Variability of Atmospheric Ammonia In High-Rise,Caged Layer Composting

High concentrations of atmospheric ammonia (NH₃) can impact poultry and human health. During composting inside high-rise, caged layer facilities, high concentrations of NH₃ are produced due to low carbon to nitrogen ratios of composting materials and the confined building environment. This study characterized the spatial and temporal variability of NH₃ during in-house composting as a preliminary step to identifying control measures. Boric acid solutions and gas sensors were used to measure NH₃ in 2 m × 7.5 m grid patterns for three high-rise laying hen structures during composting. Spatial variability was evident in all buildings, with areas of higher NH₃ concentration near the center of buildings away from ventilation fans. Ammonia concentrations in the composting area frequently exceeded human health standards for 8-hour and 10-minute exposure periods of 25 and 35 μL L^?1, respectively. Ammonia concentrations were lower in cage areas of high-rise structures due to the negative pressure ventilation system venting gas directly from the composting area to the outside of buildings. Over a 6-week composting cycle, NH₃ generally increased as compost accumulated in the structure. Over 1-day periods of time, NH₃ concentrations varied with fluctuations in outdoor air temperatures and fan operation. During turning of compost, atmospheric NH₃ reached a high of nearly 50 μL L^?1 for over 30 minutes. Monitoring NH₃ and altering the ventilation of poultry houses could reduce NH₃ concentrations below critical levels at peak times such as during turning. However, ventilation as a solution to high NH₃ levels may not be environmentally sustainable. Other alternatives such as chemical and process controls, structural changes, or biofiltration should be explored to prevent NH₃ volatilization or remove NH₃ from air vented during in-house composting.     

Techniques and strategies for the reduction of ammonia emission from agriculture

Agricultural production systems are recognised as a major source of atmospheric ammonia (NH₃). When deposited, the NH₃ may contribute to eutrophication of oligotrophic ecosystems and to acidification. Techniques for the reduction of ammonia emission are mainly focused on reducing the NH₃ emitting area exposed to the air, reducing the NH₃ or ammonium (NH ₄ ⁺ ) concentration in solution or reducing the exchange of air above the emitting surface. In this paper we present the techniques and changes in farming practice which may reduce NH₃ emission. Due to interactions between different sources on a farm, reduction in NH₃ emission from individual parts of the livestock production system cannot simply be added to give the net reduction in emission from the total system. Thus a whole farm system approach is needed for devising control strategies for reducing NH₃ emission.     

Effect of NO3 and NH4 concentrations in nutrient solution on yield and nitrate concentration in seasonally grown leaf lettuce

The effect of suboptimal supply of nitrogen (N) and of replacing nitrate in the nutrient solution with ammonia on growth, yield, and nitrate concentration in green and red leaf lettuce was evaluated over two seasons (autumn and spring) using multiple regression analysis. The plants were grown in a greenhouse on a Nutrient Film Technique (NFT) system. Nitrogen concentrations in the nutrient solution were either 3?mM or 12?mM, and the form of N was varied as follows: 100% NO₃, 50% NO₃?+?50% NH₄, and 100% NH₄. In both seasons, the biomass (fresh weight) of lettuce heads increased with increasing NO₃ concentrations and in autumn, NO₃ even at 1.5?mM was sufficient for high yield. However, head dry weight was affected neither by the season nor by changes in the composition of the nutrient solution. The concentration of NO₃ had no effect on root dry weight, but it decreased at higher concentrations of NH₄. The number of leaves increased as the ratio of NO₃ to NH₄ in the nutrient solution increased and was higher in autumn because of the longer growth period. Increasing the concentration of NO₃ in nutrient solution increased both total N and nitrate concentration in lettuce heads (dry weight) but decreased the concentration of total C. Also, leaf nitrate concentration was lower in spring than in autumn and decreased with increasing NH₄ concentration. Nitrogen utilization efficiency was maximum when NH₄ levels in the nutrient solution were either 0% or 50% irrespective of the season. Our results thus show that suboptimal N supply in autumn will not affect lettuce yield, and that nitrate concentration in leaves is lower when NH₄ concentrations in nutrient solution are higher and also much lower in red lettuce than in green lettuce.     

