Livestock and poultry manure is an important recyclable nutrient resource in Chinese agriculture, and heap composting, a low-input static method, is the most common treatment approach on farms. However, most studies have focused on aerobic composting, whereas systematic evaluations of physicochemical evolution and maturity/quality development during heap composting remain limited, hampering reliable assessment of compost performance and land-application readiness. Here, we compared heap and turned composting of chicken manure amended with rice bran under natural aeration. Five treatments were applied: manure alone (CM), manure with rice bran (CM+RB), covered heap compost (CM+RB+C), single-turned compost (CM+RB+ST), and multi-turned compost (CM+RB+MT), monitored for 66 days. Rice-bran addition rapidly induced the thermophilic phase and substantially enhanced organic decomposition, while turning further prolonged the thermophilic phase. Humic acid content increased in all rice-bran treatments, indicating clear humification, with only slight variation among aeration intensities. Nitrogen transformation also differed: turned piles showed faster nitrification, suggesting enhanced aerobic nitrogen conversion under stronger aeration. Compost maturity improved across treatments, and all rice-bran treatments except CM+RB+C achieved a germination index > 70%. Overall, heap composting largely achieved stability, humification, and maturity close to those of aerobic turning, while markedly reducing labor and energy inputs, supporting its suitability for small-scale manure recycling.

Biochar (BC) and biostimulants, such as fulvic acid (FA), have proven to have potential in composting. They have been shown to reduce nitrogen loss and enhance the quality of compost, benefitting the composting of manure and straw. However, the synergistic effects of BC and FA on composting remain largely unelucidated. The present study evaluated the individual and synergistic effects of BC and FA on the composting of chicken manure mixed with straw. Results demonstrated that BC + FA significantly reduced ammonia (NH3) volatilization by 48.11% through the composting process. In addition, BC + FA increased the accumulated temperature and pH and reduced the electrical conductivity of composts. Regarding the final products, the BC + FA treatment increased the contents of total nitrogen and dissolved organic carbon and improved the germination index (GI) by 50%. Concurrently, FA and BC + FA increased the content of humic substances by 12.6% and 12.8%, respectively. The ratio of humic acid to FA increased from 8.2% to 44.9% following the BC + FA treatment compared to that in the control. Furthermore, BC enhanced the fluorescence and humification indices of the composts. Besides, it was revealed that the functional groups present on the surfaces of BC and FA + BC were associated with intermolecular polymerization and aromatization. The Mantel test confirmed that BC + FA effectively reduced the NH3 emissions of this process and enhanced the quality and GI, probably through stimulating the directional transformation of organic matter. This study systematically evaluated the effect of BC and FA in a composting trial and offered a promising and comprehensive strategy for the effective resource utilization of manure and straw.

The increasing demand for sustainable energy solutions has intensified research into biodiesel production, which relies on chemical catalysts that have an environmental impact. This study investigates the alternative methods of biodiesel production by utilizing agricultural waste, specifically rice husk, coconut husk, and chicken manure as a catalyst for biodiesel production. Laboratory experiments were conducted to extract metal oxide from agricultural waste to be used as a catalyst in the transesterification process. The obtained ash was characterized, and it was revealed that rice husk ash contained 98% SiO 2 , coconut husk ash had 72.62% of K 2 O, and chicken manure ash had 46.56% CaO, with higher metal oxide compositions in each material. The transesterification reaction was conducted by varying alcohol to oil ratio from 3:1, 6:1, 9:1, and 12:1, temperature (40-80°C), catalyst concentration (1.5-4.5%wt), and reaction time (20-120min) to assess catalyst efficiency. Pure CaO was used as a control catalyst for comparison. Characterization of the produced biodiesel from all catalysts was conducted and compared to ASTM D6751 standards. The results for acid value, moisture content, density, viscosity, free fatty acid, flash point, pour point, and cloud point were analyzed and found to comply with ASTM D6751 standards. On quantity determination of produced biodiesel, the most effective catalyst was chicken manure ash with a yield of 80% and the least effective catalyst was rice husk ash with 68% yield. Using agricultural waste reduces up to 40% production cost.

Zeolite enhanced nitrogen retention in chicken manure composting: Differential responses of abundant and rare bacteria

Investigating plastic in organic fertilizers: A 2-year comparative study.

