Poultry, Fisheries & Wildlife Sciences
Open Access

Abstract

Greenhouse Gas Emission Benefits of Sodium Bisulfate used in Poultry Litter Treatment

Somik Ghose and Matthew Franchetti

This study evaluated the life cycle greenhouse gas emissions (in units of carbon dioxide-equivalent, CO2- equivalent) from the production and distribution of sodium bisulfate, used in poultry litter treatment to control ammonia levels. The study also evaluated the comparative life cycle greenhouse gas emissions and benefits from sodium bisulfate application in poultry houses in reducing ventilation energy requirements, both heating fuel and cooling electricity, from reduced ammonia levels. The method involved modeling the production and transportation of raw materials needed per ton (907 kg) of sodium bisulfate, modeling the final product sodium bisulfate, allocating emission results for co-product in the production process, and modeling the usage reduction in propane (for heating) and electricity (for ventilation) in poultry houses from the application of sodium bisulfate during an entire operating year (spring/summer and winter). This was applied to a poultry house that was 1,858 square meters and housed 25,000 birds for the 907 kg of sodium bisulfate required per year. The life cycle greenhouse gas emission was found to be about 318 kg of CO2-equivalent for the production and distribution of sodium bisulfate per 907 kg. The avoided life cycle greenhouse gas emission from the energy usage reductions in field studies conducted during winter in eastern and south-eastern U.S. kg regions was estimated to be approximately 735 kg of CO2-equivalent from the use of 907 of sodium bisulfate and approximately 1,410 kg during summer and spring. This equates to a CO2- equivalent savings of 0.0294 kg per bird in winter and 0.0564 kg per bird in summer and spring. The results show a significant environmental benefit in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and energy conservation from poultry farming with the use of sodium bisulfate.