Q&A: Can chicken manure be fed directly into a bio-organic fertilizer production line without drying?

A: Generally, fresh chicken manure does not require drying and can be fed directly into the bio-organic fertilizer production line. Drying is not a necessary preliminary step; in fact, high-temperature drying kills beneficial microorganisms and causes a loss of organic matter—a common pitfall for beginners. The core of bio-organic fertilizer production is decomposition and fermentation, not raw material drying; moist chicken manure is actually more conducive to microbial proliferation.

However, there are strict moisture standards for direct processing. Fresh chicken manure typically has a moisture content of 70%–80%, which is unsuitable for immediate fermentation and granulation. Pre-treatment is required: dry additives such as straw, sawdust, or rice husks are mixed in to adjust the moisture content to 55%–60% and balance the carbon-to-nitrogen ratio. Once adjusted, the material can proceed directly to the turning and fermentation stage without drying.

A wet-material fermentation process is used throughout. A windrow turner supplies oxygen and raises the temperature, while microbial strains decompose organic matter, pathogens, and parasite eggs. As fermentation and decomposition complete, the material's moisture content naturally decreases. Once decomposed, the material can be screened and packaged directly for powdered fertilizer; for granular fertilizer, only low-temperature air drying is needed—high-temperature drying is unnecessary.

It is important to note that high-moisture chicken manure must not be processed without proper mixing; doing so can lead to issues such as material caking, slow temperature rise during fermentation, mold growth, and foul odors. Overall, the no-dry production method significantly reduces equipment investment, energy consumption, and production costs, making it a mainstream, energy-efficient process in the organic fertilizer industry.