DOI: 10.1002/tqem.

21635

RESEARCH ARTICLE

Reducing ammonia gas from chicken manure with lime

and soybean plants

Abustan1 Asri Pudjirahaju2 Muhammad Arsyad3

1 Department of Physics, Universitas Palangka

Raya, Central Kalimantan, Indonesia Abstract

2 Department of Animal Science, Universitas
Palangka Raya, Central Kalimantan, Indonesia
3 Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Hasanuddin,
Makassar, South Sulawesi, Indonesia
Correspondence
Abustan, Department of Physics, Universitas
Palangkaraya, Palangka Raya, Central
Kalimantan, Indonesia 73111.
Email: abustan@fkip.upr.ac.id
This research is aimed at addressing the complaints of local people living near chicken farms who
are disturbed by odors caused by livestock activities, and specifically, by the generation of ammo-
nia gas from chicken manure. Methods that are expected to reduce the intensity of ammonia gas
odors include both scattering lime on the surface of the soil and planting soybeans around the
cages. The results obtained showed a reduction in the levels of ammonia gas by 57.48%–from 1.67
parts per million (ppm) near an untreated cage to 0.71 ppm near the cage that achieved the best
results. The study found that spreading lime evenly over the chicken manure was the most effec-
tive method that farmers could use to reduce ammonia odors. The sample area treated by the
addition of soybean plants showed a reduction in the levels of ammonia gas from 1.67 to 0.78 ppm.

KEYWORDS
air pollution, ammonia gas, chicken farms, lime, odor, planting soybeans, poultry manure, waste
control

1 INTRODUCTION
The development of broiler chicken farms in the Province of Central
Kalimantan in Indonesia, especially in the capital city of Palangka Raya,
and especially during the last five years, is quite encouraging. It helps
to meet the need for broiler chicken meat in Palangka Raya and its
surroundings, and production has reached 24 tons per year (TPY)
for Central Kalimantan province. This figure is an increase of up to
30% compared to the amounts produced in 2011 (Provincial Live-
stock Service Office of Central Kalimantan, 2015). However, along with
the development of the market for chicken meat, new problems have
arisen from this livestock activity. The negative impacts on the envi-
ronment from chicken production processes are most commonly asso-
ciated with the amount of waste that is produced (Yusrini, 2002).
Most of the people who live in the vicinities of broiler chicken farms
are disturbed by the emission of unpleasant odors from the livestock
activities at certain times, especially when the chickens reach the age
of 25–40 days. The main source of the odor is the waste produced
every day by the poultry. The wastes and odors increase with the
increasing age of the chickens that are being raised. As an illustration,
the manure produced by each chicken until they reach harvest age is
around 0.5–0.8 kg per head. This figure is equivalent to 4,000 kg per
5,000 chickens.
Farms were initially established in places that were relatively far
from human settlements, and thus, settlements were considered safe
from the air pollution produced by the farms. However, this has
changed due to an increasing population and the corresponding devel-
opment of settlement needs. Eventually, the settlements shifted closer
to the farm locations, and this has created problems for both the farm-
ers and the residents who are living near the farms. Problems of com-
plaints from residential neighbors and chicken mortality from ammo-
nia gas are also experienced by farmers and investors (partners) who
invest in this agribusiness, as well.
Ammonia can be very toxic to various organisms (Brigden &
Stringer, 2000). In addition to causing respiratory problems in humans,
there are also problems that affect the farmers, namely high chicken
mortality rates between the ages of 30 and 40 days. This high mor-
tality is triggered by the high intensity of the odors from under the
cages, which have average heights from the ground’s surface of only
around 140–150 cm. The ammonia from chicken manure that collects
under the cage is inhaled freely by the livestock and has an impact on
the chickens’ respiratory tracts, causing a range of problems from poor
chicken growth to death. This kind of problem is expected by the breed-
ers, and they are able to implement practices so that their livestock
production does not experience a high mortality rate. However, farm-
ers can still experience losses that are not small, as the mortality rate