Injury of leatherleaf fern and tomato from volatilized ammonia after fertilizer application

Abstract

A commercially blended 7–2–11 fertilizer containing 27 g ? kg^‐1 soluble ammoniacal nitrogen (NH₄‐N) was evaluated for ammonia (NH₃) volatilization and injury to leatherleaf fern (Rumohra adiantiformis) and an indicator plant, tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum). Closed system laboratory incubation studies on pH‐buffered sand medium indicated a very highly significant response (p≤0.001) of NH₃ volatilization to sand pH. The greatest risk from NH₃ emissions at pH 8.6 and 32°C appeared to be in the 5 to 70 hour period after fertilizer application. Gypsum (CaSO₄) did not affect NH₃ volatilization. Ammonium nitrate (NH₄NO₃) was identified as the main source of NH₃ volatilization from this fertilizer formulation, while on an equal mass basis, ammonium sulphate [(NH₄)₂SO₄] was more important. Both tomato and immature leatherleaf fern fronds were highly sensitive to volatilized NH₃ from the fertilizer. A critical phytotoxic NH₃(aq) concentration in sand solution of 0.14 mM was estimated for immature fern fronds. Mature fern fronds were significantly more tolerant of NH₃ emissions, which may explain their observed resistance to NH₃ injury in the field. Assessment of selected soil and irrigation water pH's from a leatherleaf fern growing area in Florida indicated a strong likelihood that volatilized NH₃ injury to foliage can occur under field conditions.     

The measurement of low concentrations of ammonia in the atmosphere by flow‐injection analysis

Abstract

A flow injection procedure, based on the reaction between ammonia, salicylate, nitroprusside and alkaline dichlorisocyanurate, was developed which enabled changes in the concentration of ammonia in the atmosphere to be monitored at 15 minute intervals. The detection limit was 10 ppb NH₃‐N in solution for a working range of 0 ‐ 1000 ppb, corresponding to a concentration in the air of 4 μg NH₃‐N/m³. Regression analysis revealed a complex inter‐relationship between the concentrations of the reagents. The method was validated by the close correlation obtained between the results with a cross‐check analysis by ion chromatography and its use demonstrated by following the volatilization of ammonia from a soil core treated with urine.     

Modellanlage zur Bestimmung von Ammoniakverlusten aus organischen und mineralischen Düngern unter kontrollierten Bedingungen

A model system for the determination of ammonia losses from organic and mineral fertilizers under controlled conditions A closed-dynamic model was developed for the continuous registration of losses of ammonia. NH₃ escaping from the soil surface is introduced to an acid trap. The resulting increase in pH is equivalent to the amount of NH₃ and is recorded by an automatic data recorder. Wind velocity in this system can be adjusted between 100 and 400 L air/h, which corresponds to a 12 to 40-fold total air exchange per minute. Temperature can be regulated between +5°C and +30°C. In addition, air humidity can be controlled. The testing of the model revealed deviations of maximally 0.6% between measured pH value and destillation. The average recovery amounted to 97.2%.     

Minimizing Ammonia Volatilization from Urea in Waterlogged Condition Using Chicken Litter Biochar

Application of urea in lowland rice fields leads to ammonia (NH₃) volatilization and environmental pollution, and diminishes nitrogen recovery by rice (Oryza sativa L.). Amending urea with biochar could reduce NH₃ loss from urea as well as improve chemical properties of acid soils. An incubation study was conducted using a closed-dynamic air flow system to determine NH₃ volatilization from urea and chemical properties of an acid soil (Typic Paleudults). The soil was mixed with three rates of chicken litter biochar (20, 40, and 60 g pot^?1) and 1.31 g urea. Mixing an acid soil with biochar (60 g pot^?1) in waterlogged to stimulate conditions in paddy condition significantly reduced NH₃ loss and total titratable acidity. Biochar application also increased soil pH, total nitrogen, available nitrate, organic matter, total organic carbon, total carbon, available phosphorus, and exchangeable cations. Thus, chicken litter biochar can be used to reduce urea-N loss and ameliorate chemical properties of acid soils. This aspect is being embarked on in our on-going field experiments.     

