and the resulting downwind dispersion as affected by atmospheric stability.

Outcome and Impacts:  New sampling techniques are described which will provide lower cost and to improve measurements of odorous gases around livestock facilities which will allow producers to know how effect their management methods are in odorous gas emissions.

Survey Monitoring of Environmental Factors from bedded Swine Systems
J.D. Harmon, D.S. Bundy, T.L. Richard, S.J. Hoff, and A. Beatty

Six deep bedded swine finishing production sites were surveyed for hydrogen sulfide, ammonia, and odor concentrations, each site was observed four different times with readings 6 times over a 36-hour period.  Hydrogen sulfide, ammonia and odor were measured at the building edge and downwind 100 ft.  Hydrogen sulfide and ammonia were measured 500 feet downwind also.  The site averages for hydrogen sulfide were found to range from 25 to 228 ppb at the building edge, 2 to 11 ppb 100 feet downwind and 4 to 8 ppb 500 feet downwind.  Ammonia site averages were found to range from 2 to 11 ppm at the building edge, undetectable to 3 ppm downwind 100 feet and undetectable at 500 ft.  Odor threshold site averages ranged from 130 to 580 at the building 80 to 500 at a point 100 feet from the building.  Single point hydrogen sulfide monitors were used 100 feet from the building at the four compass points.  The downwind monitor yielded weighted averages ranging from 0.8 to 8.1 ppb for the six sites.  Analyzing this data by separating it by atmospheric stability classes did not appear to indicate a trend.

Title:  Premium Standard Farm Study on odor emissions from covered and uncovered lagoon and buildings
D.S. Bundy, S.J. Hoff, A. Gralapp, and A. Beatty

    The report covers the 16 months of data collected at the Homan Farm in northwest Missouri on the Premium Standard Farms.  The primary focus of the study was on evaluating the odors emitted from lagoons and finishing buildings using different control technologies.  The control technology for the lagoon was an impermeable cover compared to a mature anaerobic lagoon and the effects on the atmosphere in the barn.  The second technology was in spraying a mist (NC 2000) in the barn every 10 minutes. 

    The odor detection threshold (ODT) was measured on the lagoons, downwind, and in the barns.  Ammonia and hydrogen sulfide was measured at the lagoon and downwind.  A scentometer was used to measure downwind.  The results showed that the odor was reduced at the lagoon, even though the cover was submerged during most of the study.  The odor in the barn from flushing with the effluent was higher. 

Outcome and Impact:    The results of the study showed that the odor emission from permeable covered lagoon system, including odors from the barn, was approximately 40 percent of the uncovered lagoon and flushing through the building.
OBJECTIVE 4. DEVELOP AND EVALUATE FEEDING SYSTEMS FOR THEIR POTENTIAL TO ALTER THE EXCRETION OF ENVIRONMENTALLY-SENSITIVE NUTRIENTS BY LIVESTOCK.

Direct Measurement of Dietary and Management Strategies Impacts on Ammonia Volatilization

Project duration: July 1, 2002 – June 30, 2003
Funding agency: Iowa Pork Producers Association
Project objectives
Conduct exploratory studies to evaluate dietary effects on ammonia emissions from grower-finisher swine
Quantify the impact of including synthetic amino acids in swine diets on reducing ammonia volatilization.   

Project summary
Dietary Strategies
Pigs weighing 150 lb were housed in indirect calorimeters (3 pigs per calorimeter) for a 4-wk period. During the firs trial, pigs were fed diets containing varying numbers of amino acids (Lys, Lys+Met, Lys+Met+Thr+Trp) in order to formulate diets with varying crude protein concentrations. Each chamber is equipped with a precision air mass flow meter. Ammonia concentration in calorimeter emissions was measured using chemiluminescence and, using flow rates, converted to ammonia emissions. A second trial tested he effect of commercial dietary additives reported to bind ammonia or inhibit urease activity. Data analyses are underway.

Impact: By reducing excess nitrogen excretion, we can potentially reduce ammonia volatilization by the same amount thereby providing a tool for producers who need to maintain compliance with regards to air emissions.

Protein Feeding Strategies In Beef Cattle To Reduce Ammonia Volatilization Losses

Objectives:
1. Consider dietary undegradable protein:degradable protein ratio effects on ammonia volatilization from manure excreted by beef cattle
2. Quantify increases in ammonia losses that result from feeding crude protein in excess of NRC recommendations.

Summary: Beef steers, ranging in weight from 400 – 800 lbs, will be housed in metabolism crates and fed diets containing varying proportions of undegradable and degradable protein and varying crude protein content. Urine and feces will be collected from seers, individually, mixed in proportion to what was excreted, and incubated at room temperature for an in vitro assessment of ammonia emissions. Air is pulled across the top of plastic storage containers containing a seer’s manure. Flow rate is measured. Air passes through boric acid traps and traps are titrated to determine ammonia concentration. The first group of steers started in the metabolism crates on September 22, 2003.

Impact: By reducing excess nitrogen excretion, we can potentially reduce ammonia volatilization by the same amount thereby providing a tool for producers who need to maintain compliance with regards to air emissions.

Effects Of Forage Maturity On Phosphorus Digestion in Beef Cows

 Project duration: May 1, 2002 – September 30, 2003

The objective of this study is to determine the apparent digestibility of P for pastures using a rotational stocking system with and without supplemental hay removal. The two treatments used in this study are 1) grazing and 2) grazing with hay removal.

