Use of alum to inhibit ammonia volatilization and to decrease phosphorous solubility in poultry litter

A method is described for treating poultry litter which inhibits ammonia volatilization and reduces soluble phosphorus levels in the litter. It comprises the addition of alum to litter in an amount sufficient to maintain the litter pH at values low enough to inhibit ammonia volatilization. The addition of alum, iron or calcium compounds to litter also effectively precipitates soluble phosphorus in litter, thereby reducing the amount of soluble phosphorus runoff from fields receiving litter