This study was conducted to examine the performance of poultry production and ammonia emissions from poultry litter when the mealworm (Tenebrio molitor L.) powder was fed to broilers and ducks. In Experiment 1, a total of 180 1-day-old broilers (Arbor acres) were allocated to two treatments with three replicates in a completely randomized design. In Experiment 2, ducks were used in the same method as in Experiment 1. The dietary treatments were as follows: basal diets as control and basal diets with 1.5% Tenebrio molitor L. powder as T1. In Experiment 1, broiler production was not affected by the addition of mealworm powder (p>0.05). Ammonia from broiler litter was observed significantly different in the two treatments at 4 and 5 weeks (p<0.05); however, in other weeks ammonia measured did not show significance different (p>0.05). In Experiment 2, feeding of mealworm powder had no statistical significance on duck productivity (p>0.05). Ammonia emissions from duck litter were not statistically significant in the two treatments at 2 to 5 weeks (p>0.05); however, there was a difference at 6 weeks (p<0.05). Therefore, the addition of mealworm powder to broiler and duck diets did not only improved weight gain and feed efficiency, but also effectively reduced ammonia in poultry litter.

This study investigated the effect of adding poultry litter additive containing probiotics and amino acids to the litter on weight gain in ducks and ammonia content in poultry litter. Nine hundred 1-day-old ducks (Pekin) were randomly distributed into three groups (300 birds per treatment divided into three replicates) using a randomized block design. Treatments were top-dressed on the litter surface at rates of 2 kg poultry litter additives (T1) and 2 kg macsumsuk (T2) per m2, and untreated poultry litter was used as the control. Overall, a significant difference (p<0.05) in weight gains was observed at 3 and 4 weeks, but not at 5 and 6 weeks. After 4 weeks, when compared to other treatments, the addition of poultry litter additive tended to increase the average body weight gain (90-130 g). The ammonia content was affected by all treatments (p<0.05) over time except at 3 weeks, however, compared to other treatments, the poultry litter additive decreased the ammonia content. In particular, the rate of ammonia reduction by the poultry litter additives over time was approximately 20.2%-49.2%. Regarding temperature, a significant difference was observed in all treatment groups (p<0.05), except at 3 weeks. In conclusion, considering poultry litter additives and temperature, the increase in duck weight gain was associated with a decrease in ammonia content in the poultry litter.

The effects of liquid potassium permanganate (KMnO4) on the litter quality of poultry were investigated. Two-hundred -forty 0-day-old broiler chickens (Arbor Acres) were randomly assigned to two treatments with four replicated pens of 30 chickens each. Treatment liquid KMnO4 at a rate of 50 g of liquid KMnO4/kg of poultry litter was sprayed onto the litter surface using a small hand pump; others served as a control that was applied without liquid KMnO4 additions. Compared with controls, the treatment liquid KMnO4 showed no differences in pH, total nitrogen and ammonia concentration. It was concluded that liquid KMnO4 did not significantly increase poultry litter quality. Mechanisms relating to increasing litter pH and ammonia using liquid KMnO4 are an oxidant agent (not acid-foaming agents).

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of dietary Hermetia illucens powder on duck litter quality. One hundred twenty Pekin ducks (0 day old) were assigned to 2 groups (0% and 0.5% Hermetia illucens powder) with 3 replicates (20 ducks per replicate) for 42 days. Duck litter quality included moisture, pH, VBN, total nitrogen, ammonia, and temperature. Litter pH and VBN values were significantly affected by Hermetia illucens powder (p<0.05). However, moisture and total nitrogen values were not greatly influenced by the addition of 0.5% Hermetia illucens powder (p>0.05). At 21, 28 and 35 days, both 0.5% Hermetia illucens powder and controls had a great effect (p<0.05) on ammonia contents, except at 7, 14 and 42 days. In comparison to control, ammonia contents in groups with 0.5% Hermetia illucens powder were reduced from 16.9 to 41.8% as the days increased. Duck litter showed lower temperature by 0.5% Hermetia illucens powder compare to control. In terms of environmental managements, these results suggest that using 0.5% Hermetia illucens powder as feed additives improved litter quality and decreased ammonia contents.

