Pelletizing animal manure for on- off-farm use

Animal manure can be pelleted (or granularized) using various processes such as die and roller, extruder or granulator, alone or in combination with other organic or inorganic additives, binding agents, or synthetic fertilizer. Manure application for food and feed production provides immediate and delayed nutrient supply, modifies soil pH, improves soil structure, and enhances soil biological activity. This chapter outlines the pelleting process, examines pellet quality as an organic fertilizer, and explores the potential of pellets for on‐farm and off‐farm use. Preserving pellet quality during storage is an important aspect when promoting pellets as way to manage animal manure nutrients. As with any solid fertilizer, storage in a cool, dry, well‐ventilated area is recommended. Nutrient availability of animal manure pellets is directly linked to the source materials used to make them, the pelleting process and conditions, size and density of pellets produced, and pellet storage conditions.