Impact of Frequent Litter Amendment Application on Nutrient Composition and Properties Changes of Stored Broiler Litter

Abstract. There is increasing interests concerning the potential nitrogen (N) loss from poultry litter (PL) stored in or near agricultural fields and the effects of storage practices on N loss. The use of acidifiers as litter amendment is believed to reduce the volatilization loss of N during bird grow-out. As a follow-up, this study aimed to evaluate the influence of frequent litter amendment application on the nutrient composition and properties of PL during long-term storage. The PL was collected from an experimental broiler house at University of Delaware. The house was divided into two identical partitions: one was used as treated group while the other served as control group. The broilers were fed for 52 – 59 days to reach a market body weight of approximately 3.85 kg (8.5 lb). Prior to the experiment, the same used litter was placed into the two partitions. Before each flock, the brooding area (90 m2) of each partition received 45.4 kg (100 lb) sodium bisulfate (PLT TM). During the grow-out from April 2nd to May 28th, 2013, variable rates (122, 183, 244, 305, and 366 g/m2 or 25, 37.5, 50, 62.5, and 75 lb/1000ft2) of PLT was applied weekly to the treated group at the ages of 21, 28, 35, 42, and 49-d. On June 3rd, the caked litter in each partition was removed and stored in eight 0.12-m3 trashcans for ten months. PL samples were taken every two months and their nutrient compositions were analyzed. With the frequent application of PLT, the cumulative NH3 emission of the treated group was 46% lower than that of the control group. The pH level was lower in the treated litter while organic and total nitrogen were higher in the PLT-treated litter. After 10-month storage, the total nitrogen were 4.7and 5% in the control and treated PL. The N/P2O5 ratios continuously decreased over the 10-month period; however, the treated litter consistently had 15% higher N/P2O5 ratio than the control litter.