On effect of poultry manure treatment with Effective Microorganisms with or without zeolite

Abstract

The decomposition process of poultry manure is generally mediated by microorganisms, whose degradation activity has beneficial effects on soil fertility but, on the other hand, leads to the generation of malodour gas. Indeed, a relevant problem of poultry farms is represented by the release of bad smells, which are mainly a consequence of decomposition process of chicken feces, chicken bedding, plumes, dropped feed, and dust. Furthermore, the unpleasant odour, associated with poultry manure degradation, not only limits its use in agriculture but also negatively affects the housing communities located near the farms. This study aimed at evaluating the effects in vitro of different doses of Effective Microorganisms (EM), mainly consisting of live communities of lactic acid bacteria, photosynthetic bacteria, and yeasts, on poultry manure alone or with zeolite, a porous mineral with absorbent and ion-exchange properties, belonging to the family of aluminosilicates. The obtained results demonstrated that these treatments were able to reduce the poultry manure malodours, associated mainly with a decrease in the ammonia (NH₃) levels with respect to controls. The pH tended to increase, the nitrogen to go down, and the phosphorus to go up. Thus, all the effects described above were evident, testifying to a slower degradation of proteins, both with EM alone or in combination with zeolite. The presence of a pool of pesticides (65 components) was evaluated, and no variation was observed in the different experimental conditions versus control, as well as for REEs and metals. In conclusion, these preliminary results demonstrated that the use of EM with or without the addition of zeolite is a valid tool to eliminate the bad smell of manure and to make it a useful product as a fertilizer.

Keywords: Ammonia (NH3); Effective Microorganisms; Environmental impacts; Poultry manure; Unpleasant odour; Zeolite.