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Composting broiler litter

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 November 2014

H. KEENER ,
M. WICKS ,
F. MICHEL  and
K. EKINCI
H. KEENER*
Affiliation:
Dept. of Food, Agricultural, and Biological Engineering, Ohio Agricultural Research and Center, The Ohio State University, Wooster, Ohio 44691, USA
M. WICKS
Affiliation:
Dept. of Food, Agricultural, and Biological Engineering, Ohio Agricultural Research and Center, The Ohio State University, Wooster, Ohio 44691, USA
F. MICHEL
Affiliation:
Dept. of Food, Agricultural, and Biological Engineering, Ohio Agricultural Research and Center, The Ohio State University, Wooster, Ohio 44691, USA
K. EKINCI
Affiliation:
Dept. of Agricultural Machinery, Suleyman Demirel University, Isparta, Turkey
*
Corresponding author: keener.3@osu.edu
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Abstract

There are many challenges and opportunities in composting poultry litter removed from broiler houses. These include reducing operational costs and managing compost moisture, NH3-N losses, and odours. This review paper reports on systems for composting broiler litter that require little or no amendment, while controlling N emissions. Poultry litter, as removed from broiler houses, has a moisture range of 22-50%, N content of 3-5.9%, and a carbon to nitrogen ratio of 9-12. Recommendations, based on field studies and economic analysis, have concluded that composting broiler litter is most economically done with little or no amendment and at starting moisture levels around 40% or less. Pilot and field studies using various composting methods, some of which employ continuous or intermittent aeration regimes as well as static windrows or piles, have been reported. Related studies based on composting un-amended caged layer manure are discussed along with their application to broiler litter. Results suggest the most applicable system for broiler litter for producing a low moisture, high N product would be an in-vessel system with forced aeration, mechanical turning, and a high NH3 level (>160 ppm) in the ambient environment surrounding the compost. Such a system would not produce a mature compost, but would lead to a stabilised (10-18.6% dry matter loss), dry product (10-18% moisture), with high nitrogen content (12-15% total N loss) that could be marketed to nurserymen and gardeners, as well as general farmers.

Keywords

broiler littercompostingodourNH3-N lossmoisture
Type
Review Article
Information
World's Poultry Science Journal , Volume 70 , Issue 4 , December 2014 , pp. 709 - 720
Copyright
Copyright © World's Poultry Science Association 2014 

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