Manipulating bedding materials and PLT™ to reduce NH3 emissions from broiler manure

We studied the effect of five bedding materials (wood shavings, sawdust, peanut hulls, wheat straw and shredded paper) and PLT™ (a commercial formulation of Na bisulfate) in factorial combinations, on NH3 emissions from broiler manure. Treatments were incubated for 11 days at 25 °C and 98% relative humidity. Ammonia was trapped in 0.1 N H2SO4 and measured colorimetrically as , and CO2 was monitored with an infrared analyzer. Ammonia and CO2 emissions were suppressed by PLT™ throughout the study. Wheat straw, wood shavings, and sawdust, with C(total)/N(total) > 50 or C(biodegradable)/N > 20, had low NH3 emissions. Total NH3 emissions from peanut hulls and shredded paper were the highest, probably due to peanut hulls’ low C/N ratio and shredded paper’s alkaline pH. No significant interactions on NH3 emissions were detected between PLT™ and bedding materials.