Soil Facts
Poultry Manure as a
Fertilizer Source
â– Poultry manure is an excellent source of nutrients and can be incorporated into most
fertilizer programs. Those using manures must practice sound soil fertility management
to prevent nutrient imbalances and associated animal health risks, as well as surface-
water and groundwater contamination. The key to successful management is to match
the nutritional requirements of the crop with nutrients available in the manure. The
value of poultry manure varies not only with its nutrient composition and availability,
but also with management and handling costs.
Nutrient Composition and
Sampling Procedure
The nutrient composition of poultry manure
varies with the type of bird, the feed ration,
the proportion of litter to droppings, the
manure handling system, and the type of litter.
Consequently, all manures should be sampled
and analyzed for specific nutrient content
before you apply them to the land. Waste
samples can be analyzed for $4 by the North
Carolina Department of Agriculture (NCDA),
Agronomic Division, Plant Analysis Lab, P.O.
Box 27647, Blue Ridge Road Center, Raleigh,
NC 27611. Other qualified private laborato¬
ries can also perform the analysis (fees vary).
Collecting a representative manure sample
is essential to reliable nutrient analysis. The
nutrient value of litter varies greatly within
the poultry house. To reduce sample variabil¬
ity, collect subsamples of broiler, turkey, and
duck litter in 6 to 12 areas of the house.
Samples taken around waterers, feeders, and
brooders should be proportionate to the space
these areas occupy in the house. At each
location, collect litter by digging an area
down to the earth; be careful, however, not to
include soil. Place the subsamples in a plastic
bucket, mix thoroughly, and put 2 to 3 pounds
of the mixture in a sample container. Samples
from stockpiled litter should be taken from at
least 6 locations around the pile, all at depths
of at least 18 inches. Subsamples should be
Distributed in furtherance
of the Acts of Congress
of May 8 and June 30. 1914.
Employment and program
opportunities are offered to
all people regardless of
race, color, national origin,
sex, age, or disability. North
Carolina State University,
North Carolina A&T State
University. U.S. Department
of Agriculture, and local
governments cooperating.
Table 1. Average Nutrient Composition of Broiler Manures
Manure Type
Total
N
Ammonium
nh4
Phosphorus
PA
Potassium
K,0
Ib/ton
Fresh (no litter)
26
10
17
11
Broiler house litter'
72
11
78
46
Roaster house litter’
73
12
75
45
Breeder house litter'
31
7
54
31
Stockpiled litter'
36
8
80
34
'Annual manure and litter accummulation; typical litter base is sawdust, wood shavings, or peanut hulls.
Source: Biological and Agricultural Engineering Department, NCSU.
North Carolina
Cooperative Extension Service
NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY
COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE & LIFE SCIENCES
