
The poultry industry produces large amounts of waste that include solid waste and wastewater. The solid waste consists of bedding materials, excreta (manure), feed, feathers, hatchery waste (empty shells, infertile eggs, dead embryos, and late hatchlings), shells, sludge, abattoir waste (offals, blood, feathers, and condemned carcasses) and mortality. We know that dead birds and hatchery waste are high in protein and contain substantial amounts of calcium and phosphorus due to high levels of mineral supplements in the diet.
The approximated percentages of nutrient intake excreted by poultry are Nitrogen (65.5%), Phosphorus (68.5%) and Potassium (83.5%), elements for soil fertility and increased crop production.
Poultry litter is a good organic source of nutrients for raising crops, such as maize. However, the loss of N through ammonia
USE & MANAGEMENT OF POULTRY LITTER
The poultry industry is one of the largest and fastest growing agro-based industries in the world. There is an increasing demand for poultry meat mainly due to its acceptance by most societies and its relatively low cholesterol content. The poultry industry is currently facing a number of environmental problems. One of the major problems is the accumulation of a large number of wastes, especially manure and litter, generated by intensive production. is voided by a layer as to Large-scale accumulation of these wastes may pose disposal and pollution problems unless environmentally and economically sustainable management technologies are evolved.
Most of the manure and litter produced by the poultry industry is currently applied to agricultural land. When managed correctly, land application is a viable way to recycle nutrients such as nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) in manure. However, pollution and nuisance problems can occur when manure is applied under environmental conditions that do not favor agronomic utilization of the manure-borne nutrients. The continued productivity, profitability, and sustainability of the poultry industry will likely be dependent on the formulation of best management practices to mitigate environmental consequences associated with air and water quality parameters that are impacted by land application, and the development of cost-effective innovative technologies that provide alternative to land application of poultry wastes.
Manure by-products have the potential for being recycled on agricultural land. Beneficial use through the land application is based on their ability to favorably alter soil properties, such as plant nutrient availability, soil reaction (PH), organic matter content, cation exchange capacity, water holding capacity, and soil tilth. Poultry waste contains all essential nutrients including micronutrients and it has been well documented that it provides a valuable source of plant nutrients especially for organic growers. Addition of poultry manure to soils not only helps to overcome the disposal problems but also enhances the physical, chemical and biological fertility of soils.
For example, continuous cultivation of arable soils often results in the deterioration of soil structure leading to reduced crop yield. Addition of poultry manure has been shown to improve the fertility of the cultivated soil by increasing the organic matter content, water holding capacity, oxygen diffusion rate and the aggregate stability of the soils.
Optimum use of manure by-products requires knowledge of their composition not only in relation to beneficial uses but also to environmental implications. Environmental concerns associated with the land application of manure by-products from intensive animal operations include leaching losses of N in sub-surface drainage and to groundwater, contamination of surface water with soluble and particulate P reduced air quality by the emission of greenhouse gases and volatile organic compounds, and increased metals input.
Air quality has become a major environmental concern of the poultry industry. Dust, odors and bio-aerosols (e.g. microbes, endotoxins and mycotoxins suspended in air) generated at production, manure storage facilities and during land spreading of poultry litter constitute the most frequent source of complaints against animal-based industries
POULTRY LITTER PRODUCTION
The quantity of poultry litter produced in a broiler unit depends on the litter (i.e. bedding material) management, and feed intake and its digestibility. A range of materials including wood shavings, cereal straw, husk
COMPOSITION OF POULTRY LITTER
The major components of poultry litter include the bedding material, feather, manure, and the spilled feed.T he litter contains plant nutrients, such as N, P and K, trace elements, such as Cu, Zn and As, pesticide residues, pharmaceuticals such as coccidiostats, endocrine disruptors, and microorganisms. As with other organic wastes, the moisture content, PH, soluble salt level, and elemental composition of poultry manure and litter have been shown to vary widely as a function of types of poultry, diet and dietary supplements, litter type, and handling and storage operations.
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