Multiple Applications of Sodium Bisulfate to Broiler Litter Affect Ammonia Release and Litter Properties

Ammonia (NH3) emissions from animal manures can cause air and water quality problems. Poultry litter treatment (PLT, sodium bisulfate; Jones–Hamilton Co.) is an acidic amendment that is applied to litter in poultry houses to decrease NH3 emissions, but currently it can only be applied once before birds are placed in the houses. This project analyzed the effect of multiple PLT applications on litter properties and NH3 release. Volatility chambers were used to compare multiple, single, and no application of PLT to poultry litter, all with and without fresh manure applications. A field component consisted of two commercial broiler houses: one had a single, preflock PLT application, while the other received PLT reapplications during the flock using an overhead application system. In the volatility chambers, single and reapplied PLT caused greater litter moisture and lower litter pH and Escherichia coli, relative to no PLT. After 14 d, NH3 released from litter treated with reapplied PLT was significantly less than litter with both single and no applications. Furthermore, total N in litter was greatest in litter treated with reapplied PLT, increasing its fertilizer value. In the commercial poultry houses, PLT reapplication led to a temporary decrease in litter pH and E. coli, but these effects did not last because of continued bird excretion. Although one preflock PLT application is currently used as a successful strategy to control NH3 during early flock growth, repeat PLT application using the overhead reapplication system was not successful because of problems with the reapplication system and litter moisture concerns. Core Ideas USEPA is considering regulating ammonia release from poultry houses; solutions need to be tested. No knowledge on how repeat applications of poultry litter treatment affect E. coli. Poultry litter treatment reapplication system has not been tested on commercial scale.