Prediction of Ammonia Production Levels in Broiler Houses by Mass Balance under Forced and Natural Ventilation Conditions

Abstract

One of the main contaminant in animal houses is ammonia. As being a greenhouse gas ammonia emission from animal houses influence the atmospheric environment which then triggers global warming. A calculation method for predicting gas production of ammonia rate inside an animal house is developed. This method is based on mass balance equilibrium. Relations between inside and outside environmental conditions and the ammonia concentrations has been observed. Confirmation of the developed equation has been tested in some selected broiler houses raised on litter and under natural and forced ventilation conditions. Production of ammonia rate inside the broiler house was calculated as 7.98 mg.s-1 under forced ventilation, and it was 26.63 mg.s-1 under natural ventilation conditions. The developed approach can be useful to farmers, agricultural or environmental engineers and for the smart agriculture technologies.