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Sustainable Poultry Farming Group FACT SHEET

Standard Characteristics of Poultry Manures (Nutrient Contents)

Crop producers frequently apply poultry manure to their fields in an effort to improve soil quality (structure, organic matter content). Often, in determining application rates, no allowance is made for the nutrients contributed by manure leading to over-fertilization and additional crop production costs.

There are four main types of poultry manure in the Fraser Valley. They differ in nutrient and moisture content, carbon/nitrogen ratio as well as in density (weight per volume). These differences are determined by the type of bird raised, the feed used, and the housing system (cage or litter on floor). The SPFG sampled manure on a number of Fraser Valley poultry farms to determine standard (rule of thumb) nutrient values across all these variables. These values can be used to determine application rates similar to chemical fertilizer.

Nutrient Content: Table 1 below shows the values for a number of nutrients for four different manures. For example, a cubic yard of broiler litter on average contains 26.6 lbs. total N, 19.2 lbs. P₂O₅ and 12.04 lbs. K₂O. Table 2 lists values for some of the minor nutrients.

Table 1: Apparent Average Nutrient Contents & Physical Characteristics of Manures

	Water Content	Total Organic Carbon	Total Nitrogen	Ammonium Nitrogen	P2O5	K2O	Ca	Mg
Hatching Egg
As Sampled %	46.0	18.8	1.96	0.405	3.0	1.20	6.46	0.35
Kg/Tonne	460	188	19.6	4.05	30.0	12.0	64.6	3.48
lbs/yard^3	364.3	148.9	17.6	3.3	23.6	9.55	51.3	2.9
Commercial Egg
As Sampled %	50.7	20.7	2.16	0.421	2.93	1.29	5.43	0.335
Kg/Tonne	507	207	21.6	4.21	29.31	12.9	54.3	3.35
lbs/yard^3	430.5	179.8	19.1	3.5	24.7	11.06	46.2	2.9
Turkey
As Sampled %	33.3	39.0	2.99	0.735	2.84	1.44	1.86	0.395
Kg/Tonne	333	390	29.9	7.35	28.4	14.4	18.6	3.95
lbs/yard^3	216.9	253.9	19.6	4.8	18.6	9.2	12.1	2.6
Chicken Broiler
As Sampled %	25.3	52.2	3.47	0.57	2.50	1.55	1.45	0.359
Kg/Tonne	253	522	34.7	5.7	25.0	15.5	14.5	3.59
lbs/yard^3	194.9	401.9	26.6	4.4	19.24	12.04	11.2	2.9

Note: 1 pound = 0.454 kilograms.

Table 2: Minor Crop Nutrients in Poultry Manures - Apperent Contents

	Magnesium		Iron		Copper		Zinc		Manganese		Boron
	(%)		(ppm)		(ppm)		(ppm)		(ppm)		(ppm)
Hatching Egg Layer
Average	0.348		823		63.5		334		233		56.5
Kg/tonne	3.5		0.82		0.064		0.33		0.23		0.057
Hatching Egg Layer Pullet
Average	0.328		1060		44.9		251		53.0		220
Kg/tonne	3.28		1.06		0.0449		0.251		0.0530		0.220
Commercial Egg Layer
Average	0.335	755		32.3		246		234		52.3
Kg/tonne	3.4	0.76		0.032		0.25		0.23		0.052
Commercial Egg Layer Pullet
Average	.352	649		32.8		197		170		54.6
Kg/tonne	3.52	0.649		0.0328		0.197		0.170		0.0546
Turkey - all Birds
Average	0.439	848		70.1		305		271		62.3
Kg/tonne	4.4	0.85		0.070		0.31		0.27		0.062
Chicken Broiler
Average	0.36		801		38.6		280		257		71.3
Kg/tonne	3.6		0.80		0.039		0.28		0.26		0.071

Application Losses:

Losses of manure nitrogen can be kept to a minimum (20-25%) when manure is incorporated on the same day applied.

Densities: The weight per volume of manures varies between types and depending on moisture levels. Broiler and turkey litters are lighter compared to layer manures. At average moistures the following density estimates can be applied. For example, a yard³ of broiler litter weighs 350 kg or 770 lbs.

Manure Type	Moisture	Density
Hatching Egg Layer	46.0 %	792 lbs/yard^3
Commercial Layer	50.7 %	849 lbs/yard^3
Turkey	33.3 %	651 lbs/yard^3
Broiler Chicken	25.3 %	770 lbs/yard^3

Nutrient Availability:

Nitrogen: Compared to inorganic fertilizers manure nutrients are released more gradually to the crop, but about 1/6 of the nitrogen exists in the form of ammonium-N which is readily available at the time of application. About 60 - 70% of the total nitrogen in broiler and turkey litter will be released in the year of application while for hatching egg and commercial egg layer manures, the nitrogen release to the soil can be as high as 85-90%.

Phosphorus and Potassium Phosphorus availability from poultry manures is generally considered to be about 50%, while for potassium about 95% is considered available in the year of application.

Manure Storage:

To maximize nutrient delivery to the crop, poultry manure is best applied in the spring. Winter and fall delivered litter requires covered storage to preserve a consistant moisture and nutrient content. Covering your stockpile with a poly sheet is sufficient and cost-effective.

Further Readings: BCMAFF (1992) "Environmental Guidelines for Poultry Producers In British Columbia" Abbotsford, B.C.; SPFG (1994) "Standardizing Measures of Nutrient Content and Density of Poultry Manures" Abbotsford, B.C.

Contact: Kevin Chipperfield, P.Ag., SPFG, Abbotsford, B.C. www.sustainablepoultry.ca

Phone: (604) 556-7781 Fax: (604) 556-7783 email: kchip@shaw.ca February 1994