Microbial Mitigation of Greenhouse Gas and Odour Emissions from Poultry Manure: Implications for Sustainable Environmental Management

This study evaluated the effectiveness of microbial compositions (Pseudomonas fluorescens, Pseudomonas putida, Bacillus licheniformis, Lactobacillus fermentum, Lactobacillus plantarum, and Pediococcus sp.) in reducing
greenhouse gas (GHG) and odour emissions from stored poultry manure. The research consisted of two phases: (EI) a controlled 11-week column experiment with chicken manure under static chamber conditions, and (EII) a 42-week in
situ experiment on chicken and turkey manure piles. Gas emissions (CO2, CH4, NH3, H2S, O2) were monitored using NDIR (nondispersive infrared) and electrochemical sensors, while GC-MS analysis assessed volatile organic
compounds. Results indicated that microbial treatments accelerated organic matter decomposition, increasing CO2and H2S emissions compared to controls. However, they significantly reduced NH3 (by up to 83%) and hydrogen
cyanide (HCN) concentrations, demonstrating potential for odour mitigation. In in situ trials, turkey manure exhibited higher initial odour intensity (4.5 compared to 4.1 on a 5-point scale at 1 m distance), but both manure types stabilised to negligible levels (~1.2) after 9 weeks. Temperature and humidity strongly influenced emissions, with higher NH3 release observed at warmer temperatures (17–19°C) and moderate humidity (64–69%). The study highlights the trade- off between microbial treatments’ benefits (NH3 reduction) and drawbacks (elevated CO2/H2S). Further optimisation of bacterial strains and integration with aerobic composting is recommended to balance emission control with nutrient
retention. These findings contribute to sustainable manure management strategies aligned with circular economy principles.