Feather meal

Feather meal is hydrolysed poultry feathers, which are almost entirely keratin protein. Steam hydrolysis makes the keratin more digestible to soil microbes and reduces pathogen risk. The product supplies around 12% nitrogen with negligible phosphorus and potassium.

Source

Steam-hydrolysed poultry feathers, ground to a meal

Nitrogen content

About 12% total nitrogen, held in keratin protein

Other nutrients

Negligible phosphorus and potassium

Release pattern

Slow and sustained as keratin is broken down

Feather meal supplies nitrogen, released as microbes decompose keratin to ammonium and then nitrate. Because keratin is slow to break down, the nitrogen is metered out over weeks to months, reducing the peak leaching risk seen with quick-release sources while providing a longer background supply.

• Keratin nitrogen is mineralised slowly by soil microbes
• Provides a longer, steadier supply than fast-releasing organic sources
• Supplies essentially no phosphorus or potassium

Feather meal is used in organic systems where a slow, season-long nitrogen supply is wanted, such as for longer-season and perennial crops. It is typically incorporated ahead of or at planting so that microbial breakdown can begin before peak crop demand.

• Accepted as an input in many organic farming standards
• Suited to crops needing sustained rather than immediate nitrogen
• Applied ahead of demand to allow time for microbial breakdown

The slow release that makes feather meal useful for sustained feeding also makes it a poor choice when a crop needs nitrogen immediately, and its release depends strongly on soil temperature and moisture. Sourcing of poultry by-products is subject to biosecurity rules that vary by country.