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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Florence, South Carolina » Coastal Plain Soil, Water and Plant Conservation Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #231905
Title: Prospects for phosphorus recovery from poultry litter

Author
item Szogi, Ariel
item Vanotti, Matias

Submitted to: Bioresource Technology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/25/2009
Publication Date: 4/25/2009
Citation: Szogi, A.A., Vanotti, M.B. 2009. Prospects for phosphorus recovery from poultry litter. Bioresource Technology 100:5461-5465.

Interpretive Summary: Land disposal of poultry litter is an environmental concern in regions with intense poultry production because there is not enough land for crop utilization of its nutrients, especially phosphorus (P). This situation promotes soil P surplus and potential pollution of water resources. Although poultry litter can be moved off the farm and sold as fertilizer, its transportation becomes less economical with increasing distances from the farm. Thus, new litter use alternatives are needed to prevent pollution of surface water by P litter application. We summarized established and emerging alternative technologies that could facilitate handling, concentration, and transporting of litter P. These alternative technologies can reduce poultry litter volume and increase P content in litter byproducts by sieving, densification, biological, thermochemical conversion, and chemical processes. Their adoption may encourage new opportunities to produce bio-energy, fertilizer, and other valuable P byproducts from poultry litter while promoting sustainable poultry production.

Technical Abstract: Land disposal of poultry litter is an environmental concern in regions with intense poultry production because there is not enough land for crop utilization of its nutrients, especially phosphorus (P). This situation promotes soil P surplus and potential pollution of water resources. Although poultry litter can be moved off the farm and traded as fertilizer, its transportation becomes less economical with increasing distances from the farm. Thus, new litter use alternatives are needed to prevent pollution of surface water by P litter application. Our objective was to summarize established and emerging alternative technologies that could facilitate handling, concentration, and transporting of litter P. These alternative technologies can reduce poultry litter volume and increase P content in litter byproducts by sieving, densification, biological, thermochemical, and chemical processes. Their adoption may encourage new opportunities to produce bio-energy, fertilizer, and other valuable P byproducts from poultry litter while promoting sustainable poultry production.