Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-tf8b9 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-26T03:10:17.713Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

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: [email protected]
Get access

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 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

BRAKE, J.D. (1992) A practical guide for composting poultry litter. Mississippi State University Extension Service. MAFES Bulletin 981.Google Scholar
BRODIE, H.L., CARR, L.E. and CONDON, P. (2000) A comparison of static pile and turned windrow methods for poultry litter compost production. Compost Science and Utilisation 8 (3): 178-189.Google Scholar
BUCKLIN, R.A., JACOB, J.P., NORDSTEDT, R.A., SLOAN, D.R., TERVOLA, R.S. and MATHER, F.B. (2004) Storage of broiler litter. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/PS/PS00300.pdf. January 21, 2014.Google Scholar
CAREY, D.S. (1997) Minimising nitrogen loss from poultry manure amended with ammonia sulfate. M.S. Thesis, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH.Google Scholar
COUFAL, C.D., CHAVEZ, C., NIEMEYER, P.R. and CAREY, J.B. (2006) Nitrogen emissions from broilers measured by mass balance over eighteen consecutive flocks. Poultry Science 85: 398-403.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
DAS, K. and KEENER, H.M. (1997) Moisture effect on compaction and permeability in composts. Journal of Environmental Engineering 123 (3): 1-7.Google Scholar
EKINCI, K., KEENER, H.M. and ELWELL, D.L. (2000) Composting short paper fiber with broiler litter and additives. Part I: Effects of initial pH and carbon/nitrogen ratio on ammonia emission. Compost Science and Utilisation 8 (2): 160-172.Google Scholar
EKINCI, K., KEENER, H.M. and ELWELL, D.L. (2002) Composting short paper fiber with broiler litter and additives. II: Evaluation and optimisation of decomposition rate versus mixing ratio. Compost Science and Utilisation 10 (1): 16-28.Google Scholar
EKINCI, K., KEENER, H.M., MICHEL, F.C. and ELWELL, D.L. (2004a) Modeling composting rate as a function of temperature and initial moisture content. Compost Science and Utilisation 12 (4): 356-364.Google Scholar
EKINCI, K., KEENER, H.M., ELWELL, D.L. and MICHEL, F.C. (2004b) Effects of aeration strategies on the composting process. Part I: Experimental studies. Transactions of the American Society of Agricultural Engineers 47 (5): 1697-1708.Google Scholar
ELWELL, D.L., KEENER, H.M., CAREY, D.S. and SCHLAK, P.P. (1998) Composting unamended chicken manure. Compost Science and Utilisation 6 (2): 22-35.Google Scholar
ELWELL, D.L., KEENER, H.M., WILES, M.C., BORGER, D.C. and WILLETT, L.B. (2001) Odorous emissions and odour control in composting swine manure/sawdust mixes using continuous and intermittent aeration. Transactions of the American Society of Agricultural Engineers 44 (5): 1307-1316.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
EPSTEIN, E. (1997) The science of composting. Technomic Publishing Company, Inc., Lancaster, PA.Google Scholar
HAUG, R.T. (1993) The Practical Handbook of Compost Engineering. Lewis Publishers, Boca Raton, FL.Google Scholar
HANSEN, R.C., KEENER, H.M., MARUGG, C., DICK, W.A. and HOITINK, H.A.J. (1993) Composting of poultry manure, in: HOITINK, H.A.J. & KEENER, H.M. (Eds) Science and Engineering of Composting: Design, Environmental, Microbiological and Utilisation Aspects, pp. 131-153 (Renaissance Publication, Worthington, Ohio).Google Scholar
HOITINK, H.A.J. and KEENER, H.M. (1993) Science and engineering of composting: design, environmental, microbiological and utilisation aspects. HOITINK, H.A.J. & KEENER, H.M. (Eds) Renaissance Publications, Worthington, Ohio. 728 p.Google Scholar
KEENER, H.M., MARUGG, C., HANSEN, R.C. and HOITINK, H.A.J. (1993) Optimising the efficiency of the composting process, in: HOITINK, H.A.J. & KEENER, H.M. (Eds) Science and Engineering of Composting: Design, Environmental, Microbiological and Utilisation Aspects, pp. 59-94 (Renaissance Publication, Worthington, Ohio).Google Scholar
KEENER, H.M., HANSEN, R.C. and ELWELL, D.L. (1997) Airflow through compost: design and cost implications. Applied Engineering in Agriculture 13 (3): 377-384.Google Scholar
