Large-scale poultry farming generates vast quantities of chicken manure; if simply piled up haphazardly, it breeds pests, pollutes soil and water, and wastes valuable resources. In reality, chicken manure is rich in nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and organic matter, making it an excellent raw material for organic fertilizer. Through standardized processing, it can be transformed into granular organic fertilizer that is easy to store, transport, and apply—achieving the dual benefits of environmental protection (emission reduction) and increased economic efficiency. Leveraging an established organic fertilizer production line, the chicken farm produces granular organic fertilizer through a process that is straightforward, highly practical, and comprises four core steps.
The first step is raw material pretreatment and mixture adjustment. Fresh chicken manure has a high moisture content (70%–80%), is viscous, and tends to clump, making direct processing impossible. First, feathers, stones, and debris are removed. Then, auxiliary materials such as straw powder or sawdust are added to adjust the carbon-to-nitrogen (C/N) ratio to 25–30:1 and control moisture levels to 50%–60%. The material should form a clump when squeezed by hand but crumble upon release; this state facilitates fermentation and prevents sticking during the subsequent granulation process.
The second step is high-temperature aerobic fermentation, which is crucial for rendering the fertilizer safe. The prepared mixture is piled for fermentation, with a windrow compost turner used to aerate the pile regularly. Microbial decomposition at high temperatures thoroughly eliminates insect eggs, pathogens, and weed seeds, while also removing unpleasant odors. After 15–20 days of full fermentation, the material transforms into a dark brown, loose, and odorless product with compliant organic matter content, stable fertilizing efficacy, and no risk of burning plant roots.
The third step involves crushing, granulation, drying, and cooling. The fermented material is pulverized to a uniform fineness, and appropriate amounts of medium and trace elements may be added to enhance fertilizer quality. Next, the material is fed into a new type organic fertilizer granulator to form uniform, spherical granules. As the newly formed granules have high moisture content, they must be dried at low temperatures and then cooled to prevent clumping, mold growth, or loss of efficacy due to moisture.
Producing granular organic fertilizer from chicken manure not only solves the challenge of waste management for poultry farms but also transforms waste into a valuable agricultural product, representing an excellent model for green, circular development in livestock farming.
