Poultry Manure as a Fertilizer
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Poultry Manure as a Fertilizer

   

Poultry Manure as a Fertilizer 1

D.R. Sloan, G. Kidder and R.D. Jacobs2

Animal manures have been used effectively as fertilizers for centuries. Poultry manure has long been recognized as perhaps the most desirable of these natural fertilizers because of its high nitrogen content. In addition, manures supply other essential plant nutrients and serve as a soil amendment by adding organic matter. Organic matter persistence will vary with temperature, drainage, rainfall, and other environmental factors. Organic matter in soil improves moisture and nutrient retention. The utilization of manure is an integral part of sustainable agriculture.

Poultry manure is often produced in areas where it is needed for crop, hay and pasture fertilization. The increased size and frequent clean-out of many poultry operations make poultry manure available in sufficient quantities and on a timely basis to supply most fertilization needs.

The most common procedure for determining the amount of manure to add per acre is to consider the manure's nitrogen content and the nitrogen needs of the crop. Some typical compositions for poultry manure are listed in Table 1 . Nitrogen recommendations for selected crops and a range of manure application rates for these crops are presented in Table 2 .

In areas where phosphorus movement off-site can lead to eutrophication of surface waters, phosphorus rather than nitrogen may be the factor determining application rate of manure.

Tables

Table 1.

Table 1. Average nutrient composition of chicken manures1.
Manure Type
Total N


 Ammonium (NH4-N)


 Phosphorus (as P2O5)


 Potassium (as K2O)
Broiler


 lb/ton
Fresh (no litter)
26
10
17
11
Broiler house litter2
 72
11
78
46
Breeder house litter2
 31
7
54
31
Stockpiled litter2
 36
8
80
34
Layer


Fresh (no litter)
26
6
22
11
Undercage scraped3
 28
14
31
20
Highrise stored4
 38
18
56
30

lb/1,000 gallons
Liquid slurry5
 62
42
59
37
Anaerobic lagoon sludge
26
8
92
13

lb/acre-inch
Anaerobic lagoon liquid
180
155
45
265
1Source: Biological and Agricultural Engineering Dept., North Carolina State University, as reported in "Poultry Manure as a Fertilizer Source," Soil Facts fact sheet authored by J.P. Zublena, J.C. Barker, and T.A. Carter, North Carolina Coop. Ext. Serv., Raleigh.

2Annual manure and litter accumulation; typical litter base is sawdust, wood shavings, or peanut hulls.

3Manure collected within two days.

4Annual manure accumulation on unpaved surfaces.

5Six to 12 months' accumulation of manure, excess water usage, and storage-surface rainfall surplus; does not include fresh water for flushing.

Table 2.

Table 2. Nitrogen recommendations and suggested application rates of layer manure and broiler litter for selected crops.
Crop1


 Recommended N

(lbs/acre)


 Layer manure

(tons per acre)


 Broiler manure with litter

(tons per acre)
Improved perennial grasses
160
4 - 6
3 - 5
Oranges, mature
200


Grapefruit, mature
160
4 - 6
3 -5
Pine
100 - 200
2 - 6
3 - 5
Corn, non-irrigated

15,000 plants/acre


 180
3 - 7
2 - 5
Corn, irrigated

30,000 plants/acre


 240
6 - 10
5 - 7
Vegetable garden
100
2 - 5
2 - 4
1Due to the timing needs for nitrogen and the high value of commercial vegetable crops, manure is not recommended as the sole source of nitrogen for those crops.

Footnotes

1. This document is PS1, one of a series of the Animal Science Department, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. Original publication date March 1992. Revised November 1996. Reviewed June 2003. Visit the EDIS Web Site at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu.

2. D.R. Sloan, Extension Poultry Specialist, Dairy and Poultry Sciences Department; G. Kidder, Extension Soils Specialist, Soil and Water Science Department; R.D. Jacobs, Area Poultry Specialist, Dairy and Poultry Sciences Department, Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, 32611.

The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) is an Equal Opportunity Institution authorized to provide research, educational information and other services only to individuals and institutions that function with non-discrimination with respect to race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, political opinions or affiliations. For more information on obtaining other extension publications, contact your county Cooperative Extension service.

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Cooperative Extension Service, University of Florida, IFAS, Florida A. & M. University Cooperative Extension Program, and Boards of County Commissioners Cooperating. Larry Arrington, Dean.


Copyright Information

This document is copyrighted by the University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) for the people of the State of Florida. UF/IFAS retains all rights under all conventions, but permits free reproduction by all agents and offices of the Cooperative Extension Service and the people of the State of Florida. Permission is granted to others to use these materials in part or in full for educational purposes, provided that full credit is given to the UF/IFAS, citing the publication, its source, and date of publication.