Environ Qual Manage. 2019;28:49–56. wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/tqem 

c 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. 49
50
exceeds 5% for each growing period of day-old chicks (DOC) until the
harvest age at 40 days.
The formation of ammonia is caused by urea and uric acid
(C5 H4 O3 N4 ) as the end product of purine metabolism (Ngili, 2009)
and results from waste manure or chicken feces that has not been
handled properly. Most cages made for farms in Palangka Raya are
in the form of stilt houses, which allows the waste from the chick-
ens to fall directly to the ground and mix with the nutrients in the
soil. In some cases, the soil is slow to dry due to moisture in the soil
structure.
In an average day, a 30-to-40-day-old chicken produces 0.5–0.8 kg
of waste with a total nitrogen content of ±2.94%. This can later become
a source of ammonia when the sludge dries slowly in the high humidity
under the cage (Rachmawati, 2000). Pain (1999) states that disorders
from odors produced by the farming system are very high. The odor of
livestock manure is the result of the biotransformation of the manure
by the activity of aerobic and anaerobic bacteria. The sharp odor of
ammonia produced from chicken manure is part of the process of nitro-
zomonas and nitrobacter bacteria in the nitrification reaction, which
serves to convert ammonia into NO2 − and NO3 − nitrite compounds
(Marsidi & Herlambang, 2002). This bacterium is mostly contained in
fertile soil, which allows the nitrification process to proceed. Much of
the soil in Palangka Raya is in the category of peat soils, with lower
nutrient and fertility levels (acidic conditions) and high moisture con-
tent due to the water retained by the soils throughout the year, how-
ever. Varied pH conditions in each location also contributes to the soil’s
inability to process ammonia properly.
The use of lime and leguminous plants (soybeans) planted on the
outskirts of the cages can be used in an effort to reduce the ammonia
odor. The amount of lime applied is based on the ratio of the area of
the cage occupied by poultry. The selection of lime and soybean plants
was made after learning more about their characteristics as ingredi-
ents that can be used to speed up the process of drying cattle dung,
and their use in this study was expected to reduce levels of ammonia
odors associated with chicken farming.
2 LITERATURE REVIEW
Ammonia (NH3 ) is a gas that is produced from the process of dissolv-
ing the remaining nitrogen in feces by decomposing bacteria. Ammo-
nia is also a compound that causes odors from chicken manure (Korner,
Roper, & Stegman, 2005). The formation of NH3 is influenced by sev-
eral factors, including temperature, humidity, the content of nitrogen
in the litter or manure, and the population of microorganisms to pro-
cess nitrogen contained in the soil. In addition to humidity and ambi-
ent temperature, the relative concentration of each type of bacteria
depends on the soil pH. The toxic properties of ammonia are related
to the concentrations of the non-ionized form (NH3 ). The toxic proper-
ties of this non-ionized ammonia will be high in environments with low
temperatures and high pH, while at a low pH, most of the ammonia will
be ionized into ammonium ions (NH4 + ) (Brigden & Stringer, 2000).
ABUSTAN ET AL .
The chicken manure contains a nitrogen level of 13–17 g/kg of dry
matter, consisting of 60–75% uric acid, 0–3% ammonium, and 25–34%
in the form of non-digestive proteins (Patterson & Adrizal, 2005). The
high levels of ammonia gases in manure indicates either the inade-
quacy of the animals’ digestive processes or the presence of excessive
protein in the animal feed that it cannot be absorbed, and is instead
released as ammonia in manure (Rohaeni, 2005, March). The source of
NH3 emissions from human activities is estimated to be 50% derived
from livestock activities. Production of chicken farms globally is esti-
mated to produce ammonia emissions of 1.9 million metric tons per
year or 2.1 × 109 kg per year. NH3 emissions can quickly react with
acid components in the atmosphere, such as nitric acid and sulfuric
acid, and turn into ammonium aerosol particles, such as ammonium sul-
fate and ammonium nitrate (Ritz, Fairchild, & Lacy, 2004). Ammonia
emissions in the atmosphere are influenced by livestock age, mainte-
nance systems, environmental temperature and humidity, wind speed,
and rain. Differences in climatic conditions, such as temperature, fre-
quency and intensity of rainfall, wind speed, topography, and soil, all
affect emissions generated from livestock (National Research Council,
2002).
Ammonia and dust have both been discussed as potential problems
with poultry house exhausts. Use of litter treatment is an important
management tool for suppressing ammonia emissions and contribut-
ing to bird health. Using a litter treatment will have a direct effect
on improving litter management, nutrient enrichment, and reducing
ammonia volatilization from poultry house litter. The routine of clean-
ing and disinfecting equipment and the poultry house between produc-
tion cycles is key to controlling disease. In addition to the cleaning and
disinfecting process, producers can use lime in poultry houses to con-
trol pathogens (and reduce fly problems) (Blake, Hess, & Macklin, 2011,
May).
Nitrogen bacteria, also known as nitrogen-fixing bacteria, are a