This study investigates the changes in ammonia fluxes, pH and total nitrogen of liquid ferrous sulfate-treated litter over 5 weeks. A total of 200 broiler chicks (Arbor Acres, 1 d old) was separated into two treatment groups (0 g and 100 g liquid ferrous sulfate/kg litter) with four replications of 25 birds in each group. Liquid ferrous sulfate was sprayed on the litter by using a small sprayer. There was no difference (p>0.05) in the ammonia fluxes observed between the control and liquid ferrous sulfate treatment groups at 0, 1, and 5 weeks, except for 2, 3 and 4 weeks. At 5 weeks, the litter pH and total nitrogen content did not show any difference (p>0.05) between the control and liquid ferrous sulfate treatment groups. In conclusion, the use of liquid ferrous sulfate is not a suitable for use in poultry litter to reduce ammonia and pH or improve the total nitrogen content.

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of a mixture of bentonite and illite as feed additives on the growth performance and litter quality of 90 Pekin ducks. The ducks were individually weighed and randomly divided into two treatments (control and 1% combination of silicate minerals), with three replicate pens per treatment, and 15 ducks per pen. Growth performance was not significantly affected (p>0.05) by the combination of bentonite and illite, but a trend of increased growth performance was observed in the control groups. Total nitrogen content and pH in the litter decreased following supplementation with the combination of bentonite and illite (p<0.05) when compared with the control group. This data indicates that the dietary supplementation with the combination of bentonite and illite (1% level) has no positive effect on the growth performance and litter quality of Pekin ducks.

Water status of intact plants has been optically estimated by measuring reflectance at the wavelengths 1,450 nm and 1,900 nm based on their signal strengths. Although another water band at 970 nm is considered to have very small signals, the band apparently lies within the detection range of inexpensive spectrometer and plain charge-coupled device (CCD) camera used in wild fire studies. However measurement of the reflectance at 970 nm has been rarely applied to estimate the water status of dead plant materials such as fallen branch, twig, and leaf. To test the possibility of applying water reflectance at 970 nm to estimate the water content (WC) in leaf litter, the reflectance in various WC values were measured in the leaf litter of three Quercus species (Q aliena, Q aliena, Q mongolica, and Quercus variabilis). The results showed that the WC in the leaf litter can be determined by reflectance water index (WI) in the three Quercus species (WC=1,450×WI-1,378.8, r=0.865). However, there was no interaction effect in the relationship between WI and WC among the litter of the three Quercus species.

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of chemical blend additives (a combination of ferrous sulfate and aluminum chloride) on decreasing pathogens in poultry litter. A total of 240 broiler chickens were assigned to 4 chemical treatments with 4 replicates of 15 chickens per pen. The four chemical blend additives were a control (no treatment), 25 g ferrous sulfate + 75 g aluminum chloride/kg poultry litter, 50 g ferrous sulfate + 100 g aluminum chloride/kg poultry litter and 100 g ferrous sulfate + 150 aluminum chloride/kg poultry litter. During the 6-wk experimental period, there were significant differences in both E.coli and Salmonella enterica for weeks 4 through 6, but not at weeks 1 and 3, respectively. Consequently, using chemical blend additives that serve as methods to control strict environmental regulations reduced pathogens in poultry litter.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of sea urchin shell powder, used in broiler diet, on Esherichia coli and Salmonella in litter produced by the broilers. A total of 120 broiler chickens were fed 1 of 3 treatment diets (10 chickens per pen) in a randomized block design treatments with 4 replications. Sea urchin shell powder was used in the concentrations of 0.5% and 1% in the basal diets; the control diet was constituted of basal diet. During the 3-week feeding trials, none of the treatments significantly affected the E. coli populations in poultry litter at weeks 0 and 1, nor did they affect the and S. enterica populations at weeks 1 and 3. However, dietary sea urchin shell powder addition affected the population of E. coli at weeks 2 and 3, and that of S. entericaat weeks 0 and 2 (P<0.05). It is therefore concluded that the use of dietary sea urchin shell powder (0.5% and 1%) will be beneficial enough to reduce E. coli, rather than S. enterica in poultry litter over short-term periods.

