Nutritional deprivation increases intracellular phosphate and polyphosphate in poultry litter microflora

AIMS: To determine if mixed microflora from poultry litter accumulates phosphate when deprived of carbon and energy or nitrogen sources. METHODS AND RESULTS: Microbial enrichments from poultry litter capable of metabolizing ammonia, amino acids, and glucose were subjected to nutritional deprivation and the effects on intracellular phosphate levels were determined. Results indicate deprivation of glucose yields a 38 and 50% increase in intracellular phosphate and polyphosphate levels, respectively. Deprivation of nitrogen sources did not result in significant intracellular phosphate accumulation. CONCLUSIONS: Micro-organisms normally present in poultry litter respond to carbohydrate deprivation by accumulating intracellular phosphate. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Poultry litter typically contains significant levels of phosphate which contribute to environmental pollution when applied to land. Phosphate is highly mobile in soils and often drains into local watersheds following rain events. This study raises the possibility that poultry litter micro-organisms may have the capacity to sequester phosphate, which could delay or diminish phosphate run-off.