Antiseptic organic extract pre-treatment for pelleted poultry manure fertilizer
A sustainable pre-pelleting treatment process that combines poultry manure with plant-based organic extracts (such as neem) possessing antiseptic properties. The resulting pellets offer pleasant odor, reduced harmful bacteria, easier handling, and improved nutrient delivery for crop production, addressing key barriers to manure-based fertilizer adoption.
Overview
This solution addresses the underutilization of poultry manure as a crop fertilizer by transforming raw manure into value-added pellets treated with organic plant extracts known for their antiseptic properties. Farmers and agricultural producers often avoid poultry manure due to its unpleasant odor, bulkiness, and potential contamination with bacteria harmful to humans. By integrating natural plant extracts such as neem into a pre-pelleting treatment, the proposed process delivers a fertilizer product that is easier to handle, safer to apply, and more appealing for use in sustainable crop production systems.
The approach supports circular agriculture by converting a livestock waste stream into a standardized, marketable fertilizer input, while reducing dependence on synthetic inorganic fertilizers. It is designed to be cost-effective, making it accessible to smallholder and commercial farmers alike.
Technical specifications
Key features:
- Development of an organic extract library sourced from plant materials with demonstrated antiseptic properties, including neem tree extract and other candidate species
- Evaluation of individual extracts and combinations to identify the most effective formulations for odor reduction and bacterial control
- Use of a pelleting machine to convert powdered, pre-treated poultry manure into uniform pellets for improved storage, transport, and field application
- Laboratory analysis of soil and plant samples before and after application to quantify nutrient uptake and agronomic response
- Chemical element composition analysis of the pelleted product using mass spectrometry to verify nutrient content and quality
- Cost-effective processing workflow intended to keep the final product affordable for farmers
Technology readiness level
The technology is at an early-to-mid stage of development. The research team plans to build an organic extract library, screen individual and combined extracts for effectiveness, and validate the pelleting process using a pelleting machine. Planned validation includes controlled experiments measuring plant response to the pelleted manure, along with laboratory analyses of nutrient content in soil, plant tissue, and the final pellet product. Further field-scale testing and optimization will be required before commercial deployment.
About University of Ghana
The University of Ghana is a comprehensive public research university in Accra, combining broad academic breadth with a strong applied research mission. Industry interfaces through the Institute of Applied Science and Technology, which convenes engagement programs and facilitates contract work, internships, and demonstrations. Clinical translation is enabled by the on‑campus University of Ghana Medical Centre and the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, providing advanced laboratories and patient‑adjacent research. Research is supported by competitive Ghanaian government sources and international funders. A dedicated technology transfer and IP unit within the Office of Research, Innovation and Development supports protection, licensing, and industry collaboration agreements.
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