Storing and Handling Broiler and Turkey Litter
Author: Eldridge R. Collins Jr., Extension Agricultural Engineer,
Virginia Tech.
Publication Number 442-054, October 1996
Introduction
Application of livestock and poultry manure on land has been a
time-honored, convenient disposal method that benefits the soil system.
Overall, Virginia agriculture uses more than a million tons of chemical
fertilizer nitrogen (N) annually. Manures can provide about 45% of this
amount, or about 28% after allowing for storage and handling losses.
The amount of loss depends on the method of handling and management
involved. In recent years, large concentrations of poultry on small
parcels of land have made the manure disposal problem more critical.
When nutrients from manure, or commercial fertilizers, exceed the
ability of crops to utilize them, surface runoff and groundwater
pollution problems develop. This leaflet will outline management steps
to take advantage of the fertilizer value of your manure and litter
while minimizing potential damage to Virginia's water resources.
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How Does Management and Storage of Litter Affect its Value?
Proper management of litter in the house will reduce the need to move
litter between flocks and will aid in developing a cleanout schedule
that allows direct application of manure to cropland without
intermediate storage. Greater efficiency is obtained if manure can be
directly applied at the proper time because handling costs are less and
nitrogen will be more efficiently utilized. The primary key to good
in-house management of litter is to keep the litter DRY. Wet litter,
aside from being undesirable from the standpoint of bird health,
creates a condition where more nitrogen is released from the litter in
the form of ammonia. Two primary factors relate to good litter
conditions: (1) proper heating and ventilation, and (2) selection and
operation of bird watering systems to minimize spillage on the litter.
Each popular type of watering system can be used effectively. Careful
adjustment of height, water depth, and other operating factors will
help assure minimum spillage onto the litter. Reducing water spillage
win:
- save water,
- improve bird quality,
- improve production environment,
- reduce ammonia release from litter,
- reduce volume of wet manure cake, and
- extend time between litter cleanout.
Dollars spent on proper selection and use of water systems and
attention to good management provide economic and environmental returns
to all phases of bird and litter management.
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Is Litter Storage Necessary?
Direct movement of litter from house to field will minimize handling
costs and, if synchronized with a cropping plan, will usually allow
more efficient utilization of manure nitrogen. Many growers, however,
may not have enough land to spread all litter properly or be able to
coordinate house clean-out with times that litter can be directly
spread. In such cases, the grower might contract with neighbors or
other potential users who can use the litter directly when houses are
cleaned. Other uses besides crop fertilization might also he explored,
such as selling the litter for comporting or to cattlemen for use as a
ration.
Frequently, cleaning of houses does not coincide with available open
cropland or with proper field conditions that permit operation of
equipment or desirable nutrient uptake. Storage must then he provided
until conditions are suitable for spreading, or until litter can be
picked up for use by others as fertilizer, compost, or animal feed.
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Types of Litter Storage
Storages are classified into three main types: (1) temporary, or
"stockpiling," (2) open storages, and (3) permanently roofed storages.
Each type provides flexibility for the grower, either for utilizing
litter for fertilizer or cattle feeding in his own operation or for
holding litter until such time as it can be sold or donated to someone
else. The storage method must protect litter from contact with
rainwater or snow; stockpiling of uncovered litter on the soil for long
periods before application on cropland can mean a fivefold reduction of
nitrogen in the manure. The nitrogen lost may be leached or washed into
surface drains or streams or into groundwater. So, improper storage not
only results in an economic loss due to reduced fertilizer value, but
has great potential for water quality reduction when dissolved
nutrients or litter solids are carried to surface or groundwaters.
Cover for storage requires a surface on the manure stockpile that sheds
water, which is usually provided by plastic or other membrane covering,
or by a roofed structure.
Storage sites should be located on high ground that has good surface
drainage, is not subject to pending or flooding, and is located at
least 100 feet from flowing streams or drainageways. Avoid normally
wet areas and other areas that tend toward running or standing water.
Where a concrete base is not used, stockpile on an impermeable base
such as well-compacted clay to minimize leaching into soil and
groundwater table. A minimum of 4 feet (vertical) is recommended
between the base of the pile and the seasonal high groundwater table.
Storages should not be located closer than 100 feet, and preferably
downslope, from wells or other sources of drinking water.
When properly located and managed, or if protected by diversion works,
storages will not have runoff or leachate. However, if runoff or
drainage from the storage occurs, it should be routed to a runoff
retention pond for future irrigated disposal on land, or into an
infiltration terrace at least 100 feet long, or into an overland
flow-filter area that is at least 50 feet long and seeded with fescue,
orchardgrass, or other suitable varieties recommended by local
Extension or SCS personnel. Infiltration areas must be maintained by
clipping and weed control to maintain their effectiveness which depends
on good grass cover and root systems.
