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Reducing Nitrogen Losses during Simulated Composting of Poultry Manure using Adsorbents or Chemical Amendments

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Pacific Agri-Food Research Centre, P.O. Box 1000, Agassiz, BC, Canada V0M 1A0;

A. A. Bomke

Dep. of Soil Science, Univ. of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6T 1Z4.

^* Corresponding author (paulj{at}em.agr.ca).

ABSTRACT

Ammonia emissions during composting of poultry manure can be significant, representing increased environmental pollution and decreased fertilizer value of manure. The objectives of this study were to measure NH₃ volatilization losses during composting of poultry layer manure, and to evaluate the potential of different amendments to reduce NH₃ losses using a laboratory composting simulator. The poultry manure was treated with various amendments which included two natural zeolites, clay, coir (mesocarp of coconut fruit), CaCl₂, CaSO₄, MgCl₂, MgSO₄, and Al₂(SO₄)₃. The manure was composted for 49 to 56 d. Ammonia volatilized from the manure was trapped in a 0.3 M H₂SO₄ solution. The composts were weighed and analyzed for moisture content, total N and NH⁺₄. The NH₃ volatilization loss for the unamended manures ranged from 47 to 62% of the total manure N. A layer of 38% zeolite placed on the surface of the manure reduced NH₃ losses by 44%, whereas 33% coir placed on the surface of the manure reduced NH₃ losses by 49%. The 20% alum treatment reduced NH₃ losses by 28%. Composting poultry manure with zeolites, coir, and alum produced composts with high NH⁺₄ concentrations ranging from 17 to 53% of total N. The addition of 20% CaCl₂ to poultry manure decreased NH₃ volatilization but did not result in increased NH⁺₄ or NO^–₃ concentrations. The 38% zeolite Z1 and 33% coir-treated composts had total N concentrations of 17 and 31 g kg^–1, respectively. The zeolite and coir amendments were proposed to be the most suitable for reducing NH₃ losses during composting of poultry manure.

Pacific Agri-Food Research Centre Contribution 581.

Received for publication October 30, 1997.

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