Effect of activated carbon on the nitrogen balance in broilers, soil and corn forage fertilized with the excreta of the broilers

Abstract

Abstract

Objective: To assess the contribution and retention of nitrogen in broilers supplemented with activated carbon (AcCa), and in soils and corn forage fertilized with the excreta of chickens that consumed AcCa.

Design/methodology/approach: Broilers housed individually received diets with four levels of AcCa: 0, 0.15, 0.30 and 0.45% and the nitrogen balance was determined using the total excreta collection. A sample of 200 g of excreta were taken and mixed with 2 kg of soil (S+E) in plastic trays and watered every 15 days; On days 1 and 60, samples were taken to perform the nitrogen balance. The S+E mixtures were added to 17 kg of potted agricultural soil to produce corn forage for 100 days, and forage yield and composition were recorded. The results were subjected to ANOVA and linear regression.

Findings/conclusions: In broilers, the nitrogen retention showed a quadratic response (P<0.05); in the S+E mixtures, the percentage (P<0.01) and final nitrogen content (P<0.05) had quadratic responses, and in forage, the percentage of nitrogen showed a cubic response (P<0.05) with respect to the increased addition of CaAc in the diet of broilers. The AcCa can be used to improve the efficiency of nitrogen use in broilers and for the recycling of nitrogen through the integration of excreta in agricultural soils and its extraction in corn forage.