PM10 emission from feedlots in soils with different texture: Cattle trampling effect

[Display omitted] •Soil loss (Q) and PM10 emission were higher in unpaved roads followed by croplands and cattle pen.•The effect of cattle trampling was directly proportional to soil loss and PM10 emission.•The fine textured soil produced the highest PM10 emission efficiency values as compared to feedlots with coarser soils.•PM10 emission efficiency values were lower in unpaved roads than in croplands and cattle pens. Cattle feedlot surfaces can be an important aerosol source, but they have barely been studied. The action of the hooves on the loose, dry layer of soil and manure creates ideal conditions for particulate matter (PM) emissions. The objectives of this work were: a) to quantify the soil loss (Q) and the consequent emission of PM10 (FvPM10) from different surfaces within the feedlot: unpaved roads (UR), cropland (C) and cattle pen (CP); and b) to evaluate the cattle trampling effect in UR, C and CP on Q and FvPM10. The study was carried out in three feedlots with different soil textures: Trenel (FT), Santa Rosa (FSR) and General Acha (FGA). In a wind tunnel, erosion events were simulated at 10.5 m s−1 (µ*: 0.26 m s−1) during 5 min. The results showed that Q and FvPM10 were UR > C > CP and that the cattle trampling effect was generally directly proportional to Q and FvPM10 (p