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Mineralization of Hormones in Breeder and Broiler Litters at Different Water Potentials and Temperatures

^a Institute of Ecology
^b Department of Crop & Soil Sciences, 3111 Plant Sciences, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602-7272

^* Corresponding author (pghartel{at}uga.edu)

Received for publication August 5, 2005. When poultry litter is landspread, steroidal hormones present in the litter may reach surface waters, where they may have undesirable biological effects. In a laboratory study, we determined the mineralization of [4–¹⁴C]-labeled 17ß-estradiol, estrone, and testosterone in breeder litter at three different water potentials (–56, –24, and –12 MPa) and temperatures (25, 35, and 45°C), and in broiler litter at two different water potentials (–24 and –12 MPa) and temperatures (25 and 35°C). Mineralization was similar in both litters and generally increased with increasing water content and decreasing temperature. After 23 wk at –24 MPa, an average of 27, 11, and <2% of the radiolabeled testosterone applied to breeder litter was mineralized to ¹⁴CO₂ at 25, 35, and 45°C, respectively. In contrast, mineralization of the radiolabeled estradiol and estrone was <2% after 25 wk at all water potentials, except after 17 wk at 25°C and –12 MPa, where up to 5.9% of the estradiol and 7.8% of the estrone was mineralized. The minimal mineralization suggests that the litters may still be potential sources of hormones to surface and subsurface waters.