March 10, 2008

ARS develop method to obtain phosphorus in poultry manure
 

Soil scientists from Agricultural Research Service (ARS), a research arm of USDA, have found a method to obtain phosphorus in poultry manure for crop fertilization.

Farmers use poultry litter to fertilise their field crops, but the litter usually contains excessive phosphorus that is potentially harmful to waterbeds.

The process selectively removes up to 80 percent of the phosphorus from poultry litter, which would then be washed to be safety used on crops as a balanced fertiliser. It can also be used as a feedstock for bioenergy production.

US farmers use about 3.7 billion pounds of phosphorus in annual crop production, but about 1 billion pounds of phosphorus are produced in excess.

This method will allow livestock producers to manage the excess phosphorus in manure. Poultry producers also benefit by producing a concentrated phosphorus product that can be removed from farms easily and be reused as fertiliser.

ARS has applied for a patent for the method and is now seeking business partners to market the product.