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Publication #PS1

Poultry Manure as a Fertilizer1

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. Millie Ferrer-Chancy, Interim Dean.