Articles | Volume 15, issue 11
https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-15-3593-2022
https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-15-3593-2022
Research article
 | 
15 Jun 2022
Research article |  | 15 Jun 2022

Performance of open-path lasers and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic systems in agriculture emissions research

Mei Bai, Zoe Loh, David W. T. Griffith, Debra Turner, Richard Eckard, Robert Edis, Owen T. Denmead, Glenn W. Bryant, Clare Paton-Walsh, Matthew Tonini, Sean M. McGinn, and Deli Chen

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Cited articles

Bai, M.: Methane emissions from livestock measured by novel spectroscopic techniques, Doctor of Philosophy PhD thesis, School of Chemistry, University of Wollongong, University of Wollongong, NSW, Australia, 303 pp., 2010. 
Bai, M., Flesch, T., McGinn, S., and Chen, D.: A snapshot of greenhouse gas emissions from a cattle feedlot, J. Environ. Qual., 44, 1974–1978, https://doi.org/10.2134/jeq2015.06.0278, 2015. 
Bai, M., Sun, J., Dassanayake, K. B., Benvenutti, M. A., Hill, J., Denmead, O. T., Flesch, K. T., and Chen, D.: Non-interference measurement of CH4, N2O and NH3 emissions from cattle, Anim. Prod. Sci., 56, 1496–1503, https://doi.org/10.1071/AN14992, 2016. 
Bai, M., Flesch, K. T., Trouvé, R., Coates, T. W., Butterly, C., Bhatta, B., Hill, J., and Chen, D.: Gas Emissions during Cattle Manure Composting and Stockpiling, J. Environ. Qual., 49, 228–235, https://doi.org/10.1002/jeq2.20029, 2020. 
Bjorneberg, L. D., Leytem, B. A., Westermann, T. D., Griffiths, R. P., Shao, L., and Pollard, J. M.: Measurement of atmospheric ammonia, methane, and nitrous oxide at a concentrated dairy production facility in Southern Idaho using open-path FTIR Spectrometry, T. ASABE, 52, 1749–1756, https://doi.org/10.13031/2013.29137, 2009. 
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Short summary
The open-path laser (OPL) and open-path Fourier transform infrared (OP-FTIR) are used in agricultural research, but their error in emissions research has not been the focus of studies. We conducted trace gas release trials and herd and paddock emission studies to compare their applicability and performance. The OP-FTIR has better stability in stable conditions than OPL. The CH4 OPL accurately detects the low background level of CH4, but the NH3 OPL only detects background values >10 ppbv.
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