Manipulating bedding materials and PLTto reduce NH(3) emissions from broiler manure

We studied the effect of five bedding materials (wood shavings, sawdust, peanut hulls, wheat straw and shredded paper) and PLTtrade mark (a commercial formulation of Na bisulfate) in factorial combinations, on NH(3) emissions from broiler manure. Treatments were incubated for 11 days at 25 degrees C and 98% relative humidity. Ammonia was trapped in 0.1N H(2)SO(4) and measured colorimetrically as NH(4)(+), and CO(2) was monitored with an infrared analyzer. Ammonia and CO(2) emissions were suppressed by PLT throughout the study. Wheat straw, wood shavings, and sawdust, with C(total)/N(total)>50 or C(biodegradable)/N>20, had low NH(3) emissions. Total NH(3) emissions from peanut hulls and shredded paper were the highest, probably due to peanut hulls' low C/N ratio and shredded paper's alkaline pH. No significant interactions on NH(3) emissions were detected between PLT and bedding materials.