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52 © Al-Khalaifa 2016 | Poultry Production
Ammonia Emission Ground Water Contamination
Ammonia is a colorless, water-soluble gas by- According to Bitzer and Sims (1988), excessive
product of the microbiological decomposition of application of poultry litter in some cropping
organic nitrogen compounds in manure. systems has resulted in NO3 contamination of
Modern intensive animal feeding operations groundwater. Problems caused by high NO3
and the relatively large quantity of NH3 pro- concentrations in drinking water include
duced by the excreta associated with these methaemoglobinaemia (blue baby syndrome),
facilities has heightened environmental con- cancer, and respiratory illness in humans, and
cerns over NH3 emissions. It has been suggested fetal abortions in livestock (Stevenson, 1986).
that nearly 50% of the NH3 emissions from High concentrations of P in surface waters,
human-related (anthropogenic) sources come largely resulting from surface runoff of
from livestock operations (Aardenne et al., sediment P, causes eutrophication (Schindler,
2001) (most of the rest come from inorganic 1977; Sharpley et al., 1996). Eutrophication has
fertilizer). Poultry production has been esti- been suggested as the main cause of impaired
mated to be responsible for 1.9 million metric surface water resources (US Environmental
tons of ammonia emissions annually. Protection Agency, 1996). Kingery et al. (1994)
found significant accumulation of NO3 and
Once emitted, NH3 can rapidly react with acidic extractable P near the soil bedrock when
compounds found in the atmosphere, such as poultry litter was used for fertilizing pastored
nitric acid and sulfuric acid, and be converted to land in north Alabama. In corn (Zea mays L.),
aerosolized ammonium particles, typically as poultry litter causes significant leaching of NO3
ammonium sulfate and ammonium nitrate. As to ground water (Liebhardt et al., 1979).
aerosols, N compounds can impact ecological
balance, biodiversity, and water systems. Depo- Trace Elements
sition back onto soil, vegetation, or water
usually occurs within a matter of days and thus Trace elements are added to poultry feed for
in relatively close proximity to the emission disease prevention and enhanced feed effi-
source. Once deposited, N can impact soil ciency. High concentrations are found in poultry
acidity, forest productivity, terrestrial ecosys- litter (PL), which raises concerns regarding
tem biodiversity, stream acidity, and coastal trace element loading of soils. Cu, Zn, and As
productivity (Galloway and Cowling, 2002). occur in PL as a result of their use as growth
promoters or biocides in poultry feed (Sims,
Acid Rain 1995). Reported PL concentrations of Cu and Zn
were 1196 and 631 mg/kg (Van der Watt et al.,
Ammonia (NH3) volatilization from poultry 1994), 55 and 647 mg/kg (Edwards et al.,
litter results in a buildup of atmospheric NH3 in 1997), 718 mg/kg (Moore et al., 1998), 97 and
chicken houses, which is detrimental to both 378 mg/kg (Nicholson et al., 1999), and 743 and
farm laborers and birds. Ammonia loss from 501 mg/kg (Jackson et al., 1999), respectively.
litter is detrimental to the external environment Arsenic concentration in PL is variable. For
because it results in acid rain as well as low N/P example, Sims and Wolf (1994) reported a
ratios in litter, which increases the likelihood of range in As concentration from 0 to 77 mg/kg.
excessive phosphorous runoff into adjacent Other studies have also reported As concen-
water bodies. High atmospheric N contributions trations within this range, such as 30 to37
in the formation of acid rain that may damage mg/kg (van der Watt et al., 1994), 43 mg/kg
plant life cause excessive fertilization of soils (Moore et al., 1998), and 35 mg/kg (Jackson et
and vegetation, increase algal blooms in surface al., 1999).
waters, and damage aquatic life. In general,
plant growth globally is limited by N. Deposition Fate of Arsenic
of N, therefore, can cause increased plant
growth (Matson et al., 2002). Organic arsenicals used in poultry feed are
converted to inorganic arsenicals in poultry
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