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Effect of Chemical and Microbial Amendments on Ammonia Volatilization from Composting Poultry Litter
Author(s) -
DeLaune P. B.,
Moore P. A.,
Daniel T. C.,
Lemunyon J. L.
Publication year - 2004
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/jeq2004.7280
Subject(s) - alum , poultry litter , volatilisation , phosphoric acid , compost , litter , ammonia volatilization from urea , chemistry , ammonia , zoology , agronomy , pulp and paper industry , nutrient , biology , organic chemistry , engineering
Research has shown that aluminum sulfate (alum) and phosphoric acid greatly reduce ammonia (NH 3 ) volatilization from poultry litter; however, no studies have yet reported the effects of these amendments on field‐scale composting of poultry litter. The objectives of this study were to (i) evaluate NH 3 volatilization from composting litter by measuring both NH 3 volatilization and changes in total nitrogen (N) in the litter and (ii) evaluate potential methods of reducing NH 3 losses from composting poultry litter. Poultry litter was composted for 68 d the first year and 92 d the second year. Eleven treatments were screened in Year 1, which included an unamended control, a microbial mixture, a microbial mixture with 5% alum incorporated into the litter, 5 and 10% alum rates either surface‐applied or incorporated, and 1 and 2% phosphoric acid rates either surface‐applied or incorporated. Treatments in Year 2 included an unamended control, a microbial mixture, alum (7% by fresh wt.), and phosphoric acid (1.5% by fresh wt.). Alum and phosphoric acid reduced NH 3 volatilization from composting poultry litter by as much as 76 and 54%, respectively. The highest NH 3 emission rates were from microbial treatments each year. Compost treated with chemical amendments retained more initial N than all other treatments. Due to the cost and N loss associated with composting poultry litter, composting is not economical from an agronomic perspective compared with the use of fresh poultry litter.