This study examined the effects of chemical blends (a combination of alum and aluminum chloride) on pH, N, and pathogens in duck litter during a six-week experiment. In total, 240 Pekin ducks (160 males and 80 females) were individually distributed into 16 pens, in a randomized experimental design consisting of four treatments and four replicate pens per treatment. Our treatments included a control, T1 (75 g alum + 75 g aluminum chloride/kg duck litter), T2 (100 g alum + 100 g aluminum chloride/kg duck litter), and T3 (150 g alum + 150 g aluminum chloride/kg duck litter). There was no difference among treatments in pH and Total N (TN) at weeks 2, 4, and 6 and weeks 1, 4, 5, and 6, respectively. However, there were significant differences in both pH and TN among treatments at weeks 1, 3, and 5 and weeks 2 and 3, respectively. Regarding pathogens, we found small differences in all treatments in Escherichia coli populations from weeks 1 to 5 and in Salmonella enterica populations from weeks 1 to 3. In conclusion, the addition of chemical blends to duck litter increased TN, which resulted in a lower litter pH, but did not significantly affect pathogen populations.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the characteristics of duck litter in ducks fed diets containing Houttuynia cordata powder. One-day-old ducklings (Pekin) were randomly divided into two groups and fed a control or 1% H. cordata powder-containing diet for an experimental period of three weeks. The results showed that pH for 1–2 weeks and total nitrogen for 1–3 weeks in duck litter were affected by dietary treatments with 1% H. cordata powder (P < 0.05). For Volatile Fatty Acids (VFAs), there was no significant difference (P > 0.05) between ducks fed 1% H. cordata and control diets, as shown in the results for acetic acid and propionic acid in duck litter over three weeks; but, this was not the case for propionic acid at 3 weeks. The inclusion of 1% H. cordata powder in the diet had a the positive effect on increasing the total nitrogen and decreasing pH and VFAs in duck litter.

The effects of Houttuynia cordata powder on the growth performance of ducks were investigated. Ninety ducks were assigned into one of three dietary treatments as a completely randomized design for 6 weeks: feeds supplemented with 1% or 2% H. cordata and a control group. No significant difference was observed in feed conversion among the three groups (p > 0.05), but addition of H. cordata had a significantly positive effect (p < 0.05) on initial and final body weight, weight gain, and feed intake of the ducks. Furthermore, the effects of chemical treatment (comprising 50 g and 100 g aluminum chloride [AlCl3] per kilogram litter) on the ammonia (NH3) flux in duck litters were also investigated. Duck litter was treated with AlCl3 at a depth of 8 cm by top-dressing; this resulted in a significant difference on NH3 flux (p < 0.05) during the experimental period (but not at 2 weeks). NH3 flux at 6 weeks were reduced by 25.4% and 37.5% by treatment with 1% and 2% H. cordata, respectively, compared with the control groups. In conclusion, enriching the diets of the ducks with 2% H. cordata and adding 100 g AlCl3 to their litter has beneficial effects on increasing their growth performance and reducing NH3 flux in their environment.