group of bacteria that can bind free nitrogen in the air and reduce it
to ammonium (NH4 ) compounds, nitrite ions (NO2 − ), and nitrate ions
(NO3 − ) with the help of nitrogenase enzymes. One of these bacteria
is the type of Rhizobium, which is usually symbiotic with legumes, for
example, soybeans, which are food crops in the form of shrubs that
grow upright, have a type of taproot, lateral roots, and fibrous roots. In
loose soil, this root can penetrate the soil to a depth of 1.5 m. Root nod-
ules are located at the lateral roots. These nodules are collections of
nitrogen-binding Rhizobium bacteria, which bind nitrogen from the air
that generally cannot otherwise be used directly by most organisms.
These root nodules are usually formed 15–20 days after planting. In
addition to absorbing nutrients and plant supports, the roots are the
site of formation of root nodules, that is, nodules that function as natu-
ral plants, fixing nitrogen from the air through the actions of Rhizobium
bacteria. Rhizobium, which can effectively modulate soybean plants, is
known as Bradyrhizoium japonicum. Symbiotic associations of soybean
plants with B. Japonicum bacteria can fix nitrogen at a level of more
than 200 kilograms per hectare (kg/ha) per year. The nitrogen needed
by soybean plants can be supplied through nitrogen biological fixation
by choosing effective B. Japonicum lines (Javaid & Mahmood, 2010).
ABUSTAN ET AL .
EXHIBIT 1 Research flow chart [Color figure
can be viewed at wileyonlinelibrary.com]
3 METHODS
The experimental methods included field observation techniques to
measure the concentrations of ammonia gas in the air by using an
ammonia gas detector type AR 8500. The researchers began collect-
ing data on ammonia concentrations in the air when the day-old chicks
(DOC) first entered the cage, and the data collection continued until
harvest (35–40 days). Laboratory analysis was also supposed to be con-
ducted of the root nodules of the soybean plants, however, as the soy-
bean plants did not grow well, the bacteria analysis was canceled. A
research flow chart is shown in Exhibit 1.
The first year’s research was carried out in Kereng Bangkirai, in
Palangka Raya city. The research sample sets during year one were
designed as follows:
• Farms that are only given lime and without soybean plants around
the cage.
• Farms that are not given lime and only given soybean plants.
• Farms treated with lime and soybean plants.
• Farms that are not given any treatment (control variable).
In the second year, the research sample was expanded to several
villages (Kereng Bangkirai and Tangkiling in Palangka Raya; and Pilang
in Pulang Pisau Regency), where livestock locations are also situated
close to residential areas. In these locations, the same treatments were
tested again, however, the number of soybean plants were varied to
match the sizes of the cages, as the cage size is adapted to accommo-
date the number of chickens. In addition, none of the cage sites in the
second year were untreated, meaning that there was no control site.
The data gathered during the first year were used as a control.
The treatment involving the planting of soybean plants has as its aim
the estimation of the soybean plants’ ability to absorb nitrogen gas, so
51
that the ability of this plant to reduce the intensity of ammonia odor
can be determined. Lime can be sprinkled on the surface of the poul-
try droppings or else dissolved in the water and then sprayed on the
soil so that the ammonia odor disappears. During this study, the lime
was sprinkled on the manure rather than spayed in liquid form. Soy-
bean plants were planted surrounding the livestock cages, that is, the
actual soybean planted areas were approximately (4 × 7) m2 + (4 × 85)
m2 = 368 m2 . Planting was done a week before the cage is filled with
DOC, which means that the plants have grown before chicken manure
began to fall under the cage when the chickens reach an age of 14 days
old. From day 1 to day 12, the chicken manure does not fall to the
ground, but instead remains in the wood powder that was spread in the
cage in preparation of the nursery time that the chickens spent in the
cage as they were growing.
Ammonia levels were measured every 5 days after the 12th day.
Sowing lime on the chicken manure began when the chickens reach
20 days old. The first treatment involved spreading 25 kg of lime in an
area covering 65% of the enclosure area with a capacity of 5,000 chick-
ens. Such enclosure areas are 595 m2 in size. The second, third, fourth,
and fifth measurements were taken with the addition of lime compo-
sition increasing to 50, 100, 150, and 200 kg, with the coverage area
reaching 100% of the total area under the cage.
Ammonia level measurements for all of the test sites were carried
out at five points, with distances of 0, 25, 50, 75, and 100 m from the
cage in each sample.
4 DISCUSSION
4.1 Cages sampling locations
In the first year of the study, four cage sites were used. The four
cages were all located in Kereng Bangkirai Village. The four cages were
52
labeled cages A, B, C, and D. Cages A, B, and C were treated cages, while
the D enclosure was used as a control.
In the second year, the research location was expanded as explained
below:
1. Cage I (Kereng Bangkirai). The treatment involved applying lime.
The condition under the cage is sandy soil, where, because of rapid