Co-compost of steel slag and chicken manure improved product properties and stabilized Cadmium activity in soil-rice systems

This study aims to analyze the effect of various doses of chicken manure on the growth and yield of long bean plants (Vigna cylindrica L.). The experimental design used was a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with four treatments and six replications. Treatments consisted of A (control without fertilizer), B (0.5 kg chicken manure), C (1 kg chicken manure), and D (1.5 kg chicken manure). The variables observed included plant height, number of leaves, number of branches, number of pods, pod length, and fresh pod weight at 14, 28, and 42 Days After Planting (DAP). This study was conducted at the Greenhouse, Department of Biology, State University of Medan. The time of this study was from July to September 2025. The results of the Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) showed that the application of chicken manure had a very significant effect (p<0.05) on all parameters of plant growth and yield. Further DMRT testing results demonstrated that treatment D (1.5 kg of chicken manure) consistently produced the highest yields and significantly differed from the other treatments across all observation phases. It can be concluded that applying 1.5 kg of chicken manure per plot is the optimal dose, significantly increasing vegetative growth and yield of long beans.

Effects of recovered exogenous nitrogen addition on pilot-scale single-cell protein production from soybean soaking water.

Uniform phosphorus, divergent gains: Chicken and pig manures drive microbial metabolic functional diversity and nutrient synergy in reclaimed mining soil

Abstract Purpose Organic amendments (OAs) from agricultural and livestock residues are usually used to improve soil fertility in crop systems, however, the knowledge of the banana agroecosystem remains limited. The aimed of this study was to evaluate and compare the effect of four OAs commonly used in Canary Islands, on soil health and plant performance. Methods A two-year greenhouse experiment was carried out over a complete crop cycle. The treatments included cow manure, chicken manure, compost, pelletised compost, and a non-amended control. Soil chemical properties, microbial activity, plant growth, and plant nutrient content were monitored across the experiment. Results All OAs improved soil parameters relative to the control, with differing impacts among treatments. Chicken manure markedly enhanced soil microbial activity (increasing induced respiration and the abundance of bacterial, actinobacterial, and fungal populations), increased phosphorus and electrical conductivity, and reduced pH (by up to 1.5 units). Cow manure increased soil nutrient availability (especially nitrogen and phosphorus) and stimulated basal microbial respiration. Compost promoted fungal abundance and increased total and oxidisable organic matter throughout the crop cycle, whereas pelletised compost showed variable effects. In terms of plant development, chicken and cow manure significantly improved height, biomass, pseudostem circumference, and leaf area. Chicken manure outperformed cow manure in several yield-related parameters, including bunch and hand weight, number of fingers/hand, finger size, and rachis diameter. At harvest, chicken manure also showed the highest uptake of calcium, iron, manganese, nitrogen, potassium, sodium, and zinc. Conclusions These results highlight the different effects of each OAs and their specific potential to improve soil biological parameters, nutrient availability, and banana yield as effective tools to enhance agroecosystem sustainability. Graphical Abstract

Mitigation of antibiotic resistance genes and pathogens via black soldier fly-mediated bioconversion of chicken manure.

White corn is the most important substitute staple in periods of rice shortage. Currently, there is an increasing global trend toward reducing dependence on synthetic fertilizers. ​The increasing demand for organic produce among health-conscious consumers is driving the adoption of sustainable agricultural practices, including the use of organic fertilizers and bio-fertilizers to meet plant nutrient needs. A field experiment was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of bio-fertilizer added to chicken manure in terms of growth, yield, and physicochemical characteristics of corn. The study used a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) consisting of five treatments with three replications each, and data were collected on the growth, yield, and physicochemical parameters of corn. Data were analyzed using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) in RCBD, and Comparisons among means were performed using Duncan Multiple Range Test (DMRT) to determine the specific significant differences among treatments. One-half the recommended rate of Azospirillum combined with half the recommended rate of Mykovam® at half the amount of chicken manure was comparable to using the full-recommended inorganic fertilizer in terms of plant height, days to silking, ear height, and average length of ears. Moreover, the same treatment combination significantly affected all growth and yield parameters, except for plant stand and average number of ears, which were comparable to using the full-recommended rate of chicken manure. The overall results of this study suggest that combining bio-fertilizer with organic amendments, like chicken manure, using only half the recommended rate, can effectively enhance corn production.

Insights into Fe0, Fe2O3, and Fe3O4-Mediated humification and nitrogen transformation during composting.

