A pungent odor lingering in the air around Statesboro and Bulloch County may offend some noses, but for many area farmers, it’s the smell of money.

That nose-burning, acrid aroma is most likely that of chicken litter used to fertilize farmland being prepared for the planting season, said Bulloch County Agent Bill Tyson.

Anyone who has ever visited a commercial chicken house may recognize the unpleasant scent of chicken litter, which Google.com defines as “a mixture of poultry excreta, spilled feed, feathers, and material used as bedding in poultry operations.”

It smells horribly, but chicken litter makes a really effective, less expensive fertilizer, Tyson said.

“It is that time of year when farmers prepare the land for planting seed and poultry litter is one of the sources of fertilizer that is used,” he said. “And yes, it does have an odor to it and that is more than likely what people currently smell near fields where it is being applied. The smell usually does not hang around too long and should subside after a rain.”

Chicken litter is not usually stored in bulk, but taken directly from chicken houses and dumped in gigantic piles on a farmer’s property, ready to be spread over the fields, said Mike Anderson, owner of Bulloch Fertilizer on West Main Street in Statesboro. His plant does not deal in chicken litter, except in small bagged amounts used on turf, he said.

But Anderson, too, has noticed the odor near his general store on Northside Drive East. As someone experienced in agriculture, he recognizes the smell, but said he understood how some unfamiliar with rural life could question the source.

Statesboro is surrounded by farmland, and when the wind is right, it brings the odor from the field right into downtown, which usually experiences more pleasant aromas such as that of a local barbecue restaurant or condiment factory.

Tyson said chicken litter as fertilizer is not only cost-effective but easily available, “Georgia is the largest poultry producing state in the United States,” he said. “Along with producing an invaluable source of protein for people across the globe, the poultry industry in Georgia produces about 2 million tons of valuable poultry litter.” 

The nutrient value in poultry litter is dependent on several factors which includes moisture, temperature, feed rations, number of batches before clean out, storage and handling, he said. “In general, broiler litter contains 3% nitrogen, 3% phosphorus and 2% potassium which equals a 3-3-2 fertilizer.  One ton of broiler litter contains 60 pounds nitrogen, 60 pounds phosphorus and 40 pounds potassium.”

While chicken litter may be less expensive, it is more difficult to handle. Since the nutrients in poultry litter are not as concentrated as a commercial fertilizer, it makes it more bulky and harder to transport and spread, he said.

“Also, another major difference in poultry litter and commercial fertilizer is that litter is in the organic form. The organic nitrogen is slowly released over time through biological processes that are affected by soil moisture and temperature. As a rule of thumb, 50-60% of the nitrogen in poultry litter is considered to be available to the first crop after application.”

Using the litter as fertilizer also helps poultry producers get rid of the litter in an environmentally friendly and beneficial way, Tyson said.

“Farmers are care takers of the land and the use of poultry litter provides not only nutrients, but also much needed organic matter in our sandy soils,” he said. “When managed properly, poultry litter can be a valuable source of plant nutrients for crops grown in Georgia. “

Nevils-area farmer Will Anderson said the smell doesn’t bother him – much. He has used chicken litter on his farm for about 15 years, and said it is better for the soil and crops.

“It is completely organic,” he said. The litter is analyzed to ensure it contains nutrients the soil needs, based on the soil samples taken, and builds up depleted or poor soil. Commercial fertilizers often deplete soil, and requires farmers to add lime to the soil to balance the ph levels, he said.

Sometimes the same people who protest the odor are the ones who prefer buying organic vegetables, he said. “It stinks, but with one rain the smell goes away,” and often, the odor of freshly delivered chicken litter fades away after a few days anyway, he said.

Herald reporter Holli Deal Saxon may be reached at (912) 489-9414.