Progress 10/01/06 to 09/30/08
Outputs
OUTPUTS: This project was initiated to demonstrate through research and demonstration the use of superior "home-grown" erosion and sediment control products such as compost blankets and pellets made from poultry litter, and hydromulches made from cotton gin trash. Long-term evaluation of existing and proposed 10'x25' study plots on 4:1 disturbed slopes was proposed in 2008 to provide answers to questions about the effectiveness and real cost of products currently available for grass establishment, mitigation of soil loss, and reduction of storm and nutrient runoff. Dissemination of results to date, mainly in production and horticultural use of poultry litter compost, has been through conference proceedings, field days, and graduate student publication. PARTICIPANTS: PROJECT LEADERS: Mark Dougherty, Beth Guertal, Wes Zech, Charlene LeBleu, Diran Fasina, Jeff Sibley, John Blake, Ken Macklin, Charlie Mitchell, Dave Han, John Grace, Earl Norton DEPARTMENTS: Biosystems Engineering, Agronomy & Soils, Landscape Architecture, Civil Engineering, Poultry Science, USDA-Forest Service TARGET AUDIENCES: Agricultural producers, green material distributors, design-build contractors, land developers, engineers, soil and water conservationists, agronomists, state, local, and federal environmental and transportation agencies, and university, federal, or industry researchers. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: This project has produced approximately 100 CY of high quality compost from raw poultry litter from Alabama farms and demonstrated beneficial horticultural use in the green industry. The third year objectives of this project have not been accomplished due to lack of continued funding. Nevertheless, approximately 50 CY of mature, stable compost from this project has been stockpiled under cover at EV Smith for use when available funding is secured.
Impacts
The incorporation of compost and chemical polyacrylamide (PAM) products, and the addition of a third replicated site at E.V. Smith was proposed in 2008 to enhance the ability of the team to accomplish its three main objectives; 1 to identify superior materials and installation techniques necessary to develop long-term vegetative cover on disturbed slopes, 2 to evaluate and demonstrate the use of Alabama-based products for the commercial green industry in expanding erosion control and land reclamation markets, and 3 to provide accurate cost data for producers and users of Alabama-based erosion and sediment control products made from poultry litter compost, cotton gin trash, and other materials.
Publications
- Brymer B.J., Sibley, J., Dougherty, M., and D. Fasina. 2008. Evaluation of windrow versus in-vessel digester poultry liter compost for greenhouse use. IPPS 2008, Atlanta, GA.
- Brymer B.J., Sibley, J., Dougherty, M., and D. Fasina. 2008. Assessment of composting methods for use in the green industry. M.S. Thesis. Dept. Horticulture, Auburn Univ. December 2008.
- Dougherty, M., Baharanyi, A., Guertal, E., Zech, W., LeBleu, C. and E. Norton. 2008. Evaluation of erosion and sediment control cover types for long-term vegetation establishment on disturbed slopes, Proceedings of the ASABE International Meeting, Providence, RI, June 29-July 2, 2008.
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Progress 01/01/07 to 12/31/07
Outputs
The three-year goal of this project is to reduce the environmental and economic liability of on-farm poultry manure storage and land application by opening green industry markets for composted manure products. Over the study period, we have proposed to demonstrate the production and use of three poultry manure compost products for expanding erosion and sediment control (E&SC), general seeding, and land reclamation markets. Finished poultry waste compost will be screened to the particle size specified by the target market. Analytical equipment will be used to determine particle size distribution of finished compost. Temperature monitoring and datalogging of outdoor compost piles will continue until composting process is complete. Outdoor composting piles are stored using a breathable cover that sheds water. As a result of this project, we will be able to develop and establish unit costs for finished compost products from Alabama poultry manure for direct market to the
expanding (i) erosion and sediment control (E&SC) and (ii) general seeding markets. We will also develop and establish unit costs for (iii) a new pelleted compost product suitable for land reclamation and soil restoration markets. Demonstration through field trials in year 3 of this study will be used to disseminate the effectiveness of compost products for their selected markets.
Impacts
A variety of waste/by-products from agricultural and forestry operations in Alabama provide the carbon to balance the relatively high nitrogen content of raw poultry manure. Lumber mill waste, sawdust, peanut hulls, and possibly hardwood shavings can be used to balance the "recipe" (30-40:1 C:N ratio and 40-60% MC) for efficient pile heating. Finished compost has a preferred nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium value of 1% or higher (dry weight basis), a water-holding capacity of 100% or higher, a moisture content of 40-45%, and a bulk density of 800-1000 lbs. per cubic yard. One of the challenges using poultry manure as a fertilizer and soil amendment in Alabama is the phosphorus limitation of the receiving soil. While there is evidence that the use of special phosphorus binders can be used to reduce the environmental risk of P loading from poultry manure compost, the compost products developed in this study are targeted for markets outside the state of Alabama where
phosphorus is not limiting, such as large-scale restoration of strip mine sites. Production of approximately 150 cubic yards of compost is currently underway at the EV Smith Research and Extension Center, with ongoing monitoring of temperature, nutrients, moisture content, C:N ratio, and bacteria to quantify material quality and rate of composting.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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