water infiltration, the area under the cage dries out faster than at
locations with soils that retain moisture. The area is open (no trees),
and on average, covers from 10 to 30 m. The lack of trees allows
ample sunlight to reach the ground, which causes the soil under the
cage to dry quickly. Air temperatures range from 30◦ C to 35◦ C. This
temperature contributed to a more intense ammonia odor because
it slowed the drying of the manure under the cage.
2. Cage II (Kereng Bangkirai). The treatment here was the planting
of soybeans surrounding the cage. Conditions around the cage are
open to the front for air circulation. However, the left, right, and
back sides are surround by trees whose height exceeds the height
of the cage. The soil condition around the cage is dry.
3. Cage III (Tangkiling). The treatment included both the application of
lime and the planting of soybeans around the cage. The soil condi-
tion under the cage was relatively sandy. This type of soil can accel-
erate the process of water infiltration if there is spilled water or
falling chicken manure, which allowed for faster drying. Rainfall in
this farm area was relatively high compared to the locations where
the other cages used in the study were situated. This had an impact
on sanitation under the cage. Rainwater can be mixed with manure
either because of the rising surface of the water under or around
the cage or the infiltration of rainwater that entered and dripped
out of the cage.
4. Cage IV (Pilang). The treatment in this location involved the appli-
cation of lime. The structure of the soil under the cage was peat
mixed with clay. The surrounding trees shade the cage on three
sides. The air temperature during the day was relatively high, espe-
cially from 11:00 to 14:00 WIB (Indonesia Time), when it reached
37◦ C because the cage was positioned so it was exposed to full sun-
light, while in the morning up to 10:00 WIB, and in the afternoon,
commencing at 15:00 WIB, the cage was relatively protected by the
trees on the left and right.
As previously mentioned, there was no control cage or location,
meaning a cage that did not receive treatment, during the second year.
Instead, the data from the first year were used as the control mea-
surement, as these data were very accurate and are sufficient for this
purpose.
4.2 Ammonia measurement results
The ammonia gas measurement results varied in each of the locations,
even when the treatment was the same at every age of the chickens.
ABUSTAN ET AL .
EXHIBIT 2 Observation results at various distances from cages
housing 30-day-old chickens
Distance
from cage Cage I Cage II Cage III Cage IV
(m) (ppm) (ppm) (ppm) (ppm)
0 0.23 0.33 0.31 0.30
25 0.11 0.19 0.18 0.21
50 0.09 0.00 0.09 0.10
75 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.02
100 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
This difference can be caused by several factors:
• The environmental conditions around the cage, such as the amount
of free air circulation, which is hampered due to trees growing
around the cage;
• Humidity tends to be affected by the number of trees around the
cage, as does soil moisture. Moist soil and humidity contribute to
ammonia formation and the intensity of ammonia odor;
• Ammonia gas levels are affected by the soil conditions under the
cage. Stagnant water can pool under the cage for long time, espe-
cially in the rainy season, and especially if the soil has a high peat
content, accelerating the decay process.
It should be noted that the factors of environmental conditions
due to the number of trees and the location of cages over low-lying
areas were not used as indicators in this study. However, these fac-
tors were findings in the field research as additional factors caus-
ing increased humidity around the cages. Consequences of elevated
ammonia odors and gas can cause disruption of community activities
in proximity to the farms as well as increased chicken mortality and
decreased growth of the chickens’ weight due to reduced appetite of
animals. The increase in ammonia from the manure under the cages
causes the appearance of symptoms of disease in the chickens, such
as irritation of the respiratory mucous membranes and of the eye. The
irritation can lead to the deaths of some of the chickens.
Exhibit 2 presents the air monitoring results collected at various
distances from the four farms in the study when the chickens were
30 days old. The ammonia that is generated is still far below the
threshold according to the Indonesia Environment Minister’s Regula-
tion No. 21 of 2008 of 0.5 ppm at 25 m, with the highest measure-
ment (0.33 ppm) taken next to cage II. The greatest distance at which
the ammonia was detected was at 50 m, with the measurements rang-
ing from 0.11 to 0.21 ppm, with the highest measurements found 50 m
from cage IV, Pilang Village. The results at distances of more than 50 m
from the cages were at or below 0.10 ppm. The Indonesia Environment
Minister’s threshold of 0.5 ppm is set at a concentration where humans
do not find the gas to be disturbing.
As shown in Exhibit 3, when the chickens reached 35 days in age, the
ammonia concentrations increased up to a radius of 50 m. The intensity
of readings in the four locations ranged from 0.09 to 0.18 ppm, with the
highest intensity from cages III and IV. The results differ at a distance of
ABUSTAN ET AL . 53