To control diseases and to avoid the threat of spreading fire should
spontaneous combustion occur within the storage pile, do not
locate storages closer than 150 feet to dwellings or production houses.
Practice recommended fly and rodent control around the production
houses and in the vicinity or the storage area. Bird carcasses should
not be added to litter storage piles; use only accepted dead bird
disposal practices. Virginia Cooperative Extension (VCE)
Publication 442-638 describes several acceptable methods of dead poultry disposal.
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Short-term Storage: Covered Stockpiles
If the fitter is to be
temporarily
stockpiled,
it should be covered with plastic sheeting (6 mil minirnum thickness) held in place with old
tires by burying the edges of the sheeting, or by other anchoring
systems. If this practice will he used often, a reinforced, ultraviolet
resistant cover will last longer and may be a good investment. Shes
should be selected carefully, as described earlier; location near
windbreaks will help protect the plastic covering. Compacting of litter
is not necessary, but more manure can be stored in a small area and
with less plastic sheeting if compaction is provided. Sheeting must be
applied with care to prevent tearing. Anchor sheeting by laying the
edges across a small trench approximately 12 inches deep and
backfilling with soil. Lay used tires over the sheeting,
similar to methods used on bunker silos, to prevent loosening and damage in the
wind. It is preferable to leave the pile sealed until all litter can be
spread or otherwise utilized.
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Long-term Storage: Stockpiles with Ground Liners
Litter must not be stored on high-waterable soils, or on
shallow soils over rock outcropping, without a ground liner to prevent nitrogen
leaching and bacterial contamination of the groundwater. I he most
satisfactory ground liners are made of concrete. Plastic ground liners
are generally not recommended for the following reasons: (1) debris,
rocks, and other sharp objects must be removed before the sheeting is
placed to prevent puncture and subsequent leaching of nitrogen, (2)
loose soil must be compacted before sheeting is placed and litter is
piled to prevent tearing or puncture, and (3) when the stockpile is
spread, plastic may be shredded, tangled in machinery, or otherwise
become a general trash or nuisance problem.
Concrete ground liners are recommended for permanent manure storage
structures. A permanent liner greatly reduces the likelihood of
leaching to groundwater, and makes operation of equipment within the
pile much easier. instruct the concrete ground liner 6 inches tllick,
reinforced with wire mesh, placed on a well compacted grade over 6
inches of compacted gravel. Low reinforced concrete walls or bigly
curbing around the perimeter will help contain litter on the concrete.
Prevent cracking failure by thickening the perimeter of the concrete to
form a footer where traffic enters and exits. I he site should be
graded to provide good underdrainage and to prevent frost heaving
during cold weather. An improved gravel roadway will allow the
stockpile to be used during bad weather. Construction of the actual
stockpile should be done as described for the open and covered
short-term stockpiles. Cover the stockpile with plastic (6 mil minimum)
or a bunker silo anchored with wood poles, concrete blocks, or other
anchoring systems. Sharp anchors such as concrete blocks may damage the
cover and should be used with care.
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Bunker-type Storage Structures
Bunker structures, such as those used for storing silage on livestock
farms offer a good alternative for longer-term storage of poultry
litter. A bunker allows deeper piling and compaction of litter to
reduce total area required for the storage.
Concrete bunkers are recommended to eliminate concerns about
spontaneous combustion within the pile. Plans are available from your local Extension Agent for
tilt-up concrete bunker silos that can be used for litter storage. An
end wall can be constructed to slightly increase storage capacity.
However, loading the storage is often easier without an end wall. As
with the previous stockpiles described, plastic sheeting or reinforced
fabric silo covers should be used to cover the manure. With careful
use, silo covers should last many years.
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Permanently Roofed Storage Structure
Covers may be constructed over bunkers, concrete slabs, or even over a
well compacted soil base to eliminate the need for plastic or silo
covers. A
roofed structure allows
for continuous loading or unloading with a minimum of effort when compared to other dry-storage methods.
These structures generally are more expensive than the other storage
methods, and special attention must be given to planning and
construction details to account for the special needs of handling
litter, and they must meet wind and snow load standards for other farm
structures. The roof structure must be clear-span supported
by outside walls or perimeter posts; interior posts will obstruct loading and
unloading of litter, and they might be ignited if spontaneous
combustion occurs. A roof height of 12 feet or higher is recommended to
allow for compaction loading of litter, use of front end loaders, truck
dump beds, and other equipment; the exact height must be determined
after considering the equipment and management that will be
used. High
roofs will require wall panels and/or a long overhang to protect the
stored litter from excessive blowing rain and snow.
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