Managing Phosphorus Runoff From Around Poultry Production Facilities.

Nutrient runoff from around broiler poultry production facilities is receiving increased attention from US EPA, as it attempts to manage non-CAFO designated livestock operations that house large numbers of animals on small plots of land.  Specifically, increased awareness of the potential for poultry litter spillage during house cleanout and ventilation fan dust expulsion as sources of nutrients (particularly phosphorus [P]) to runoff, has led to a need for conservation practices to mitigate potential losses.  This study documents the potential for P runoff from around poultry houses on two farms in Northwest Arkansas and then investigates the use of several residuals from water treatment and steel belt manufacturing processes to sequester large amounts of dissolved P that may be contained in runoff water.  Further development of this technology may lead to a low-cost conservation practice to minimize P runoff from poultry house operations.