EXHIBIT 3 Observation results at various distances from cages the case with the other cages (A, B, and C) all of which received treat-
housing 35-day-old chickens ments do reduce ammonia gas from the chicken manure.
Distance Thus, it was also found that when treatments were used, the thresh-
from cage Cage I Cage II Cage III Cage IV old for ammonia gas of 0.5 ppm (based on the regulation of Indone-
(m) (ppm) (ppm) (ppm) (ppm)
sia Minister of the Environment No. 8 of 2008) was not exceeded at
0 0.40 0.51 0.48 0.48
a distance of 50 m or more. Based on these results, a recommendation
25 0.18 0.30 0.21 0.32
can be made to farmers that if they are going to build a new cage, they
50 0.12 0.09 0.18 0.18
should build it at least 50 m away from settlements so as not to disturb
75 0.00 0.00 0.09 0.02 the community due to the side effects (air pollution) from the farming
100 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 activities.

EXHIBIT 4 Observation results at various distances from cages 4.3 Condition of soybean plants
housing 40-day-old chickens
Soybean plants were planted covering areas of (4 × 7) m + (4 × 85)
Distance
m = 368 m2 around the chicken cages. This plant is expected to reduce
from cage Cage I Cage II Cage III Cage IV
(m) (ppm) (ppm) (ppm) (ppm) ammonia gas that arises from chicken manure.
0 0.71 0.83 0.82 0.84 The soybean plants (legumes) are used because this plant has a sym-
25 0.59 0.68 0.68 0.63 biotic relationship with nitrogen bacteria (nitrogen-fixing bacteria), for

