Liming Poultry Manures to Decrease Soluble Phosphorus and Suppress the Bacteria Population

• Published in: Journal of environmental quality Vol. 35; no. 3; pp. 849 - 857
• Main Authors: Maguire, R.O, Hesterberg, D, Gernat, A, Anderson, K, Wineland, M, Grimes, J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Madison American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America, Soil Science Society 01.05.2006; Crop Science Society of America; American Society of Agronomy
• Subjects: agricultural soils; Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Animal wastes; Animals; Applied sciences; Bacteria; Bacteria - isolation & purification; Biological and medical sciences; calcium hydroxide; calcium oxide; Calcium phosphates; Colony Count, Microbial; disease control; Earth sciences; Earth, ocean, space; Engineering and environment geology. Geothermics; Exact sciences and technology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Lime treatment; Liming; liming materials; Litter; Manure - microbiology; Manures; Moisture content; Pathogens; Phosphorus; Phosphorus - analysis; Pollution; Pollution, environment geology; Poultry; Poultry manure; Samples; sewage sludge; Silt loam; Soil - analysis; Soil pH; Soils; Solubility; Surface water; Waste treatment; Organic waste; Soil erosion; XANES spectrometry; Microbiology; Poultry manure; Property of soil; Phosphorus; Farmyard manure; Amendment; Liming amendment; Pathogenic; Surface water; Water content; Water solubility; pH; Bacteria; Agricultural waste; Microorganism; Calcium hydroxide; Biological contamination; Animal waste; Loamy sand soil
• ISSN: 0047-2425; 1537-2537
• DOI: 10.2134/jeq2005.0339

Stabilizing phosphorus (P) in poultry waste to reduce P losses from manured soils is important to protect surface waters, while pathogens in manures are an emerging issue. This study was conducted to evaluate CaO and Ca(OH)2 for killing manure bacterial populations (pathogens) and stabilizing P in poultry wastes and to investigate the influence on soils following amendment with the treated wastes. Layer manure and broiler litter varying in moisture content were treated with CaO and Ca(OH)2 at rates of 2.5, 5, 10, and 15% by weight. All treated wastes were analyzed for microbial plate counts, pH, and water-soluble phosphorus (WSP), while a few selected layer manures were analyzed by phosphorus X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES). A loamy sand and a silt loam were amended with broiler litter and layer manure treated with CaO at rates of 0, 2.5, 5, 10, and 15% and soil WSP and pH were measured at times 1, 8, and 29 d. Liming reduced bacterial populations, with greater rates of lime leading to greater reductions; for example 10% CaO applied to 20% solids broiler litter reduced the plate counts from 793 000 to 6500 mL-1. Liming also reduced the WSP in the manures by over 90% in all cases where at least 10% CaO was added. Liming the manures also reduced WSP in soils immediately following application and raised soil pH. The liming process used successfully reduced plate counts and concerns about P losses in runoff following land application of these limed products due to decreased WSP.