Evaluation of different litter materials for broiler production in a hot and humid environment: 1. Litter characteristics and quality

SUMMARY Litter production, physicochemical properties, and the nutrient composition of river bed sand, coconut husk, rice hulls, Guinea grass, newspaper combined with wood shavings, and corn cob were determined and compared with wood shavings (WS) as the control. The trial was carried out over 35 d in an open-sided and naturally-ventilated broiler house under conditions of high ambient temperatures and relative humidity. Compared with WS, more litter was produced using sand and corn cob (P < 0.05), less with coconut husk, grass, and newspaper (P < 0.05), and similar amounts using rice hulls. Rice hulls and corn cob litters were less compacted (P < 0.05) than WS. The water holding capacity of both sand and coconut husk was lower (P < 0.05) and that of grass was higher (P < 0.05) than WS. Only coconut husk showed a significantly higher moisture content than WS, whereas sand was about 1/5 as wet (P < 0.05). The initial pH of all substrates except rice hulls differed significantly from WS, but at the end of the rearing cycle all litters were at the same level. Sand, grass, and newspaper litters volatilized greater amounts of ammonia than WS (P < 0.05). Nutrient composition of the organic litters was similar to WS, except for the ash content, which was higher in coconut husk, rice hulls, and grass. Most litters were equivalent to a 1N:1P2O5 grade fertilizer.