Assessing Environmental Control Strategies in Cage-Free Egg Production Systems: Effect on Spatial Occupancy and Natural Behaviors.

Animal welfare concerns have been a challenging issue for producers and international marketing. In laying hen production, cage-free systems (CFS) have been identified as an alternative to ensure the laying hens' well-being. Nevertheless, in CFS, important environmental issues have been reported, decreasing indoor air quality.

Parameters determining the performance of passive flux samplers proposed as a tool to estimate NO emissions: evaluation at farm level and perspectives.

The passive flux sampling is an economic and easy way to estimate gas emissions from agriculture sources. In the last decade, specific passive flux samplers (PFSs) have been developed to estimate nitrous oxide (NO) emissions from agriculture sources. Packed with silica gel and zeolite 5A, the PFSs were placed facing the emission source direction close to the ventilation shafts.

Parameters determining the use of zeolite 5A as collector medium in passive flux samplers to estimate NO emissions from livestock sources.

The present study analyzes the effect of parameters that determine the use of the zeolite 5A as collector medium in passive flux samplers (PFS) developed to estimate NO emissions from livestock buildings. The study analyzes the mass of NO collected on the zeolite 5A as a function of gas flow rate (40 and 130 ml/min), inlet mass of NO to the PFS (from 7 to 84 μg), adsorbent mass (4 and 13.6 g), length of the adsorbent bed (1.

Manure derived biochar can successfully replace phosphate rock amendment in peatland restoration.

Phosphate rock fertilization is commonly used in peatland restoration to promote the growth of Polytrichum strictum, a nurse plant which aids the establishment of Sphagnum mosses. The present study tested whether 1) phosphorus fertilization facilitates the germination of P. strictum spores and 2) biochar derived from local pig manure can replace imported phosphate rock currently used in peatland restoration.

Comparison of the gaseous and particulate matter emissions from the combustion of agricultural and forest biomasses.

The aim of this study was to compare gaseous and particulate matter (PM) emissions from the combustion of agricultural (switchgrass, fast-growing willow and the dried solid fraction of pig manure) and forest (wood mixture of Black Spruce and Jack Pine) biomasses in a small-scale unit (17.58kW). Concentrations of CO2, CO, CH4, NO2, NH3, N2O, SO2, HCl, and H2O were measured by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and converted into emission rates.

A critical review of emission standards and regulations regarding biomass combustion in small scale units (<3 MW).

Wood and agricultural crop residues are abundant, renewable and relatively low cost biomasses. Their combustion can replace fossil fuels in several applications. A major concern with biomass combustion is the emission of particulate matter (PM) in the atmosphere.