Ammonia emissions from fields treated with green manure in a Mediterranean climate

The ammonia flux from a green manured field was measured at a site in southern Italy. The green manure was provided by ploughing in about 66 and 78 t ha⁻¹ of broad beans at the flowering stage during the spring in 1995 and 1996. The NH₃ flux was estimated by means of the micrometeorological simplified aerodynamic method with the ammonia concentration measured at two levels above soil surface. Ammonia concentration was measured over a 2–3 h sampling period by trapping air NH₃ in a H₂SO₄ solution and analysing this sample in the laboratory with the colorimetric method using the Nessler solution. About 70% of the total amount of ammonia was emitted in the first two days immediately after manuring. The NH₃ flux was regulated by the same mechanism as the water vapour transport. Seventy percent of the daily ammonia was emitted around noon. The ammonia emission stopped during rainy and cold days and started again as soon as solar radiation, soil and air temperature increased, following plant decomposition. The total amount of ammonia emitted in the experimental period (28 days in 1995 and 18 days in 1996) was about 13 kg ha⁻¹ for both years.     

Annual Variations of Needle Surface Characteristics of Pinus Sylvestris Growing Near the Emission Source

In present study, pollutant effects on needle surface characteristics of Pinus sylvestris in the area affected by a nitrogen fertilizer plant have been investigated over 1994–1997 year period. Near the factory, sites with 15–25-year-old trees on a 0.5–22 km interval were chosen. Mean monthly concentrations of NO₂ and NH₃ varied across the transect in the range of 1.8–8.8 µg m^?3 and 1.8 – 69.3 µg m^?3, respectively. NH₃ concentrations exceeded the critical level (>23 µg m^?3) only in the 0.5 km vicinity. Assessment of needle surface wettability by measuring contact angles (CA) of water droplets and surface quality by measuring stomatal area covered by structural wax (SW) revealed significant (p<0.05) needle age, site, and year of sampling related differences. Comparison of SW between sites showed reliably (p<0.05) higher surface wax erosion on one-year-old needles sampled in the area, where ammonia concentration exceeds critical level. Significant correlations between site SW on one-year-old needles and distance from the pollution source, NO₂ and NH₃ concentrations were detected (r = 0.539; r = ? 0.495; r = ? 0.426; p<0.001, respectively). Correlations between CA and factors mentioned were lower.     

Use of CaCl2 to decrease ammonia volatilization after application of fresh and anaerobic chicken slurry to soil

Ammonia losses after surface application of fresh chicken slurry (15% solids) and anaer-obically stored chicken slurry (10% solids) to a silty clay soil (pH 6.9) at a rate equivalent to 34 m³ ha^?1 were studied in a laboratory incubation experiment. Total NH₃-N losses amounted to 29% of the initial uric acid-N+urea-N+NH⁺₄-N content of the fresh slurry and 28% of the initial NH⁺₄-N content of the anaerobic slurry. Peak rates of ammonia volatilization took place between 24 h and 48 h after application of the fresh slurry and within 5 h of application of the anaerobic slurry. The addition of CaCl₂ at a rate of 36 mg Ca g^?1 (dry wt) slurry decreased peak rates of ammonia volatilization from the fresh slurry by 73% and total losses by 37%. The decrease in total ammonia losses through CaCl₂ addition to the anaerobic slurry was only 8 %. The addition of CaCl₂ decreased CO₂ output from both slurries through precipitation of HCO₃^? as CaCO₃, thereby removing a source of alkalinity from the solution. The failure of the CaCl₂ addition to decrease significantly ammonia losses from the anaerobic slurry suggested that HCO₃^? was an important source of alkalinity driving ammonia volatilization in the fresh slurry, but not in the anaerobic slurry. CaCl₂, addition did not affect urea hydrolysis, nor net nitrogen mineralization. The decrease in ammonia loss achieved through CaCl₂ addition was however not associated with a parallel increase in ammonium concentrations in the soil. Further experiments showed that the ammonia retained by the CaCl₂, was probably fixed by the soil and rendered non-extractable by KCl.     

Influence of ambient acidity on the absorption of NO3 − and NH4 + by tomato punts

Abstract

The effects of ambient acidity on NO₃ ^? and Nh₄ ⁺ absorption by 26‐day‐old tomato plants (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) were examined in solution culture. The absorption rate per unit root mass was measured for 6 hr. The NO₃ ^? absorption rate from 0.4 mM NaNO, was 36% greater at pH 4.5 than at pH 6.5. In contrast, the NhY absorption rate was approximately 42% greater at pH 5.5 or 6.5 than at pH 4.5. The presence of equimolar NHr from 0.4 mM NH^NO, decreased the NO, absorption rate at pH 5.5 or 6.5 but did not reduce the rate at pH 4.5. The NO, absorption rate was inhibited less at pH 5.5 when equimolar NHr was supplied from 0.2 mM (NH₄)₂S0₄ as opposed to NH₄NO₃. At pH 5.5, the N0₃ ^? absorption rate increased with increased #OPNH₄#CP₂SO₄ concentration. The presence of equimolar NO₃ ^? supplied as either NaNO₃ or NH₄NO₃ had no effect on the NH₄ ⁺ absorption rate at pH 5.5 or 6.5. However, at pH 4.5, the NH₄ ⁺ absorption rate was slightly reduced from NH₄NO₃ solutions relative to that from a (NH₄)₂S0₄ solution.     

