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ARS Home » Plains Area » Lincoln, Nebraska » Agroecosystem Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #352388
Research Project: Assessing and Managing Antibiotic Resistance, Nutrients, and Pathogens In Animal-Impacted Agroecosystems

Location: Agroecosystem Management Research

Title: Narrow grass hedge effects on microbial transport following variable applications of beef cattle manure

Author
item Durso, Lisa
item Gilley, John
item MARX, DAVID - University Of Nebraska
item Woodbury, Bryan

Submitted to: Transactions of the ASABE
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/9/2018
Publication Date: 2/14/2019
Citation: Durso, L.M., Gilley, J.E., Marx, D.B., Woodbury, B.L. 2019. Narrow grass hedge effects on microbial transport following variable applications of beef cattle manure. Transactions of the ASABE. 62(1):149-156. https://doi.org/10.13031/trans.12892.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.13031/trans.12892

Interpretive Summary: The effectiveness of a narrow grass hedge in reducing microbial transport following manure application was examined in this study. Beef cattle manure was applied to field plots established on a research farm in southeast Nebraska. Manure was added at rates required to meet none or the 1, 2 or 4-year nitrogen requirements for corn. The transport of phages, total coliforms, E coli, and enterococci was measured for three 30-minute simulated rainfall events. The narrow grass hedge reduced total counts of phages, E. coli, and enterococci. For the plots that received manure, no significant differences in transport of phages or enterococci were found among the three manure application rates. Rainfall simulation run significantly affected measurements of phages, total coliforms, and enterococci. The introduction of water during the initial rainfall simulation run appeared to enhance microbial development since counts for phages, total coliforms, and enterococci were significantly less for the 1st than the 2nd and 3rd rainfall simulation runs. A narrow grass hedge placed on the contour significantly reduced microbial transport following variable applications of beef cattle manure.

Technical Abstract: The effectiveness of a 1.4 m wide grass hedge in reducing microbial transport following manure application was examined in this study. Beef cattle manure was applied to 0.75 m wide by 4.0 m long plots established on an Aksarben silty clay loam located in southeast Nebraska. Manure was added at rates required to meet none or the 1-, 2-, or 4-year nitrogen requirements for corn. The transport of phages, total coliforms, E. coli, and enterococci was measured for three 30 min simulated rainfall events, which were separated by approximately 24 h intervals. The narrow grass hedge reduced total counts of phages, E. coli, and enterococci from 10.8 to 9.01 log PFU ha-1, from 12.4 to 11.9 log CFU ha-1, and from 11.8 to 11.2 log CFU ha-1, respectively. For the plots that received manure, no significant differences in transport of phages or enterococci were found among the three manure application rates. Rainfall simulation run significantly affected measurements of phages, total coliforms, and enterococci, with measurements during the three runs varying from 8.91 to 10.5 log PFU ha-1, from 12.7 to 13.3 log CFU ha-1, and from 11.2 to 11.7 log CFU ha-1, respectively. Counts for phages, total coliforms, and enterococci were significantly less for the first than the second and third rainfall simulation runs. All four of the microbial constituents were significantly correlated to dissolved P, particulate P, total P, and total N. A narrow grass hedge placed on the contour significantly reduced microbial transport following variable applications of beef cattle manure.