Shubham Nagre1a, Akash Patil2a*, Apeksha Ukey3b and Akshay Gurde4a
AbstractPoultry is among the largest and fastest-growing agro-based industries in India and the world, with the country ranking third in layer and fourth in broiler production and producing about 5.8 million tonnes of poultry meat and 100 billion eggs annually (Purnima Singh et al., 2018). This rapid growth generates enormous quantities of poultry litter, the bedding material spread on house floors that absorbs moisture and droppings during rearing. Proper selection of litter material and its day-to-day management, governed chiefly by moisture and relative humidity, ventilation and ammonia production, directly influence bird health, welfare and productivity, while poorly managed litter increases the incidence of coccidiosis, footpad dermatitis and respiratory disorders (Youssef et al., 2011; Shepherd et al., 2017). Beyond in-house management, spent poultry litter is increasingly being converted into a valuable resource through electricity generation, composting, vermicomposting and land application as organic manure, offering better economic returns to farmers while reducing environmental pollution (Bolan et al., 2010). This article reviews the types and qualities of litter materials, the key factors and practices governing litter management, and the emerging avenues for utilizing spent poultry litter.