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Potential Nitrification in Alum-treated Soil Slurries Amended with Poultry Manure
Bioresource Technology (2006)
  • Siva K. Gandhapudi, University of Kentucky
  • Mark S. Coyne, University of Kentucky
  • Elisa M. D’Angelo, University of Kentucky
  • Christopher J. Matocha
Abstract

Alum is used to reduce environmental pollutants in poultry production. Alum decreases NH3 volatilization and increases total N and NH4+-N compared to untreated poultry manure. Nitrification in poultry wastes could therefore be stimulated due to higher NH4+ concentrations or could be inhibited because the soil environment is acidified. A 10-day laboratory study was conducted to study potential nitrification rates in soil slurries (20 g soil in 150 ml water) amended with 2.0 g alum-treated poultry manure. Fecal bacteria, NH4+, NO2-, NO3-, orthophosphate, pH, and NH3 were measured at 2-day intervals. Alum significantly reduced fecal bacteria concentrations through day 6. Water-soluble P was reduced 82% by day 10. Alum-treated manure had significantly increased NH4+ concentrations by day 8 and 10, and significantly decreased NO2- and NO3- concentrations by days 6–10. Alum’s effect on potential nitrification was inhibitory in the soil environment. Slurries with alum-treated poultry manure had reduced nitrification rates, fecal bacteria, and soluble P. Therefore, in addition to reducing P loss, alum could temporarily reduce the risk for environmental pollution from land-applied manures in terms of both NO3- and fecal bacteria loss.

Keywords
  • Alum,
  • Waste disposal,
  • Acidification,
  • Ammonia volatilization,
  • Fecal coliforms
Publication Date
March, 2006
Citation Information
Siva K. Gandhapudi, Mark S. Coyne, Elisa M. D’Angelo and Christopher J. Matocha. "Potential Nitrification in Alum-treated Soil Slurries Amended with Poultry Manure" Bioresource Technology Vol. 97 Iss. 4 (2006)
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/markcoyne/42/