Study on the reduction of NH₃ volatilization from broiler litter through the promotion of nitrification

Under laboratory conditions we studied the possibility of decreasing NH₃ emissions from broiler litter by applying one of two nitrifier seeds (a material obtained from the top centimeters of the dirt floor of a chicken house, or Houston Black clay soil) at 0, 2.5, 5, and 10% w/w. Ammonia emission rates, total NH₃ trapped in 0.1N H₂SO₄, and NO_x ⁻-N concentrations decreased at the highest application rate of either amendment, whereas CO₂ emissions increased with the amendments' application rates. We hypothesize that the lack of a significant increase in NO_x ⁻-N concentrations was due to inhibition of nitrifiers by high NH₄ ⁺-N, salt and Cl⁻ concentrations, and denitrification promoted by high water, availability of easily decomposable carbon sources, and limited O₂ supply.

Keywords:

• Nitrification
• ammonia
• nitrate
• nitrite
• broiler litter
• salinity
• chloride
• soil

Acknowledgments

This project was funded by the U.S. Poultry and Egg Association.

Notes

¹Data were averaged across amendments.

² Values followed by the same letter in each row are not statistically different according to Duncan's Multiple Range Test (α = 0.05).