Effects of Liquid Aluminum Chloride Additions to Poultry Litter on Broiler Performance, Ammonia Emissions, Soluble Phosphorus, Total Volatile Fatty Acids, and Nitrogen Contents of Litter

Recent studies have shown that the use of aluminum sulfate [alum, Al₂(SO₄)₃·14H₂O] and aluminum chloride (AlCl₃) additions to animal manures are more effective than other chemicals in reducing ammonia (NH₃) emissions and P solubility. Although the use of Al₂(SO₄)₃·14H₂O has been intensively used in the poultry industry for many years, no research has been conducted to evaluate the effect of liquid AlCl₃ on these parameters. The objectives of this study were to determine the effects of applying liquid AlCl₃ to poultry litter on 1) broiler performance, 2) NH₃ fluxes, and 3) litter chemical characteristics, including soluble reactive P, total volatile fatty acids, and N content. Eight hundred broiler chicks were placed into 16 floor pens (50 birds/pen) in a single house for 6 wk. Liquid AlCl₃ treatments were sprayed on the litter surface at rates of 100, 200, and 300 g of liquid AlCl₃/kg of litter; un-treated litter served as controls. At the 2 lower rates, liquid AlCl₃ treatments tended to improve weight gain and feed intake but had no effect on feed conversion or mortality, whereas the higher rate (300 g/kg of litter) had a negative effect on intake. Application of 100, 200, and 300 g of liquid AlCl₃ reduced NH₃ fluxes by 63, 76, and 76% during the 6-wk period, respectively, compared with the controls. Liquid AlCl₃ additions reduced litter soluble reactive P contents by 24, 30, and 36%, respectively, at the low, medium, and high rates. Total volatile fatty acid contents (odor precursors) in litter were reduced by 20, 50, and 51%, respectively, with 100, 200, and 300 g of liquid AlCl₃/kg of litter. Liquid AlCl₃ additions increased total N, inorganic N, and plant available N contents in litter. These results indicate that liquid AlCl₃ additions at the lower rates can provide significant positive environmental benefits to broiler operations.