摘要

Nitrogen (N) deposition in Rocky Mountain National Park, USA (RMNP) and adjacent alpine ecosystems has led to increased focus on ammonia (NH3) emissions from livestock operations in this region. A study was conducted at a commercial beef feedlot in Northern Colorado, USA to quantify NH3 fluxes, estimate emission factors (EFs), and evaluate measurement methodologies. Point and line-integrated fenceline NH3 measurements were taken over a 78-day study at a large feedlot east of RMNP focusing on transport towards the park. Ammonia fluxes were estimated using two inverse models, a backward Lagrangian stochastic approach (WindTrax) and a simpler inverse dispersion approach (FIDES) using input data from both NH3 datasets. Line-integrated NH3 concentrations were obtained from a long-path laser and single-point concentrations were collected with a cavity ring-down analyzer, both positioned on the downwind fenceline. Mean feedlot NH3 concentration (+/- 1 standard deviation, sigma) was 601 +/- 246 mu g m(-3) (1013 +/- 421 ppbv), where peak values often exceeded several ppmv. Concentrations from the long-path sensor were slightly higher than the point sensor when winds were from the feedlot (p = 0.0005), but 2.5 times less data were collected with the long-path instrument due to dust or laser-reflector alignment issues. Regardless of the model used, fluxes showed a diel pattern peaking in the afternoon with early morning minimums. Emissions varied more by inverse model than by sensor, with WindTrax emissions 25% higher than FIDES. Composite 24-h mean emissions (+/- 1 sigma) from FIDES were 48 +/- 24 mu g m-2 s-1 (EF = 71 +/- 35 g hd(-1) d(-1)), while WindTrax averaged 60 +/- 30 mu g m(-2) s(-1 )(EF = 89 +/- 44 g hd(-1) d(-1)) (p <<0.0001). Overall 24-h mean EF for the summer (across both models) was 80 +/- 39 g hd(-1) d(-1). When dietary N was considered (13.25% crude protein), based on 24-h composites FIDES estimated NH3-N released to the atmosphere to be 35.6% of fed-N, while WindTrax showed 44.6% fed-N. The overall mean across models was 40.0% fed-N.

  • 出版日期2018-8-15