본 연구는 육계 생산과정에서의 건조 Rosemary 잎 분말의 급여가 육계의 생산성, 맹장내 균총 및 깔짚 중 유해가스 발생량에 미치는 영향에 대해서 조사하였다. 총 216수의 7일령 육계에 대조구, Rosemary 분말 0.5% (5 g/kg diet, T1) 및 1.0% (10 g/kg diet, T2)로 구분하여 35일령까지 총 4주간의 사양 시험을 실시하였다. 사육기간중 증체중 및 사료효율은 Rosemary 급여에 의해서 유의하게 증가하였지만(P<0.05), 처리구간(T1 Vs. T2)에는 유의한 차이가 인정되지 않았다. 사료섭취량 및 도태율은 대조구와 처리구간에 차이는 인정되지 않았다. 21일령과 35일령 모두 맹장내 Lactobacillus의 수는 Rosemary 급여에 의해서 유의하게 증가하였고(P<0.05), E. Coli 및 Salmonella의 수는 유의하게 감소하였다(P<0.05). 혐기성 총 미생물 수는 Rosemary의 첨가에 의한 영향은 인정되지 않았다. 깔짚 내 Ammonia의 발생량은 Rosemary 첨가에 의해서 유의하게 감소하였다(P<0.05). 그러나 처리구간(T1 Vs. T2)에는 차이가 인정되지 않았다. 이상의 결과를 종합해보면, 육계사양에서 건조 Rosemary 잎의 급여는 사료중 영양소 이용율 증가, 소화관내 유익균의 증가 및 유해균의 감소, 및 배설물 중 NH3의 발생량 감소로 인한 증체량 및 사료효율을 개선시킬 가능성이 생각된다.

This study was conducted to determine the effects of mixed Korean red ginseng marc with aluminum sulfate on gas concentration and volatile fatty acid (VFA) in poultry litter during 4 weeks in terms of livestock and environment managements. A total of 240 broiler chicks were randomly allocated to four treatments in four replications and 15 birds per replicate. The four treatments was mixed to rice hull under each pen at 0, 10 g or 20 g red ginseng marc + 90g aluminum sulfate, and 100g aluminum sulfate per kg poultry litter (rice hulls). Carbon dioxide, methane, acetic acid, and propionic acids were measured weekly. The results that could be available include: First, during the experimental period, carbon dioxide emissions were not remarkably different among treatments. Second, no differences were observed among treatments in methane emissions at 2 weeks through 4 weeks, but at 1 week, the reduction in methane emissions was in following order: 100 g aluminum sulfate > 20 g red ginseng marc + 90 g aluminum sulfate > 10 g red ginseng marc + 90 g aluminum sulfate > control. Third, in spite of statistically differences, treatment with 10 g or 20 g red ginseng marc + 90g aluminum sulfate, and 100g aluminum sulfate reduced acetic acid and propionic acid as a function of time, except acetic acid in aluminum sulfate treatment at 2 and 4 weeks. In conclusion, the results indicated that like aluminum sulfate, using 10 g or 20 g red ginseng marc with aluminum sulfate was effective in decreasing methane and propionic acid released from poultry litter.

We investigated the effects of sea urchin shell powder on 2 volatile fatty acids, acetic and butyric acid, in poultry litter. A total of 60 1-d-old male broiler chicks (Arbor Acres) were allocated to 2 treatments (basal diet and 1% sea urchin shell powder) with 3 replicates of 10 birds each. During the 4-week experimental period, significant differences in acetic acid and butyric acid concentrations were observed between treatments (P < 0.05), except for acetic acid at 1 week. Additions of 1% sea urchin shell powder resulted in lower acetic and butyric acid concentrations compared to the litter of control birds. We conclude that the sea urchin shell powder used in this study might prove beneficial in reducing environmental pollution caused by poultry litter.

본 연구에서는 이산화염소수를 이용한 계사 내 깔짚의 미생물 수 저감화를 통한 깔짚의 미생물학적 안전성 확보를 위하여 연구를 수행하였다. 사용하기 전의 깔짚에는 coliform, E. coli, Listeria spp., yeasts and molds 및 total aerobic bacteria가 높은 수준으로 검출되었으며 사용기간이 늘어남에 따라 미생물 수가 증가하였다. 500 ppm 이산화염소수를 이용한 살균처리에서는 coliform, E. c