Aim of study: The objective was to determine the effect of organic fertilizer, composted chicken manure, on improving nutrition in cocoa crops for good vegetative development. Area of study: The study was carried out in 2019-2020 in Almirante, Bocas del Toro province, Republic of Panama. Material and methods: The study was carried out with 126 fine aroma cocoa plants in a 2,000 m2 agroforestry system. The statistical design was completely randomized blocks with 7 different doses of composted chicken manure (0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 Mg ha-1) 3 repetitions. The composted chicken manure was incorporated into the soil 15 cm from the tree. Leaf, plant and soil samples were taken one year after the doses were applied, at depths of 0 to 5, 5 to 15 and 15 to 30 cm. Main results: It was shown that the application of composted chicken manure increased the concentration of soil organic carbon, the pH and bioavailability of N, P, K and other essential elements, decreasing the concentration of aluminum in the soil. This leads to the balance of nutrients in the soil, resulting in a greater tree biomass. Research highlights: Composted chicken manure with doses higher than 20 Mg ha-1 contributed to the nutrition and growth of the cocoa crop, improving its tree development in a greater productive capacity.

As an important strategy to modulate electronic structure and carrier behavior, oxygen vacancy (OV) is important for modifying semiconductor materials to removal drug-resistant bacteria. Herein, Bi4O5Br2 with abundant oxygen vacancies (OVs) (Bi4O5Br2-OVs) were prepared by room temperature reduction method using L-ascorbic acid (AA) as a reducing agent. Controlled generation of ·OH radicals from the nanomaterial enabled highly efficient removal of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). The relationship between AA concentration/time and OV concentration was explored. The effect of OV content on the energy band structure was clarified. The equilibrium concentration of OV that can most substantially enhance the photocatalytic performance was evaluated. Under the optimal conditions with 0.15M AA and 60min reaction time, Bi4O5Br2-OVs possessed the most suitable oxygen vacancy concentration. The removal concentration of MRSA reached 107.11CFU⋅mL-1 within 180min. In addition, ·OH and h+ were explored as the main active species components by ESR experiments. It was also determined by free radical quantification experiments that the concentration of ·OH produced by Bi4O5Br2-OVs was four times more than that by bare Bi4O5Br2. Bi4O5Br2-OVs also showed excellent removal rates for antibiotics and antibiotic resistance genes. Moreover, the photocatalysts presented excellent bactericidal ability in the chicken manure water environment. Besides, it also showed high removal rate of MRSA under real sunlight irradiation. Overall, the introduction of oxygen vacancies by room-temperature reduction improved the photocatalytic performance of Bi4O5Br2, which provided a promising application value for the remediation of drug-resistant bacterial contamination in aqueous environments.

This study investigated the effects of different Effective Microorganism (EM) inoculation concentrations (0%, 0.5%, 2%, 5%, 10%, 15%) on the co-composting of Auricularia heimuer residue with chicken manure and the subsequent growth of maize. The aim was to enhance composting efficiency and promote maize productivity. Results showed that EM addition, particularly at medium concentrations, significantly accelerated the composting process by shortening the heating phase and prolonging the thermophilic period, with the 10% treatment reaching >50 °C by day 2. The 5–10% EM treatments markedly promoted the degradation of cellulose and hemicellulose, and enhanced key enzyme activities (e.g., cellulase and hemicellulase) during composting and maize growth stages. Regarding soil nutrients, the 5% EM treatment led to the most balanced increases in total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), and total potassium (TK) contents, with rises of 58.7%, 47.8%, and 130.4%, respectively, during the seedling stage. For maize yield, this treatment enhanced total grain weight, hundred-grain weight, and root activity by 25.7%, 30.9%, and 53.2%, respectively, while also increasing dry matter and root weight. Redundancy and correlation analyses indicated strong positive relationships among root activity, soil TN, cellulase activity, and final yield. In conclusion, EM inoculation at 5–10% optimizes the composting process, improves substrate quality and nutrient supply, and promotes maize root development and yield, with 5% EM offering the most comprehensive benefits. This study provides a practical approach for agricultural waste recycling and sustainable maize cultivation.

Investigating safety aspects of using insect farming to reduce pig and chicken wastes at semi-commercial and lab-scale.

Comparative assessment of hydrochars derived from chicken manure and sewage sludge via hydrothermal carbonization: Combustion behavior and kinetic analysis using the Coats–Redfern method

Dissolved organic matter induces selenium and cadmium immobilization in natural selenium-cadmium-rich paddy soils.

Synergistic anaerobic digestion of chicken manure: Balancing biogas and biofertilizer via microbial dynamics and multivariate analysis