AGRICULTURAL
- POULTRY
LITTER
APPLICATION
Ammonia
is a
pervasive
and
ever-present
constituent
of the
atmosphere
in poultry
houses.
The
ammonia
is created
by the
decomposition
of excess
proteins
and
uric
acid
excreted
by chickens.
Under
conditions
of heat
and
high
humidity,
ambient
ammonia
levels
approaching
50 ppm
can
be experienced.
High
levels
of ammonia
can
be harmful,
if not
fatal,
to chickens.
Any
adverse
effect
on the
health
of the
chicken
may
impair
its
ability
or desire
to feed,
thus
reducing
the
maximum
weight
gain
that
may
be expected
during
the
growth
cycle.
Historically,
atmospheric
ammonia
in poultry
houses
has
been
controlled
through
the
use
of ventilation
fans
and
adjustable
side
curtains.
As ammonia
concentrations
increase,
curtains
are
lowered
and
the
fans
are
run
to pull
outside
air
into
the
house,
forcing
the
ammonia-laden
air
out.
In the
winter,
this
process
also
exhausts
very
expensive
heated
air.
The
formation
of ammonia
from
decomposing
protein
and
uric
acid
is biologically
mediated.
Microorganisms
in the
litter
derive
energy
and
cell
material
from
the
breakdown
of proteins
to their
constituent
amino
acids,
nitrogen
is passed
through
a biochemical
chain
of urea,
ammonia,
nitrite
and
finally,
nitrate.
When
the
majority
of the
nitrogen
in litter
reaches
the
nitrate
form,
the
litter
is essentially
stabilized
and
no longer
creates
a serious
ammonia
problem.
The
rate
limiting
part
of this
equation
is in
the
conversion
of urea
and
ammonia
to nitrite
and
nitrate.
When
moisture
levels
are
high,
and
litter
pH exceeds
7.2
- 7.4,
urea
is hydrolyzed
to ammonia
at a
faster
rate
than
the
ammonia
can
be converted
to nitrite/nitrate.
Evolution
of gaseous
atmospheric
ammonia
results.
In
order
to control
the
release
of ammonia
from
poultry
litter,
the
logical
approach
is to
control
the
source.
Microorganisms
"create"
the
ammonia,
and
it is
the
microorganisms
that
must
be controlled
to reduce
ammonia.
This
can
be accomplished
by inoculating
the
poultry
litter
with
specific
bacteria
and
enzymes,
with
a known
capacity
to accelerate
and
stabilize
the
rate
of protein
decomposition.
The
product
that
fills
the
bill
is BZT®
Waste
Digester.
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