ARS | Publication request: ALTERNATIVES TO ALUM FOR REDUCING AMMONIA VOLATILIZATION FROM POULTRY LITTER

Submitted to: American Society of Agronomy Meetings
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: October 20, 2002
Publication Date: November 12, 2002
Citation: Allen, A.L., Soliman, E.M., Hashem, F.M., Abou-Zeid, K.A., Stout, W.L. 2002. Alternatives to alum for reducing ammonia volatilization from poultry litter [Abstract]. American Society of Agronomy Meetings. Paper No. S06-allen163316-poster. 2002 CDROM.

Technical Abstract: Ammonia (NH3) volatilization in poultry houses is detrimental to laborers, birds and the external environment. Scientists have experimented with various additives to poultry litter to reduce ammonia volatilization, especially alum, which is expensive, and can have deleterious effects on aquatic environments. This study was conducted to compare some alternative chemical amendments on volatilization of NH3 from poultry litter with the traditional alum treatment. Poultry litter samples were amended with alum, flue gas desulfurization fly ash (FGD) and recycled wallboard gypsum (WBG) at rates of 100, 200,400 and 600 gm/kg dry litter. Volatilized NH3 was trapped in a boric acid solution by passing NH3-free air in a chamber containing amended litter, and then titrated with 0.01N HCl to determine NH3 content. Results indicate that alum at 200 g/kg dry litter dramatically reduced NH3 volatilization by 86% and that FGD at 400g/kg dry litter significantly reduced NH3 volatilization by 78% and 57% after 8 and 21 days over the control. The other treatments also reduced NH3 volatilization but to a lesser extent, and the rate of reduction varied among treatments.