Summary: To better estimate phosphorus (P) excretion, estimates of P digestibility for forages of different compositions are needed. Four crossbred cow/calf pairs were stocked on four pastures managed with grazing (G) or grazing with hay removal (G/H). Forage was maintained in paddocks at a 50 percent removal level. Collected pasture samples and fecal samples from cows administered chromic oxide were analyzed for P, NDF, and ADL contents. Rumen evacuations of steers were conducted to evaluate composition of consumed forage for each treatment. The G/H pastures contained greater P and cows on these pastures excreted more P (g/d). Grazing management did not influence bone P or breaking force. Forage analyzed from steer-grazed paddocks and rumen contents of the steers showed no treatment differences. A significant date  treatment interaction was observed for P (P<0.0001) and NDF (P=0.0002) of the steer grazed paddocks, primarily due to greater P in the G/H pastures during July and less NDF in both treatments in July. A second year of study and further analysis will enable assessment of grazing management on P digestibility.
PUBLICATIONS

Refereed Publications
Powers, W.J. 2003. Keeping science in environmental regulations: the role of the animal scientist. JDS 86(4):1045-1051

Conference Proceedings Papers
Powers, W.J. 2003. Characterization of air in and around poultry and livestock facilities. Proceedings of the Midwest Poultry Federation Annual Convention, March 18-20, 2003. St. Paul, MN.

Bicudo, J. R., Clanton, C.J., Schmidt, D. R., Jacobson, L. D., Powers, W.J., and Tengman, C.L. 2003. Geotextile covers to reduce odor and gas emissions from swine manure storage ponds. Trans. ASAE.

Powers, W.J. 2003. Managing N, P, and K for the dairy industry. Proc. of the Tri-State Dairy Nutrition Conference, April 7-9, Fort Wayne, IN.

Powers, W.J. 2003. Characterization of air in and around poultry and livestock facilities. Symposium on Gaseous and Odour Emissions from Animal Production Facilities. Horsens, Denmark, June 1-4.

Hoff  S. J., D. S. Bundy.  2003. Modeling Odor Dispersion from Multiple Sources to Multiple Receptors.  International Symposium on GASEOUS AND ODOUR EMISSIONS FROM ANIMAL PRODUCTION FACILITIES. Scandic Hotel Bygholm Park. Horsens 1-4, June 2003. CIGR.

Hoff, S.J. D.S. Bundy. 2003. Automated Downwind Sampling for Analyzing Gas Dispersion from Livestock Systems. Technique. International Symposium on GASEOUS AND ODOUR EMISSIONS FROM ANIMAL PRODUCTION FACILITIES. Scandic Hotel Bygholm Park. Horsens 1-4, June 2003. CIGR.

J.D. Harmon, D.S. Bundy, T.K. Richard, S.J. Hoff , A. Beatty. 2003. Survey Monitoring of Environmental Factors from Bedded Swine Systems. 2003.  International Symposium on GASEOUS AND ODOUR EMISSIONS FROM ANIMAL PRODUCTION FACILITIES. Scandic Hotel Bygholm Park. Horsens 1-4, June 2003. CIGR.

Jacobson, L.D., A.J. Heber, Y. Zhang, J. Sweeten, J., Kozie, S.J. Hoff, D.S. Bundy, D.B. Beasley, G.R. Baughman. 2003 Air Pollutant Emissions from Confined Animal Buildings in the U.S. International Symposium on GASEOUS AND ODOUR EMISSIONS FROM ANIMAL PRODUCTION FACILITIES. Scandic Hotel Bygholm Park. Horsens 1-4, June 2003. CIGR.

Stout, V.,  T.L. Richard, A. Singh, S.J. Hoff, P.Dixon, J. Harmon, D.S. Bundy. 2003. Variability in Greenhouse Gas Emission Measurements Using the Tracer Gas Technique.   International Symposium on GASEOUS AND ODOUR EMISSIONS FROM ANIMAL PRODUCTION FACILITIES. Scandic Hotel Bygholm Park. Horsens 1-4, June 2003. CIGR.

Schauberger, G., A.J. Heber, T.T. Lim, J.-Q. Ni, D.S. Bundy, B.L. Haymore, C.A. Diehl, R.K. Duggirala. 2003. Simple Odour Release Model for Swine Finishing Houses. International Symposium on GASEOUS AND ODOUR EMISSIONS FROM ANIMAL PRODUCTION FACILITIES. Scandic Hotel Bygholm Park. Horsens 1-4, June 2003. CIGR.

Hoff, S. J., K Hornbuckle, P. Thorne, D. Bundy, P, O’Shaughnessy. 2002 Emissions and Community Exposure from CAFOs. Chapter 4. Iowa Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations Air Quality Study, Iowa State University and the University of Iowa Study Group, Feb 2002.

Merchant, J. J. Kline, K Donham, D. Bundy, C. Hodne. 2002  Human Health Effects. Chapter 6.3. Iowa Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations Air Quality Study, Iowa State University and the University of Iowa Study Group, Feb 2002.

Committee.  2002 Executive Summary:  Iowa Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations Air Quality Study, Iowa State University and the University of Iowa Study Group, Feb 2002.

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