KEENER, H.M., DICK, W.A. and HOITINK, H.A.J. (2000a) Composting and beneficial utilisation of composted by-product materials, in: POWER, J.F., DICK, W.A., KASHMANIAN, R.M., SIMS, J.T., WRIGHT, R.J., DAWSON, M.D. & BEZDICEK, D. (Eds) Beneficial Uses of Agricultural, Industrial and Municipal By-products, pp. 315-341 (Soil Science Society of America, Madison, Wisconsin).Google Scholar
KEENER, H.M., EKINCI, K., ELWELL, D.L. and MICHEL, F.C. (2000b) Mathematics of composting-facility design and process control, in: WARMAN, P.R. & TAYLOR, B.R. (Eds) Proceedings International Composting Symposium, Vol. 1. pp.164-197 (Nova Scotia, CBA Press Inc.).Google Scholar
KEENER, H.M., ELWELL, D.L. and MONNIN, M.J. (2000c) Procedures and equations for sising of structures and windrows for composting animal mortalities. Applied Engineering in Agriculture 16 (6): 681-692.Google Scholar
KEENER, H.M., ELWELL, D.L. and GRANDE, D. (2002) NH3 emissions and N-balances for 1.6 million caged layer facility: manure belt/composting system vs. deep pit operation. Transactions of the American Society of Agricultural Engineers 45 (6): 1977-1984.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
KEENER, H.M. and ELWELL, D.L. (2003) Caged layer manure management on flies, water and nitrogen levels - case studies of current technologies. American Society of Agricultural Engineering Paper 034128. Presented at the 2003 ASAE Annual International Meeting, July 27-30. Las Vegas, NV.Google Scholar
KEENER, H.M., EKINCI, K. and MICHEL, F.C. (2005) Composting process optimisation - using on/off control. Compost Science and Utilisation 13 (4): 288-299.Google Scholar
KIRCHMANN, H. and WITTER, E. (1989) . Ammonia volatilisation during aerobic and anaerobic manure decomposition. Plant and Soil 115: 35-41.Google Scholar
KOENIG, R.T., PALMER, M.D., MINER, F.D. Jr, MILLER, B.E. and HARRISON, J.D. (2005) Chemical amendments and process controls to reduce ammonia volatilisation during in-house composting. Compost Science and Utilisation 13 (2): 141-149.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
MICHEL, F.C., PECCHIA, J.A., RIGOT, J. and KEENER, H.M. (2004) Mass and nutrient losses during the composting of dairy manure amended with sawdust or straw. Compost Science and Utilisation 12 (4): 323-334.Google Scholar
MILLER, F.C. (1993) Minimising odour generation, in: HOITINK, H.A.J. & KEENER, H.M. (Eds) Science and Engineering of Composting: Design, Environmental, Microbiological and Utilisation Aspects, pp. 219-241 (Ohio, Renaissance Publication).Google Scholar
MOORE, P.A. Jr, DANIEL, T.C., SHARPLEY, A.N. and WOOD, C.W. (1995) Poultry manure management: environmental sound options. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation 50 (3): 321-327.Google Scholar
OCAMM (2014) Optimising compost mixing ratios (metric units). http://www.oardc.ohio-state.edu/ocamm/t01_pageview3/Calculations.htm January 21, 2014.Google Scholar
PARÉ, M., PAULITZ, T.C. and STEWART, K.A. (2001) Composting of crucifer wastes using geotextile covers. Compost Science and Utilisation 8 (1): 36-45.Google Scholar
RITTER, W.F. and STEHR, L.M. (2007) Environmental and economic sustainable policies for the poultry industry in Sussex County Delaware. Proceedings of the International Symposium on Air Quality and Waste Management for Agriculture, Colorado, ASABE Publication No. 701P0907.Google Scholar
RAVIV, M. (2005) Production of high-quality composts for horticultural purposes: A mini-review. Hort Technology 15 (1): 52-57.Google Scholar
RYNK, R. (1992) On farm composting handbook.NRAES-54. Northeast Regional Agricultural Engineering Service, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY.Google Scholar
SOMMER, S.G. (2001) Effect of composting on nutrient loss and nitrogen availability of cattle deep litter. European Journal of Agronomy 14: 123-133.Google Scholar
TUBAIL, K., CHEN, L., MICHEL, F.C., KEENER, H.M., RIGOT, J., KLINGMAN, M., KOST, D. and DICK, W.A. (2008) Gypsum additions reduce ammonia nitrogen losses during composting of dairy manure and biosolids. Compost Science and Utilisation 16 (4): 285-293.Google Scholar
WICKS, M.H. (2011) Personal communication with Mike Keefer, Case Farms, Winesburg, Ohio. August 14, 2011.Google Scholar