Gaseous Emissions During the Coal Mining Activity and Neutralizing Capacity of Ammonium

This paper presents the simultaneous measurement of atmospheric concentration of gaseous NH₃, SO₂ and NO₂, and particulate NH ₄ ⁺ released from the mining activities of coal-mine area, Tirap colliery, Margherita (Assam). Gas samples were collected by impinger method and were analyzed colorimetrically. The vapor-phase concentration of NH₃, SO₂, and NO₂ range between 4.7?C40.03, 1.47?C6.14, and 1.92?C2.40???g/m³. The NH ₄ ⁺ concentration in PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 ranges between 0.02?C0.07 and 0.008?C0.03???g/m³, respectively. Moderately high concentrations of NH₃ and SO₂ on the first day were due to the coal-burning activity near the sampling site, while the low concentration of NO₂ is due to less vehicle density near the sampling point. All the observed concentrations are below than those reported for the urban areas and the prescribed limit fixed by National Ambient Air Quality Standard, India. Study indicates that ammonia is the major neutralizing agent for sulfate and nitrate ions present in the particulate matter during mining activities.     

Are enchytraeid worms (Oligochaeta) sensitive indicators of ammonia-N impacts on an ombrotrophic bog?

Enchytraeid worms (Oligochaeta) are the dominant mesofauna in wet acidic habitats. They have key roles in biogeochemical cycling, and can be used as biological indicators. Here we report the response of these worms to in situ ammonia-N (NH₃-N) deposition on an ombrotrophic bog. Three years of NH₃-N fumigation from an automated release system has created a gradient of NH₃-N concentrations downwind of the release pipe ranging from 83 μg m⁻³ (near source) to 4.5 μg m⁻³ NH₃-N (60 m from release pipe); the ambient NH₃-N concentration is 0.56 μg m⁻³ NH₃-N. Peat pH and mineral N content have increased near the ammonia release pipe. We hypothesised that enhanced N deposition at the site would have improved litter quality and thus, enchytraeid distribution would be increased along the transect compared to ambient. However, neither litter quality nor enchytraeid abundance and diversity were affected by NH₃-N despite increases in peat pH and mineral N. This suggests that three years of ammonia fumigation was not enough time for plant matter exposed to ammonia to become incorporated into the peat litter layer. Enchytraeids appear not to be sensitive indicators of NH₃ fumigation because there was no effect below-ground of peat chemistry on litter quality.     

Characteristics of Nitrogenous Air Pollutants at Urban and Suburban Forested Sites, Western Japan

Nitrogenous air pollutants including nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), nitric acid (HNO₃), nitrate (NO ₃ ^? ), ammonia (NH₃), ammonium (NH ₄ ⁺ ), and nitrous acid (HONO) were characterized at an urban forested (UF) site in Hiroshima and at a suburban forested (SF) site in Fukuoka, western Japan, using an annular denuder system for 1?year from May 2006 to May 2007 to compare the concentrations and chemical species of atmospheric nitrogenous pollutants between UF and SF sites. The proximity of the urban area was reflected in higher NO₂ concentrations at the UF site than at the SF site. NO₂ was more oxidized at the SF site because it is farther from an urban area than the UF site, which was reflected in higher concentrations of HNO₃ at the SF site than the UF site. HNO₃ and acidic sulfate is neutralized by NH₃, existing as ammonium nitrate (NH₄NO₃) and ammonium sulfate [(NH₄)₂SO₄] at the UF site. At the SF site, acidic sulfate is neutralized by NH₃, existing as (NH₄)₂SO₄, but NH₄NO₃, had scarcely formed at the SF site. A much higher HONO concentration was observed at the UF site than at the SF site, especially in winter and spring at night, which could be explained by higher NO₂ concentrations at the UF site because of its proximity to an urban area and stagnant meteorological conditions. Atmospheric HONO determination was critical in evaluating the possibility of damage to trees in UF areas.     

