animal and poultry
waste management research:
a progress report

A System for Development of Value-Added Products
From Swine Manure and Peanut Shells

The Animal and Poultry Waste Management Center

Scientists mixed and composted swine manure and peanut shells. Geraniums were then grown in the composted material. Plants grew as well in the composted material as in potting soil, and the composted material had no odor. This project has shown that two waste products -- swine manure and peanut shells -- may be combined and composted to produce a product that may be used as potting soil or as amendment for potting soil. North Carolina's peanut crop produces tons of shells as waste each year, so this waste product is readily available. Researchers are now experimenting with the composted material as a soil amendment to improve soil quality in fields in which pasture grasses or crops are grown.

Funding: $10,000
Source: North Carolina Agricultural Research Service
Status: Ongoing

Principal Investigator: Dr. Evan E. Jones, professor, Animal Science and Biochemistry, North Carolina State University, phone: (919) 515-4045, fax: (919) 515-7780, email: SWEDE_JONES@NCSU.EDU

Collaborators: Dr. Phillip W. Westerman, professor, Biological and Agricultural Engineering, North Carolina State University; Dr. Jerome J. Perry, professor, Microbiology, North Carolina State University; Dr. Jim D. Garlich, professor, Poultry Science, North Carolina State University; Dr. Edward V. Caruolo, professor, physiology, North Carolina State University; Dr. Stuart Warren, associate professor, Horticultural Science, North Carolina State University; Dr. William C. Fonteno, professor, Horticultural Science, North Carolina State University