50 0.40 0.43 0.50 0.41
75 0.03 0.03 0.11 0.22
100 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
75 m; as shown in the exhibit, the ammonia gas from cage III and cage IV
were still detected at low concentrations, even though concentrations
from cage I and cage II were not detectable.
As shown in Exhibit 4, when the chickens reached the age of
40 days, the intensity of the ammonia concentrations in the air
increased sharply. This condition was affected by the thickness of
chicken manure under the cage, which had reached a height of 10–
15 cm above the soil surface. At this point, farmers could not overcome
the generation of the ammonia gas and tended to allow the odor of the
gas spread everywhere until it reached residential areas. According to
the Indonesia Environment Minister’s Regulation No. 21 of 2008, the
threshold of 0.5 ppm was reached for all of the cages at both the 25 and
50 m radii.
According to the study, when cages received any of the three treat-
ments (lime application, planting of soybean plants, and lime appli-
cation and the planting of soybean plants) residents of settlements
located at a radius of 100 m from the cages would not smell ammonia
odors, and the ammonia gas detector would not detect ammonia at this
distance. It can be concluded that if livestock activities were carried out
in one place, as long as the residential areas were situated 100 m or
further from the livestock location, residents would be relatively safe
from the ammonia gas and the odors, excepting when there are other
factors, such as air movement, carried the odors towards the residen-
tial settlements.
As shown in Exhibit 5, which is based on the data gathered during
the second year of the study, the measurement of ammonia gas concen-
trations in all cages showed increases as the chickens aged. In Exhibit 6,
which includes the results from the first year of the study, ammonia gas
and odor from the control cage, which received no treatments, traveled
to the monitoring distances at much higher concentrations than was
example Rhizobium, which are able to extract free nitrogen in the air
and reduce it to ammonium compounds (NH4 ), nitrite ions (NO2 − ), and
nitrate ions (NO3 − ) with the assistance of nitrogenase enzymes.
Soybean plants are much cheaper to use than lime as a means to
reduce ammonia gas at livestock locations. This type of plant is rela-
tively cheap to purchase and easy to plant and grow. The plant also
provides added value to farmers, as it can be used for vegetables. How-
ever, in field results, the plant is known to be vulnerable to red ants. The
red ant appeared on the plant from early ages. This condition was not
anticipated, and it affected the growth of the soybean plant by killing
or stunting some of them.
Another obstacle with the soybean plants was poor growth when
they were used in research to reducing ammonia gas during the rainy
season. The plants could not grow perfectly, and even when they did
grow, they only grew to 50% of their regular size because the soil was
always moist. In moist soil, the process of absorbing ammonia gas to
the roots (marked by the appearance of root nodules) does not function
well, and the gas absorption process may not occur.
The absorption of ammonia by the soybean plant when it thrives
and does not consume excessive rain is marked by the appearance
of small pimples or coils on the roots, indicating that the process of
absorption of ammonia worked. This root spot is swollen plant root
tissue that contains bacteria. More nitrogen content in the root nod-
ules can improve the nitrogen fixation process, which provides nutri-
ents directly for plant development (Carter & Tegeder, 2016). In this
case the bacteria play a role in the fixation of nitrogen. This kind of
bacteria is Rhizobium, which is generally a heterotroph group; that
is, the energy source comes from the oxidation of compounds organ-
ics such as sucrose and glucose from host plant. Legume plants with
Rhizobium formed a symbiosis of mutualism, because the bacteria,
which are inside, infect the plants, and plants respond to it by form-
ing nodules. The bacteria absorb carbohydrates in the root tissue,
while the plant also uses some nitrogenous material made by the
bacteria from the nitrogen in the air above the soil particles (Sari &
Prayudyaningsih, 2015). Indradewa, Sastrowinoto, Notohadisuwarno,
54 ABUSTAN ET AL .

