Abstract

PATERLINI, Hernán; GONZALEZ, María Virginia  and  PICONE, Liliana Inés. Calidad de la cama de pollo fresca y compostada. Cienc. suelo [online]. 2017, vol.35, n.1, pp.69-78. ISSN 1850-2067.

The use of fresh broiler litter as organic fertilizer is a common practice in horticulture, despite the fact that benefits as well as negative effects on soils have been reported in long-term applications. An alternative to minimize the latter is to apply composted broiler litter. The present study, evaluated the physical-chemical characteristics of fresh broiler litter and their changes after the composting process. For this purpose two types of composting piles were constructed using fresh broiler litter: static piles without irrigation (PE), and piles with periodic removal and irrigation (PR). In the fresh broiler litter of the PE and PR treatments, total carbon (TC), pH, electrical conductivity (EC), total phosphorus (TP) and nitrogen (TN), nitrate (NO₃^-), extractable P, sulfate (SO₄^2-), Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, K⁺ and trace elements were determined. Fresh broiler litter was slightly alkaline (pH 7,55), EC ranged between 7,9 and 8,8 dS m^-1, average concentrations of TC (354,6 g kg^-1), extractable P (3,32 g P kg^-1) and NO₃^- (5,45 g N kg^-1) were high while K+ concentration was lower (18,92 g kg^-1). Composted broiler litter in PR had greater (p<0.05) TP content (19,7 g kg^-1) and Mg²⁺ (5,33 g kg^-1) while pH (8,2) and EC (8,87 dS m^-1) decreased compared to PE. Total C, extractable P, TN, NO₃^-, SO₄^2-, Ca²⁺, K⁺, Zn, Cu, Mn, Fe and B showed no differences between both pile types. The maturation of PR was accompanied by a decline of pH and EC, resulting in a greater mass reduction and losses by leaching with respect to the PE. Composting, using the technique of removal and irrigation could be a useful practice to stabilize poultry waste and minimize its environmental impact.

Keywords : Poultry manure; Nutrients; Handling manure; Physical characterization; Chemical characterization.

        · abstract in Spanish     · text in Spanish     · Spanish ( pdf )