EVALUATION OF CHEMICAL AMENDMENTS TO REDUCE AMMONIA VOLATILIZATION FROM POULTRY LITTER

Ammonia volatilization from poultry litter often causes high levels of atmospheric ammonia in poultry houses, which is detrimental to both f arm workers and birds. Ammonia emissions from houses also aggravate en vironmental problems, such as acid rain, and result in a loss of ferti lizer nitrogen. The objectives of this study were to determine the eff ect of litter amendments on ammonia volatilization and to determine th e effect of these amendments on nitrogen and phosphorus content in lit ter. The results of this research indicate that alum [Al-2(SO4)(3) . 1 8H(2)O], ferrous sulfate (FeSO4 . 7H(2)O), and phosphoric acid (H3PO4) dramatically reduce ammonia volatilization from Litter. The amount of ammonia lost from litter treated with sodium bisulfate (NaHSO4) and a proprietory product made of Ca-Fe silicate with a phosphoric acid coa ting was not different from the control (untreated litter). Aluminum s ulfate (alum) and ferrous sulfate also reduced water soluble P concent rations in litter, whereas phosphoric acid greatly increased water-sol uble P levels. The most effective compound evaluated with respect to r educing both ammonia loss and P solubility was alum.