Poultry is one of the fastest growing segments of the agricultural sector in India today. While the production of agricultural crops has been rising at the rate of 1.5 to 2.0 % per annum, eggs production have been rising at a rate of 8% per annum. India has the world’s largest population of livestock.  India produces around 5.3 million MT of meat and 75 bn eggs annually. Haryana, West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh are the leaders in poultry meat production in the country. India exported meat and poultry products worth around USD 5 bn in 2014- 2015. 

Livestock production system, especially in hilly areas of Nagaland state is unique and different from other parts of the country. Farmers depend on the locally available resources. Organized poultry sector in Nagaland consists of only 1.6% broiler and 0.8% layer to meet the demand of egg and meat required for almost 100% non- vegetarian population. Commercial scale operation for any livestock component is rarely been undertaken by the farmers or any private entrepreneur. Poultry farming could provide an opportunity for self- employment among the educated unemployed youth in Nagaland. On the other hand, organic farming in Nagaland has very promising opportunities and covers about 13,000 hectares in 241 villages and 13,500 farmers are engaged in such cultivation.  

Agriculture in Nagaland is an organic by default state as the region has not been affected by the wave of green revolution across India. Organic farming always advocated for use of farm yard manure, compost, poultry manure, biogas slurry, vermicompost, green manure crops, biofertilizers, crop residue etc,. Therefore,  it is  utmost  important to  blending the technology to produce good quality of organic manure with the available farm resources like, poultry manure in situ to reduce the harmful effect of chemical fertilizers and to promote organic farming as an enterprise in a state like Nagaland. 

Backyard poultry is typically owned by small and marginal farmers of Nagaland and comprises of few birds, largely for self- consumption and very small quantities get commercially sold. Poultry farming practiced by the rural and tribal farmer’s under free range or backyard or semi- intensive system is usually referred to as rural poultry farming. Smell of the chicken manure is caused by the nitrogen in their manure volatilizing into ammonia gas, the environmental impacts of larger scale chicken on air quality and local waterways may not be as relevant for small operations, but ammonia build up in the coop can have negative impact on animals health once it hits a concentration of 10ppm storage and management of solid waste also cause odor. Breeding of flies and rodents etc. are other issues in poultry farms. Poultry waste can be utilized by converting into poultry manure. However, value of one tonne of dried poultry manure is equivalent to 100 kg urea (46 kg N), 150 kg super phosphate (16 kg P2O5), 50 kg potash (60 kg K2O), 125 kg calcium carbonate, 30 kg sulphur, 12 kg sodium chloride, 10 kg magnesium sulphate, 5 kg ferrous sulphate, 1 kg manganese sulphate, zinc sulphate and other trace minerals is available at a cheaper rate than other market available inputs.

1)    Chicken droppings (the most suitable type is manure from broilers) are to be collected and mixed thoroughly with chopped carbonaceous plant waste (<2 cm size) (paddy straw/husk, coir pith, wood shavings etc.) @ 1:1.25 ratio should be done in pits for composting with Pleurotus sajor- caju (saprophytic mushroom) @ 2 packets/ tonne of waste in order to speed up composting process. 

2)    Mixing of chicken waste and carbonaceous plant waste should be heaped under shade. Moisture content of the heap should be maintained at 50 to 60%. 

3)    Periodical watering should be done once in 15 days and turning should be given on 21st, 35th, 42nd day of composting (avoid turning during first 3 weeks of composting). 

4)    Within a period of 50 days, material are converted to mature compost with the following nutrient contents; 1.89% N, 1.83% P, 1.34% K, C/N ratio 12.20%.

Benefits - Chicken manure N-P-K ratio ranges from 3-2.5-1.5 to 6-4-3. Loss of N from poultry waste can be conserved effectively by composting with carbonaceous materials like coir pith or paddy straw, wood shavings and serve as a good source of organic nutrients to agricultural fields. It can be used as an eco-friendly technique for the conversion of poultry waste into valuable compost. To make the organic nutrients present in poultry waste available to plants, the waste has to be composted suitably to minimize the volatilization of ammonia.

1) Elevated shady place is highly suitable.

2) Within a period of 10 to 15 days, temperature of the heap will raise to maximum. If the temperature drops below 50oC the heaps should be spread and moistened with water to bring the moisture content to 60%. 

3) Color of the compost will turn from brown to black. Manure compost will be odorless. 

4) Volume of the compost heap will be reduced to 1/3. 

5) Temperature of the heap will be same as the ambient air temperature and stable. 

6) Matured compost will be light and fine textured. 

7) Moisture content of the heap can be measured using moisture meter or taking handful of compost from the heap and squeezing it with the fingers. If excess water drips out from the compost, then it is considered to have >60% moisture. If small quantity of water ooze out as drops, then moisture content is considered to be optimum i.e., at 60%. 

8) Each compost heap should have a minimum of one tonne to retain the heat for post decomposition. Chicken manure must be fully composted for safe use in the garden beds or fields. 

Application - Chicken waste can be applied as a good organic manure at 2 tons (2000kg)/ha.

Limitation - For commercial scale uninterrupted availability of the raw material has to be ensured for continuous production.

Article contributed by Meryani M Lotha, Z Kawikhonliu, Khumukcham Pristina Devi from ICAR Nagaland Centre, Medziphema. 

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