Ph, Ammonia Flux, and Total Nitrogen in Duck Litter with Chemical Blends - A Field Study

Abstract

This study was designed to evaluate the effects of chemical blend additives to duck litter on pH, ammonia (NH 3 ) fluxes, total nitrogen (TN) under a small pen trial. One hundred twenty 1-day-old duck (pekin) were randomly assigned to 6 pens in a completely randomized design during 6 weeks. Control received no litter treatment whereas topdressed treatment at rates of 50 g aluminum sulfate + 50 aluminum chloride/kg duck litter were mixed into the upper 1 cm of duck litter. Duck litter pH at 2 weeks through 5 weeks was significantly affected (p<0.05) by chemical blend treatments compared to controls, but not at 6 weeks. During the experimental periods, NH 3 fluxes decreased (p<0.05) in chemical blend treatments. However, there were no remarkable difference (p>0.05) between treatments at 0 and 1 week. Reductions of NH 3 fluxes at 3, 4, 5 and 6 weeks were 31, 16, 29 and 24%, respectively. Chemical blend treatments as a function of time resulted in increase in TN contents compared with control. There were no significant differences (p>0.05) in TN between treatments at 2 and 3 weeks, except for 4, 5 and 6 weeks. Chemical blend decreases NH 3 fluxes and increases TN positively by reducing duck litter pH.

Effects of Fermented Mealworm Larvae Meal With Different Probiotics on Litter Quality in Broiler House

“…Litter samples were analyzed for moisture, pH and ammonia gas emissions. Litter moisture contents were determined in accordance with AOAC (2007), pH levels were determined with a digital pH meter (Hanna HI 98127, USA) in accordance with Chung (2017) and NH3 gas emissions were determined with a gas measurement device (Pro GasBadge, China) in accordance with Park et al (2016).…”