A multi-chamber incubation system for accurate assessment of ammonia and hydrogen sulfide emissions from cattle manure: Effects of dietary protein level
- Journal
- Animal Feed Science and Technology
- Vol
- 340
- Page
- 116816
- Year
- 2026
- File
- Animal feed science and technology.pdf (1.9M) 0회 다운로드 DATE : 2026-06-17 11:10:47
A simplified multi-chamber manure (mixture of feces and urine) incubation system was developed to accurately measure ammonia (NH₃) and hydrogen sulfide (H2S) emissions from manure. Addressing the complexity of conventional equipment, this methodological innovation replaces individual mass flow controllers and real-time gas analyzers with a practical 24-hour composite sampling approach. The system comprises six chambers with controlled airflow (2 L/minute) and humidity, directing vented air into Tedlar bags for reliable daily quantification. Accuracy was evaluated by introducing a known concentration of NH₃ (92 ppm) into empty chambers, resulting in a mean recovery rate of 95.7% with no significant differences among chambers. Precision was assessed by incubating identical manure samples in all chambers over five days, demonstrating consistent NH₃ emission rates (coefficient of variation: 2.6%). As an application example, the validated system was used to evaluate the effects of dietary crude protein (CP) levels on NH3 and H2S emissions from manure of Hanwoo steers during a 10-day incubation. The system successfully captured emission dynamics, clearly detecting that a high-CP diet significantly increased daily NH₃ emission rates (P < 0.001) compared to lower-CP diets, while confirming that cumulative NH₃ and H₂S emissions remained unaffected by the dietary CP levels. Ultimately, this costeffective and standardized system bridges the gap between complex laboratory instrumentation and practical nutritional research, providing a robust platform for evaluating dietary strategies aimed at mitigating livestock odor emissions.