Ammonia Emission Rates of Paddy Husk-based Broiler Litter Exposed to Different Artificial Lighting Environments

Abstract

High atmospheric ammonia is detrimental to poultry health. Objective of the study was to investigate the potential to reduce ammonia emissions (AE) from broiler litters by managing intensity of red light (RD). Light treatments, T l. (high intensity RD [HI]; 320 lux), T2 (medium intensity RD [MI]; 201ux), T3 (dim intensity RD [DI]; 51ux); T4 (white/ control [CN]; 20 lux), Ts (negative control [-ve CN]; 0 lux) were randomly arranged in a complete randomize design with 6 replicates each. Three litter samples were taken from each cage on 36d. Litter samples taken from each cage were pooled and analyzed for moisture, pH and AE. Litter samples were incubated for 5h, and the emitted NH3 was trapped with boric acid and then titrated with HC1 to determine the AEs. Significantly the highest AE (26.29±lmg/kg/hour) was recorded from high intensity-RD exposed litter. Medium Intensity-RD (20.09±3 mg/kg/hour) and dim intensity-RD (18.56±lmg/kg/hour) exposed litters received second and third places, respectively. NH3 emission rate of control (7.67 ±lmg/kg/hour) showed significantly lower value (p<0.05) compared to RD intensity treatments. Significantly the lowest (p<0.05) amount of NH3 (3.6± lmg/kg/hour) was emitted by the negative control treated litter. There was a relationship between moisture % and AE. The highest AE was marked with the lowest moisture (47.14±12) in high intensity- RD light treatment Among RD light treatments, the lowest AE was marked with the highest moisturie (55.47±13) in dim intensity-RD. However pH values did not show any correlation with the AE rates. To conclude, light management can be used to reduce ammonia emission from broiler litters. Dim intensity-RD is effective in minimizing NH3 emission. Keeping birds in dark also minimizes ammonia emission.