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An integrated approach for abatement of ammonia emission from poultry production

Author(s): Mr Tanka Prasai
Supervisor(s): Prof. David J Midmore

Field of Research: Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences
Research Organisation: Centre for Plant and Water Science

Abstract

Ammonia emission from poultry manure is a major problem in poultry industries. Poultry manure contains important nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus and potash (N, P and K) in large amounts needed for plants. Modern commercial poultry (layers and broilers) farms produce large amounts of poultry manure (litter and faeces). Proper disposal of manure is very important, if not to create significant environmental pollution. Environmental pollution caused by nitrogen appears in two ways; firstly, release of ammonia to the atmosphere from poultry manure and secondly, nitrate leaching in soil or ground water. Uric acid and undigested protein are the two main nitrogen components in poultry faeces representing 70 % and 30 % of total nitrogen. Biochar, zeolites and bentonites will be used as feed and litter additives which have greater surface area, cations exchange capacity and affinity to absorb and trap ammonia and ammonium ions. Birds’ performance parameters, feed, and manure will be analysed for the total nitrogen and phosphorus content. The amended poultry manure will be further processed as pellets, granules, agglomerates to prevent loss of important nutrients and to improve quality of manures.

Keywords: ammonia emission, nitrate leaching, environmental pollution, uric acid, undigested protein, feed additives, litter processing
Timeline: 01/03/2015

Project Contacts

Name: Dr Surya P Bhattarai
Contact Research Organisation: Centre for Plant and Water Science
Phone: 61 7 4923 2140
Email: s.bhattarai@cqu.ed.au