For 2020 and newer grants, please go to https://grants.ipmcenters.org/
Home       Current RFAs       PD User Guide       Projects       Login

Funded Project

Funding Program: Regional IPM Grants (S-RIPM)

Project Title: Impacts of Pest Arthropods of In-House Manure Compositing in Commercial High-Rise Layer Houses

Project Director (PD): Nancy C. Hinkle [1]

Lead State: GA Lead Organization: University of Georgia

Research Funding: $39,191

Start Date: Aug-01-2003 End Date: Jul-31-2005

Summary: None provided Objectives: None provided

Final Report:

Results PROGRESS: 2003/08 TO 2006/07 In-house composting is a strategy that has been proposed to offer several advantages to caged laying hen operations because mixing a carbon source with the manure and actively turning the material to enhance composting has been shown to promote nutrient capture, reduce volume, and produce a value-added end product. However, the techniques used in this field test did not reduce fly numbers. Therefore, instead of relying on in-house composting to reduce maggot numbers, poultry producers must integrate fly control strategies to compensate for habitat disruption that prevents establishment of biological control organisms (parasitoids, competitors, and predators). This study looked at active, intensive composting to rapidly modify poultry waste so that it becomes unsuitable as a source for maggot development. It was theorized that by incorporating additional carbon material and regularly aerating the compost to enhance biodegradation, this thermogenic biological process would yield valuable soil amendments while reducing larval fly habitat availability. "Source reduction," by altering the habitat from which flies develop, is the preferred means of suppressing these insects. Caged laying hen manure is an ideal site for house fly maggot development, providing the moisture and nutrition that larvae require. Researchers have shown that addition of carbon to manure can speed composting, enhanced by regular turning to supply oxygen and simulate microbial degradation of the carbon-nitrogen mixture. This study investigated the effect of in-house composting on maggot survival and development. Maggot numbers in the in-house composting treatments (supplemented with either yard waste or pine woodchips) were not significantly different from those in the undisturbed manure, yielding fly populations that were unacceptable to the producer. While the composting procedure did increase manure temperatures, maggots were able to evade lethal zones, gravitating to optimal thermal regions. Not only does this process not reduce maggots, it interferes with establishment of parasitoids and predators, leaving maggot populations unfettered. While in-house composting has significant benefit in reducing manure volume (thus postponing cleanout), enhancing its value as a soil amendment, and stabilizing nutrients, no efficacy in fly control was demonstrated. IMPACT: 2003/08 TO 2006/07 Instead of relying on in-house composting to reduce maggot numbers, poultry producers must integrate fly control strategies to compensate for habitat disruption that prevents establishment of beneficial arthropods (parasitoids and predators). PUBLICATIONS (not previously reported): 2003/08 TO 2006/07 Webster, A.B., S.A. Thompson, N.C. Hinkle and W.C. Merka. In-house composting of layer manure in a high-rise tunnel ventilated commercial layer house during an egg production cycle. J. Appl. Poult. Res. (accepted April 2006)

Outcomes N/A

Impacts From report submitted by the PI to USDA CRIS report system Instead of relying on in-house composting to reduce maggot numbers, poultry producers must integrate fly control strategies to compensate for habitat disruption that prevents establishment of beneficial arthropods (parasitoids and predators).

Close Window

Southern IPM Center North Carolina State University 1730 Varsity Drive, Suite 110 Raleigh, NC 27606 p. 919.513.1432   f. 919.513.1114		Developed by the Center for IPM © Copyright CIPM 2004-2025