FGD Gypsum Effects On Ammonia Volatilization and Nitrogen Release From Broiler Litter.

The addition of flue-gas desulfurization (FGD) gypsum to broiler litter has been shown to decrease water-soluble P, but little information is available on its effect on ammonia volatilization and nitrogen release from the litter. In one laboratory study, broiler litter with 25% FGD gypsum or without FGD gypsum was applied on the soil surface and incubated for 15 days at 25C. A second laboratory study evaluated the effect of mixing FGD gypsum with soil (1:100) on ammonia loss from surface-applied broiler litter during 15 days at 25C. A third laboratory study evaluated the effect of adding FGD gypsum (25%) to broiler litter on N mineralization when litter was mixed with soil and incubated for 63 days at 25C.   Addition of FGD gypsum to broiler litter or soil did not affect the amount of ammonia volatilized when the litter was surface applied. Similarly, adding FGD gypsum to broiler litter did not affect the amount of N mineralized when broiler litter was mixed with soil. These results indicate that the addition of FGD gypsum to broiler litter is not likely to affect ammonia loss or N mineralization.