ABSTRACT
Poultry production in the United States has increased steadily and accounts for about 5.5% of the total manure produced annually. Water requirements for poultry manure management and utilization vary according to how manure is handled and stored. Wastes from broiler chickens and turkeys are in a solid (litter) form while layer chicken waste may be either solid or liquid. Litter is most often land applied as a fertilizer source for plants. Liquid manure from laying operations is flushed into anaerobic lagoons for dilution and treatment. Large quantities of water are required to flush and treat liquid manure. The treated effluent is then land applied to crops and pastures. Poultry manure is an excellent source of nutrients for plant growth, including nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, and can improve soil physical properties by addition of organic matter. Poultry manure can also be a low cost alternative to mineral fertilizers. Application of poultry manure and wastewater requires proper management to reduce adverse effects to human health and water quality due to loss of nutrients and pathogens from fields to adjacent surface and groundwater bodies.
