Effect of water application on ammonia emissions from simulated beef cattle feedyard surfaces

Ammonia (NH₃) emissions from beef cattle feedyards cause nutritional loss in manure and contribute to environmental pollution. Thus, the mitigation of NH₃ emissions helps sustain and promote the production of environmental agriculture. Sprinkler-based water applications have primarily been used to reduce fugitive dust and heat stress in livestock. It has also been proposed as a potential NH₃ mitigation strategy; however, its effectiveness remains uncertain for industrial use. This study evaluated the effect of controlled water application on NH₃ emissions under simulated feedyard surfaces. Several environmental conditions (addition of urine, water and manure properties, and temperature) were subjected to different treatments, including repeated water applications or chemical amendments to improve the NH₃ mitigation. Results indicated that water applications provided only a temporary mitigation effect (4-25%). NH₃ emissions rebounded (1-19%) over time as the applied water evaporated, indicating that water primarily delays NH₃ volatilization rather than permanently reducing total emissions. These findings suggest that while water applications provide short-term NH₃ mitigation, additional strategies, such as chemical amendments or repeated applications, might be necessary for sustained emission reduction. By optimizing water application methods through further research, water application can become a valuable component of NH₃ mitigation strategies for livestock operations.