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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Fayetteville, Arkansas » Poultry Production and Product Safety Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #286630
Title: Bacterial content in runoff from simulated rainfall applied to plots amended with poultry litter

Author
item METCALF, JOEL - University Of Arkansas
item Moore, Philip
item Donoghue, Ann - Annie
item REYES-HERRERA, I - University Of Arkansas
item ARSI, K - University Of Arkansas
item WOO-MING, A - University Of Arkansas
item BLORE, PAM - University Of Arkansas
item HANNING, IRENE - University Of Arkansas
item RICKE, STEVE - University Of Arkansas
item DONOGHUE, DAN - University Of Arkansas

Submitted to: International Journal of Poultry Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/13/2014
Publication Date: 1/10/2014
Citation: Metcalf, J.H., Moore Jr, P.A., Donoghue, A.M., Reyes-Herrera, I., Arsi, K., Woo-Ming, A., Blore, P.J., Hanning, I., Ricke, S.C., Donoghue, D.J. 2014. Bacterial content in runoff from simulated rainfall applied to plots amended with poultry litter. International Journal of Poultry Science. 13(3):133-137.

Interpretive Summary: The goal of this research was to evaluate bacterial runoff from small plots that had been fertilized with poultry litter. Rainfall simulations were conducted 1, 8 or 15 d after litter application and runoff water samples were tested for Salmonella and Campylobacter, as well as common fecal indicators such as coliforms, enterococci, and Escherichia coli. The treatments were 0, 1, 2 or 4 ton/acre of untreated poultry litter. Additionally, runoff samples from plots fertilized with 2 tons/acre of alum-treated litter, 2 tons/acre composted litter, and 2 ton/acre deep-stacked litter were compared for bacterial content. Three replicates of the treatments were performed, for a total of 21 test plots. No Campylobacter was isolated from any of the samples, and the majority of samples tested negative for Salmonella. For those samples positive for Salmonella, because it was isolated from untreated control plots, the Salmonella detected may originate from sources other than the applied litter (e.g. wild fowl, rodents, etc).

Technical Abstract: To evaluate potential bacterial runoff from poultry litter, litter was applied to test plots and exposed to simulated rainfall 1, 8 or 15 d after litter application. Runoff samples were tested for Salmonella and Campylobacter, two bacterial pathogens commonly associated with poultry, as well as common fecal indicators such as coliforms, enterococci, and Escherichia coli. The runoff samples were evaluated from treatments of no litter (control) or the equivalent of 1, 2 or 4 ton/acre of untreated poultry litter. Additionally, runoff samples from treatments of 2 tons/acre of alum-treated litter, 2 tons/acre composted litter, and 2 ton/acre deep-stacked litter were compared for bacterial content. Three replicates of the treatments were performed, for a total of 21 test plots. No Campylobacter was isolated from any of the samples, and the majority of samples tested negative for Salmonella. For those samples positive for Salmonella, because it was isolated from untreated control plots, the Salmonella detected may originate from sources other than the applied litter (e.g. wild fowl, rodents, etc).