In situ measurement of ammonia and greenhouse gas emissions from broiler houses in France

An experimental technique was developed for measuring gaseous emissions including ammonia (NH3), nitrous oxide (N2O) and methane (CH4) from broiler houses. This technique included the monitoring of the air flow rate and the gaseous concentrations. NH3 was determined using acid trap while N2O and CH4 were determined continuously by infrared gas analyser and sequentially by gas chromatography. Moreover, N2O and CH4 emissions were monitored above the litter using closed flux chambers at the end of the experiment. No emissions of N2O and CH4 were observed neither during the growth of the broiler nor above the litter at the end of the experiment. Ammonia concentration varied between 0.8 and 32 ppm in the building. Total ammonia emissions were estimated to 5.74 gN animal(-1) during this experiment. According to this result, ammonia emissions from broiler houses could be estimated to 5.3 kt of N per year in France. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.