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Research has shown that aluminum sulfate (alum) and phosphoric acid greatly reduce ammonia (NH₃) volatilization from poultry litter; however, no studies have yet reported the effects of these amendments on field‐scale composting of poultry litter. The objectives of this study were to (i) evaluate NH₃ volatilization from composting litter by measuring both NH₃ volatilization and changes in total nitrogen (N) in the litter and (ii) evaluate potential methods of reducing NH₃ losses from composting poultry litter. Poultry litter was composted for 68 d the first year and 92 d the second year. Eleven treatments were screened in Year 1, which included an unamended control, a microbial mixture, a microbial mixture with 5% alum incorporated into the litter, 5 and 10% alum rates either surface‐applied or incorporated, and 1 and 2% phosphoric acid rates either surface‐applied or incorporated. Treatments in Year 2 included an …