Recent studies have shown that alum addition to litter results in many environmental and economic advantages, such as reductions in metal runoff, lower ammonia emission and improved poultry performance. However, no research has been conducted to evaluate the effects of different types of alum on soluble metals in poultry litter. The objective of this study was conducted to investigate changes in soluble metal from poultry litter with different types of aluminum sulfate (alum) under laboratory condition. The treatments used in this study, which were mixed in the upper 1 cm of litter or sprayed onto the litter surface, were 4 g alum, 8 g alum, 8.66 g liquid alum, 17.3 g liquid alum, 11.2 g A7 (high acid alum), and 22.4 g A7 (high acid alum)/100 g litter. Applying different types of alum to poultry litter reduced (P<0.05) concentrations of soluble Fe (9 to 54%), Cu (9 to 49%) and Zn (11 to 40%), relative to untreated litter, whereas it increased Ca and Mg (P<0.05). Mean soluble Fe and Cu levels in poultry litter from different types of alum decreased in the order: 22.4 g A7 (54% and 49%) > 17.3 g liquid alum (48% and 42%) > 8 g alum (48% and 31%) > 4 g alum (28% and 10%) > 8.6 g liquid alum (10% and 9%) > 11.2 g A7 (8.6% and 9%). Additionally, the high reduction in soluble Zn concentration was 4 g alum (40%), followed by 8 g alum (26%), 22.4 g A7 (25%), 17.3 g liquid alum (23%), 8.66 g liquid alum (18%), and 11.2 g A7 (11%), respectively. In conclusion, the current studies suggest that treating poultry litter with different types of alum can be applied to reduce soluble metal (Fe, Cu, and Zn) and to develop a production to merchandise for poultry litter that would result in reduction in pollutants from these materials. Furthermore, in order to improve environmental management in the poultry industry, the use of alum, liquid alum and high acid alum all should be provided a valid means of reducing negative environmental impact.

The objective of this study was conducted to evaluate the effects of poultry litter amendments on pH and soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP) in poultry litter. Two laboratory studies were conducted for 42 d in Exp. 1 and for 10 d in Exp. 2, respectively. The poultry litter was treated with various amendments which included 4 g fly ash and 4 g AlCl3 (AlCl₃.6H₂O)/100 g litter in Exp. 1 and 4 g alum(Al₂(SO₄)₃.14H₂O), 8 g alum, 8.66 g liquid alum, and 17.3 g liquid alum/100 g litter in Exp. 2; untreated litter served as controls. There were no differences in pH between control and T1(4 g fly ash) and SRP contents between T1(4 g fly ash) and T2(4 g AlCl₃) in Exp. 1. A significant difference in pH and SRP contents in Exp. 2 was observed among all treatments(P< 0.05). In experiment 1, T1(4 g fly ash) and T2(4 g AlCl₃) at 42 d decreased SRP in litter by 47.1% and 62.6% of that from litter alone, repectively. In experiment 2, T1(4 g alum), T2(8.66 g liquid alum), T3(8 g alum), and T4(17.3 g liquid alum) treatments at 10 days reduced SRP contents by up to 36.2%, 62.9%, 87.0%, and 83.9%, respectively, when compared with the controls. Decrease in SRP contents was chiefly associated with reduction in litter pH. These results indicate that use of various litter amendments to limit P solubility has potential and should be pursued as a means of reducing soluble reative phosphorus during short term.

The objectives of this study were conducted to determine the effects of two chemical amendments on volatile fatty acids (VFA) and nitrogen contents in poultry litter after broiler chicks were raised in poultry houses for 6 weeks. Two different additives were applied as a top dressing to the litter at a rate of AlCl₃∙6₂2O (200 g)+CaCO₃ (50 g) or Alum (200 g)+CaCO₃ (50 g)/kg of rice bran; untreated litter served as controls. Application of AlCl₃+CaCO₃ and Alum+CaCO₃ reduced total VFA contents by 67% and 51% at 6 weeks, respectively, compard to the control groups. The decrease in litter pH with two chemical treatments results in decreased proportion of VFA and increased nitrogen contents of the litter. These results indicate that treating AlCl₃+CaCO₃ and Alum+CaCO₃ to poultry litter offers the potential for reducing an environmental impact.