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Bentonite can decrease ammonia volatilisation losses from poultry litter: laboratory studies

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Redding, M. R. (2013) Bentonite can decrease ammonia volatilisation losses from poultry litter: laboratory studies. Animal Production Science, 53 (10). pp. 1115-1118.

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Article Link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/AN12367

Publisher URL: http://www.publish.csiro.au/paper/AN12367

Abstract

Ammonia volatilisation from manure materials within poultry sheds can adversely affect production, and also represents a loss of fertiliser value from the spent litter. This study sought to compare the ability of alum and bentonite to decrease volatilisation losses of ammonia from spent poultry litter. An in-vessel volatilisation trial with air flushing, ammonia collection, and ammonia analysis was conducted over 64 days to evaluate the mitigation potential of these two materials. Water-saturated spent litter was incubated at 25°C in untreated condition (control) or with three treatments: an industry-accepted rate of alum [4% Al2(SO4)3·18H2O by dry mass of litter dry mass; ALUM], air-dry bentonite (127% by dry mass; BENT), or water-saturated bentonite (once again at 127% by dry mass; SATBENT). A high proportion of the nitrogen contained in the untreated spent litter was volatilised (62%). Bentonite additions were superior to alum additions at retaining spent litter ammonia (nitrogen losses: 15%, SATBENT; 34%, BENT; 54%, ALUM). Where production considerations favour comparable high rates of bentonite addition (e.g. where the litter is to be re-formulated as a fertiliser), this clay has potential to decrease ammonia volatilisation either in-shed or in spent litter stockpiles or formulated products, without the associated detrimental effect of alum on phosphorus availability.

Item Type:Article
Business groups:Animal Science
Keywords:soil phosphorus impact
Subjects:Animal culture > Housing and environmental control
Animal culture > Poultry
Agriculture > Agriculture (General) > Agricultural chemistry. Agricultural chemicals
Live Archive:17 Jul 2014 01:15
Last Modified:03 Sep 2021 16:49

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