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ARS Home » Plains Area » Lincoln, Nebraska » Agroecosystem Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #343509
Research Project: Assessing and Managing Antibiotic Resistance, Nutrients, and Pathogens In Animal-Impacted Agroecosystems

Location: Agroecosystem Management Research

Title: Retention of swine slurry constituents in soil and crop residue

Author
item Gilley, John
item BARTELT-HUNT, SHANNON - University Of Nebraska
item ESKRIDGE, KENT - University Of Nebraska
item LI, X - University Of Nebraska
item SCHMIDT, AMY - University Of Nebraska
item SNOW, DANIEL - University Of Nebraska

Submitted to: Transactions of the ASABE
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/4/2020
Publication Date: 6/17/2020
Citation: Gilley, J.E., Bartelt-Hunt, S.L., Eskridge, K.M., Li, X., Schmidt, A.M., Snow, D.D. 2020. Retention of swine slurry constituents in soil and crop residue. Transactions of the ASABE. 231:322. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-020-04697-6.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-020-04697-6

Interpretive Summary: This study was conducted to determine the effects of slurry application and setback distance on concentrations of selected swine slurry constituents in soil and crop residue. Soil and vegetative samples were collected from field plots with and without slurry. Slurry was added to the upper portion of the slurry application plots and rainfall was then applied. Soil cores and vegetative samples were collected from each plot at selected downslope distances. Significant quantities of chloride, nitrate, phosphorus, and zinc were found in the soil within the slurry application area. However, significant amounts of chemical constituents measured in the slurry were not found within the soil profile downslope from the land application region. Residue materials within the slurry application area adsorbed significant quantities of boron, copper, phosphorus, sulfur, and zinc. Significant amounts of boron, calcium, magnesium, and zinc were adsorbed by crop residue downslope from the slurry application area. The principal mechanisms responsible for the reduction in the concentration of slurry constituents in runoff appeared to be dilution and adsorption by crop residue.

Technical Abstract: This study was conducted to determine the effects of slurry application and setback distance on concentrations of selected swine slurry constituents in soil and crop residue. The no-till cropland site had a residue cover of 7.73 Mg ha-1 and a slope gradient of 4.9%. Soil and vegetative samples were collected on 3.7 m wide and 23.2 m long plots with and without slurry. Slurry was added at the 0 – 4.9 m downslope distance on the slurry application plots and rainfall was then applied at a rate of approximately 52 mm hr-1. Soil cores and vegetative samples were collected from each plot at distances of 2.44, 5.18, 7.92, 11.0, 14.0, 17.1, and 20.1 m from the upper plot border. The soil cores were separated into 0 – 10, 10 – 20, and 20 – 30 cm depth increments. Significant quantities of Bray-1 P, chloride, nitrate, and zinc were found within the slurry application area at the 0 – 10.2 cm soil depth increment. However, significant amounts of chemical constituents measured in the slurry were not found within the soil profile downslope from the land application region. Residue materials within the slurry application area adsorbed significant quantities of boron, copper, phosphorus, sulfur, and zinc. Significant amounts of boron, calcium, magnesium, and zinc were adsorbed by crop residue downslope from the slurry application area. The principal mechanisms responsible for the reduction in the concentration of slurry constituents in runoff appeared to be dilution and adsorption by crop residue.