EXHIBIT 5 Comparison of ammonia gas concentration measurements (ppm) from the second year of the study [Color figure can be viewed at
wileyonlinelibrary.com]

EXHIBIT 6 Level of ammonia gas from cage used in first year as a control sample (with no treatment) and the other first-year results (location
Kereng Bangkirai with 5,000 chickens) (Abustan & Asri, 2017)
[Color figure can be viewed at wileyonlinelibrary.com]
ABUSTAN ET AL .
and Prabowo (2004) stated that legumes with root nodules can utilize
both nitrogen gas from the air and inorganic nitrogen from the soil. This
means that the longer the plants grow around the cage and allow the
process of absorption of ammonia from the chicken manure that falls
naturally onto the soil, the more nodules are found in the roots of these
plants. However, because the research for this study took place during
the rainy season and where the soil was moist and wet throughout the
day, the growth of soybeans had less than the maximum impact on the
ability of the plants to absorb ammonia accumulated in the soil. This
result is supported by Indradewa et al. (2004), who stated that nitro-
gen absorption decreases mainly because the lower roots in the soil are
saturated with water, and the surface areas of the root are decreased.
Whereas normally, in water-saturated soils, it can be said that many
photosynthates are used for the growth of soybean plant parts in the
soil, especially nodules, which can cause nodule activity to start earlier
and at a faster rate.
In this research, especially in cages whose parameters are planted
entirely with soybean plants and without any other treatment, the
results are no better than for cages only given lime. Although the detec-
tion results of the gas detector device at the source of the ammonia gas
are not below the Indonesia Environment Ministry’s standard, the data
show that treatment with lime is better than that shown for the plant-
ing soybeans. In the first year, the odor of ammonia from cage B, which
was planted with soybeans, could still be detected at a distance of 75 m,
even though it was below the threshold.
4.4 Interview results
The results of community interviews at the four study sites concluded
that generally, after the lime has been put under the cage during the
livestock activities, the odor of chicken manure that usually reaches
the houses was reduced, and tends not to be noticeable anymore,
unless there is a breeze blowing from the direction of the cage to the
settlement. In addition to the odor of the poultry manure, residents
also complained that there were still many flies that spread from the
cages to the houses, especially when the chickens were from 30 days
old up to a week after harvest. However, the large numbers of flies,
especially before harvest and post-harvest, was not ameliorated by
these treatments, and it is expected that there will be follow-up project
to address this issue.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
We thank the farmers and students involved in the field research
activities. This research was funded by Directorate General of Higher
Education, Ministry of Research, Technology and Higher Education,
Indonesia (Kemenristekdikti).
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56 ABUSTAN ET AL .

Sari, R., & Prayudyaningsih, R. (2015). Rhizobium: Pemanfaatannya sebagai Asri Pudjirahaju is affiliated with the University of Palangka Raya,
bakteri penambat nitrogen [Rhidobium: Its utilization as nitrogen Central Kalimantan, Indonesia, with expertise in agricultural sci-
aerator bacteria]. Info Teknis Eboni, 2(1), 51–56. Retrieved from
ences and can be reached at: yayukhanipan@gmail.com.
http://balithutmakassar.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/5_Rhizobiu
m_Info-Teknis-Eboni-Vol-12-No-1-2015.pdf
Yusrini, H. (2002). Catching and measuring ammonia gas in chicken Muhammad Arsyad is affiliated with the Universitas Hasanuddin,
manure. Bogor, Indonesia: Veteriner Research Center. Retrieved from Indonesia, with an expertise in agricultural sciences and can be
http://balitnak.litbang.pertanian.go.id/index.php/publikasi/category/67-
reached at: arsyad@unhas.ac.id.
3?download=1068%3A3

AUTHOR BIOGRAPHIES
How to cite this article: Abustan, Pudjirahaju A, Arsyad M.
Reducing ammonia gas from chicken manure with lime and
Abustan is affiliated with the University of Palangka Raya, Cen-
soybean plants. Environ Qual Manage. 2019;28:49–56. https://
tral Kalimantan, Indonesia, with expertise in environment physics,
doi.org/10.1002/tqem.21635
sustainable environment, environmental science, and can be con-
tacted at: abustan@fkip.upr.ac.id.