Poultry Science (Dec 2024)
Evaluation of the efficacy of amendment types and rates in reducing ammonia emissions from broiler litter
Abstract
Several amendments have been used to reduce ammonia (NH3) emissions from broiler litter (BL); however, a comparative study between amendments and their application rates has not been fully explored. This study evaluated the potential of biochar (B), zeolite (Z), Flue Gas Desulphurization-Gypsum (FGD-G), and sodium bisulfate (S) at four application rates in reducing NH3 emissions from BL. The treatments comprised of amendment types (4) and their application rates (4), and a control with no amendment for a total of 17 treatments replicated twice and arranged in a completely randomized design. The treatments were incubated at 30 °C for 40 days at a moisture content of 40% (w/w), and NH3 emissions were measured every day for the first 10 days and 3 days intervals afterward for 40 days. Results showed that the application of 13 and 17% B (w/w) reduced cumulative NH3 emissions by 41 and 46%, respectively, compared to control over a 40-day period. Zeolite application at 8 and 11% reduced NH3 by 20 and 33%, respectively. There was no significant difference between the different rates of FGD-G, and they were generally less effective; however, a 15% FGD-G rate reduced NH3 by 9.1%. Application of S at rates of 2, 4, 6, and 7% significantly reduced NH3 emissions by 91, 99, 100, and 100 %, respectively. The effectiveness of amendments to reduce ammonia emissions followed the order: S > B > Z > FGD-G. These findings contribute to an ongoing effort to identify non-acidic amendments to minimize NH3 emissions in broiler houses.
