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ARS Home » Plains Area » Lincoln, Nebraska » Agroecosystem Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #359933
Research Project: Assessing and Managing Antibiotic Resistance, Nutrients, and Pathogens In Animal-Impacted Agroecosystems

Location: Agroecosystem Management Research

Title: Microbial transport as affected by residue cover and manure application rate

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

Submitted to: Transactions of the ASABE
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/15/2019
Publication Date: 7/1/2019
Citation: Durso, L.M., Gilley, J.E., Marx, D.B., Thayer, C.A., Woodbury, B.L. 2019. Microbial transport as affected by residue cover and manure application rate. Transactions of the ASABE. 62(3):687-694. https://doi.org/10.13031/trans.13277.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.13031/trans.13277

Interpretive Summary: Manure is applied to cropland areas with varying surface cover to meet single- or multiple-year crop nutrient requirements. The objectives of this field study were to (1) examine microbial transport following land application of manure to sites with and without wheat residue and (2) compare microbial loads following the land application of manure to meet the 0, 1, 2, 4, and 8-year phosphorus-based requirements for corn. Three 30-min simulated rainfall events, separated by 24-hour intervals, were applied to 0.75 m wide by 2.0 m long plots on which manure had been applied and incorporated by disking. The load of total coliforms in runoff measured on the plots containing wheat residue was significantly greater than values obtained on the plots without wheat residue. The quantities of E. coli and enterococci that were transported in runoff from the plots with and without wheat residue were not statistically different. No significant differences in mean counts of total coliforms, E. coli, and enterococci were found among the plots on which manure was added. The effects of residue cover and manure application rate varied significantly among microbes.

Technical Abstract: Manure is applied to cropland areas with varying surface cover to meet single- or multiple-year crop nutrient requirements. The objectives of this field study were to (1) examine microbial transport following land application of manure to sites with and without wheat residue, (2) compare microbial loads following land application to meet the 0, 1, 2, 4, and 8-year P-based requirements for corn, and (3) evaluate the effects of rainfall simulation run on microbial transport. Manure was added and incorporated by disking plots that were 0.75 m wide by 2.0 m long. Three 30 min simulated rainfall events, separated by 24 h intervals, were then applied at an intensity of 70 mm h-1. Plots containing wheat residue had a total coliform load of 12.6 log CFU ha-1, which was significantly greater than the 12.4 log CFU ha-1 measured on the plots without wheat residue. The plots with and without wheat residue had transport rates of and enterococci that were not significantly different. The plots on which manure was added at rates varying from 5.4 to 42.8 Mg ha-1 had counts of total coliforms and enterococci that were not significantly different. Rainfall simulation run did not significantly affect measurements of phages, total coliforms, or enterococci. Transport of selected microbes was found to be significantly affected by residue cover, manure application rate, and rainfall simulation run.