Dry matter and nitrogen accumulation are not affected by superopt1mal concentration of ammonium in flowing solution culture with pH control

Abstract

While it is known that superoptimal concentrations of the nitrate (NO₃ ^?) ion in solution culture do not increase NO₃ ^? uptake or dry matter accumulation, the same is not known for the ammonium (NH₄ ⁺) ion. An experiment was conducted utilizing flowing solution culture with pH control to investigate the influence of superoptimal NH₄ ⁺ concentrations on dry matter, nitrogen (N), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), and magnesium (Mg) accumulation by nonnodulated soybean plants. Increasing the NH₄ ⁺ concentration in solution from 1 to 10 mM did not affect dry matter or N accumulation. Accumulations of K, Ca, and Mg were slightly decreased with the increased NH₄ ⁺ concentration. The NH₄ ⁺ uptake system, which is saturated at less than 1 mM NH₄ ⁺, is able to regulate uptake of NH₄ ⁺ at concentrations as high as 10 mM.     

Absorption of Ammonia Released from Poultry Manure to Soil and Bark and the Use of Absorbed Ammonia in Solubilizing Phosphate Rock

Composting systems were designed to utilize ammonia (NH₃) released during composting of poultry manure to solubilize phosphate rock (PR). The NH₃ released from decomposing manure was allowed to pass through columns containing soil or bark materials mixed with North Carolina phosphate rock (NCPR) at a rate of 1 mg P g^?1. After eight weeks of incubation, the columns were dismantled and the forms of P and N in PR/soil or PR/bark mixtures were measured. The dissolution of PR was determined from the increases in the amount of soluble and adsorbed P (resin plus NaOH extractable P) or from the decreases in the residual apatite P (HC1 extractable P).

The amounts of NH₄^+-N in the soil and bark columns increased due to absorption of the NH₃ released from poultry manure. No nitrification of absorbed NH₃ occurred, however, unless the soil or bark were reinoculated with a fresh soil solution and incubated for further six weeks.

In the absence of NH₃ absorption, soil and bark materials dissolved approximately 33 percent and 82 percent of NCPR, respectively. The higher dissolution of NCPR in bark was attributed to its higher exchangeable acidity and Ca sink size. There was no increase in NCPR dissolution during the initial NH₃ absorption phase (36 percent and 85 percent dissolution in soil and bark respectively), which may be due to the absence of nitrification. However, during subsequent reincubation when nitrification occurred, the final dissolution of NCPR in the NH₃ treated soil and bark was slightly higher (41 percent and 100 percent, respectively). Protons (H⁺) are released during the oxidation of NH₄⁺ to NO_3? (nitrification) which promote the dissolution of PR. However, most of the H⁺ released during nitrification was involved with soil and bark pH buffering reactions. Only five to 10 percent was involved in PR solubilization in PR/soil mixtures whereas about 50 percent was involved in PR/bark systems.

Bark covers for poultry manure and poultry manure compost heaps have the potential to reduce NH₃ loss and conserve N and may be useful for other purposes such as PR solubilization.     

Comparative investigation on the susceptibility of faba bean (Vicia faba L.) and sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) to iron chlorosis

Comparative physiological studies on iron (Fe) chlorosis of Vicia faba L. and Helianthus annuus L. were carried out. High internal Fe contents in Vicia cotyledons (16–37 μg) were completely used for plant growth and Fe chlorosis was not inducible by the application of nitrate (with or without bicarbonate). In Helianthus, low quantities of Fe in the seeds (4 μg) were insufficient for normal growth and without Fe in the nutrient solution, Fe chlorosis was obtained in all treatments. This chlorosis was an absolute Fe deficiency. Also, the treatment with 1 μM Fe in the nutrient solution and nitrate (with or without bicarbonate) led to severe chlorotic symptoms associated with low leaf Fe concentrations and high Fe concentrations in the roots. In contrast, Helianthus grown with NH₄NO₃ and 1 μM Fe had green leaves and high leaf Fe concentrations. However, with NO₃ supply (with or without bicarbonate), Fe translocation from the roots to the upper plant parts was restricted and leaves were chlorotic. Chlorotic and green sunflower leaves may have the same Fe concentrations, leaf Fe concentration being dependent on Fe translocation into the leaf at the various pH levels in the nutrient solution. At low external pH levels (controlled conditions) more Fe was translocated into the leaf leading to similar leaf Fe concentrations with higher chlorophyll concentrations (NH₄NO₃) and with lower chlorophyll concentrations (NO₃). This indicates a lower utilization of leaf Fe of NO₃ grown sunflower plants. Utilization of Fe in faba bean leaves is presumably higher than in sunflower leaves. In Vicia xylem sap pH was not affected by nitrate. In contrast, the xylem sap pH in Helianthus was permanently increased by about 0.4 pH units when fed with nitrate (with or without bicarbonate) compared with NH₄NO₃ nutrition. The xylem sap pH is indicative of leaf apoplast pH. From our earlier work (Mengel et al., 1994; Kosegarten und Englisch, 1994) we therefore suppose that in Helianthus, Fe immobilization occurs in the leaf apoplast due to high pH levels when grown with nitrate (with or without bicarbonate).     

