POULTRY MANURE MANAGEMENT - ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND OPTIONS

Increases in the demand for poultry products have led to rapid and con centrated growth of the industry, which has caused excessive manure su pplies in certain areas. Although poultry litter is one of the best or ganic fertilizers available, and is an extremely valuable resource exc essive land application rates can lead to nitrate leaching into ground water, phosphorus (P) runoff into adjacent water bodies, and possibly cause elevated bacterial or viral pathogen levels in lakes and rivers. Approximately 13 million Mg (14 million tons) of litter and manure wa s produced on U.S. poultry farms in 1990, most of which (68%) was broi ler litter. Except for small amounts wed in animal feed, the major por tion (>90%) of poultry litter produced is applied to agricultural land . Adverse impacts resulting from land application of poultry manure ma y be prevented by implementation of effective best management practice s (BMPs). Examples of BMPs include proper nutrient management using ag ronomic rates of N and/or P, use of buffer zones between treated areas and waterways, correct timing and placement of manure, and irrigation scheduling of liquid manure to limit groundwater contamination. Nutri ent landing rates should be blued on P in areas of the country that ha ve P sensitive waterbodies and on N in areas where eutrophication of s urface water is not a problem. These practices manipulate the soil sys tem to minimize pollutant loss to surface or groundwater: Future resea rch needs include the development of new BMPs that result in decreased negative environmental impact from land applications of this importan t resource.