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Elemental Composition of Particulates Near a Beef Cattle Feedlot
Author(s) -
Azevedo J.,
Flocchini R. G.,
Cahill T. A.,
Stout P. R.
Publication year - 1974
Publication title -
journal of environmental quality
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.888
H-Index - 171
eISSN - 1537-2537
pISSN - 0047-2425
DOI - 10.2134/jeq1974.00472425000300020019x
Subject(s) - feedlot , particulates , manure , zoology , environmental science , environmental chemistry , san joaquin , chemistry , agronomy , soil science , biology , organic chemistry
The elemental compositions of dusts captured near a beef cattle feedlot were examined for the purpose of determining whether manure dusts could be identified in the presence of background dusts using alpha‐excited X‐rays. Large quantities of particulates greater than 17 µ m in diameter were caught within the feedlot, but concentrations of these large particulates downwind of the lot were equal to or less than upwind levels. High ratios of P, S, Cl, K, and Ca to Si distinguished feedlot dusts to greater than 2 µ m background particulates. For small particulate sizes (less than 2 µ m), feedlot dusts were characterized by relatively high Cl, K, and Ca to Si ratios. On the fringe of feedlot influence, about 100 m downwind in this case, high K/Si and Ca/Si ratios were the most reliable indicators of manure dust. For the particular environmental conditions during this study in the southern San Joaquin Valley of California, feedlot dusts were not detected at a distance of 750 m downwind. Feedlot dust consists mainly of large particulates that drop out rapidly and locally.