Acidification and nutrient imbalance in forest soils subjected to nitrogen deposition

Emission of nitrogen oxides (NO_x) and ammonia (NH₃) from a fertilizer factory and the resulting input of nitrates (NO₃ ^?) and ammonium (NH₄ ⁺) into the soil were the main reasons of nitrogen (N) cycle disturbance in forest ecosystems near Novgorod, North-Western Russia (50°31′ North, 31°17′ East). Total N atmospheric input was about 100 kg/ha annually. NH₃ was a dominant pollutant, causing the increase of atmospheric precipitation pH within the polluted region compared to background territories (6.0–6.5 and 4.5–5.0, respectively). Soil acidification through NH₄ ⁺ nitrification was observed. N-NO₃ ^? concentrations in soil solution reached 20–30 mg/l, and proton (H) production was equal to 4.1 keq/ha per warm season (from April to October). Compared with soil status in 1983, pH decrease by 0.2 pH units was found in A horizon. The content of exchangeable calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) decreased by the factor of 2–3 and 1.5–2 in A and B horizons, respectively. Triple increase of exchangeable aluminium (Al) content was detected in A horizon. Through recent decrease of pollutant emission, the polluted territory is now a suitable subject for recovery studies.     

镇江丘陵区稻田化肥氮的氨挥发及其影响因素

采用密闭室方法对镇江丘陵区典型稻麦轮作制度下的水稻插秧、分蘖和孕穗期施用尿素的氨挥发进行了测定，并对施肥后土壤pH的变化及其对氨挥发的影响进行了分析，结果表明稻田施用尿素有明显的氨挥发损失，氨挥发损失率在水稻不同生育期有很大的差异，分蘖肥的氨挥发显著高于基肥和孕穗肥，受温度、植株状况以及光照条件等因素的影响，氮挥发存在明显的年际差异。田面水的pH值在施肥后有明显的昼夜波动，而氨挥发损失受田面水pH值变化的显著影响。稻草对不同生育期施肥的氨挥发影响不同。     

Ammonia,Nitrous Oxide,Carbon Dioxide and Methane Emissions from Commercial Broiler Houses in Mediterranean Portugal

Limited data are available on ammonia (NH₃), nitrous oxide (N₂O), carbon dioxide (CO₂) and methane (CH₄) emissions from poultry housing in Mediterranean countries. The aim of the present study was to assess the NH₃, N₂O, CO₂ and CH₄ emission rates from commercial breeding hen and broiler houses under Mediterranean climate conditions. Research was conducted at one commercial breeding hen house and in two commercial broiler houses located in central Portugal. The environmental conditions, gas concentrations and ventilation rates were measured in the cold (8.0?±?2.1 °C) and hot (20.7?±?1.9 °C) season for the breeding hen house, whereas for the two broiler houses, measurements were made during one fattening cycle in the fall (17.3?±?1.7 °C) season. Results showed that the annual average emission rates for breeding hen and broiler houses were 0.52?±?0.27 and 0.06?±?0.01 for NH₃, 0.030?±?0.042 and 0.006?±?0.001 for N₂O, 169.6?±?56.2 and 58.0?±?15.1 for CO₂ and 0.092?±?0.131 and 0.0113?±?0.0002 g day^?1 bird^?1 for CH₄, respectively. The N₂O emission rates observed in breeding hen houses may have been overestimated, being higher than previously reported for Mediterranean countries.