TITLE:
Poultry Manure as a Soil Amendment: Composition, Physicochemical and Biological Effects, Carbon Dynamics, Valorisation Pathways and Environmental Risks
AUTHORS:
Rolf Gäel Mabicka Obame, Neil-Yohan Musadji, Urlain Gael Yakouya-Moubamba, Elie Fosso Menkem, Maurice Ognalaga, Dieu-Donne Mouketou-Tarazewicz
KEYWORDS:
Poultry Manure, Soil Organic Matter, Soil Properties, Nutrient Cycling, Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Heavy Metals, Antibiotic Resistance, Circular Economy
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Agricultural Chemistry and Environment,
Vol.15 No.3,
August
24,
2026
ABSTRACT: Escalating demand for food security has driven reliance on synthetic fertilizers, yet their high energy cost of manufacture and well-documented negative environmental externalities including soil acidification, waterway eutrophication, and greenhouse gas emissions make their long-term use unsustainable. Poultry manure (PM) is increasingly regarded as a cost-effective organic amendment capable of supplying the full spectrum of macro- and micronutrients required for crop production while simultaneously restoring soil physical, chemical, and biological integrity. Although numerous studies have investigated individual aspects of PM utilization, existing reviews generally address nutrient supply, composting technologies, or environmental impacts separately. This review provides an integrated systems-oriented synthesis linking manure composition, soil physicochemical and biological responses, soil organic carbon dynamics, greenhouse gas emissions, valorisation pathways, environmental risks, and management strategies within a single analytical framework. The review draws on experimental and meta-analytical evidence from tropical and subtropical agroecosystems, where degraded Acrisols and Ferralsols limit yields, and where PM represents the most accessible fertility input for smallholder farmers. While the agronomic benefits of PM are well established, optimising its use requires site-specific rate calibration, appropriate pre-treatment (composting, anaerobic digestion), and monitoring of contaminant accumulation. Integrating PM with biochar, judicious mineral fertilizer use, and precision nutrient management offers the greatest potential for sustainable soil restoration, circular bioeconomy development, and climate-smart agriculture.