even though some research has shown no negative economic impacts (Daliparthy et al., 1995; Lloveras et al., Perennial forages like alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) or various pe2004). Reasons for avoiding manure applications to alrennial grasses, which are cut several times during the growing season, falfa include increased weed incidence, stand damage could provide an alternative land base and tim...

Few studies have been conducted to investigate the potential contamination of groundwater from manureborne steroid hormones. The objective of this study was to monitor leaching of steroid hormones at the bottom of 2.4 m deep percolation lysimeters installed in plots treated with beef cattle manure. Soil samples were also collected from surrounding field plots. Treatments consisted of applicatio...

Beef cattle manure can serve as a valuable source of nutrients for crop production. However, emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) after land application may pose an odor nuisance to downwind populations. This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of land application method, diet, soil moisture content, and time since manure application on VOC emissions. Manure was collected from...

Manure or compost from beef cattle feedlots can be excellent sources of nutrients and organic matter when added to soils. This study was conducted to determine the effect of a single application of manure and compost on runoff and erosion under no-till and tillage conditions. Tillage consisted of a single disking operation up and down the slope on a Sharpsburg soil which was cropped to grain so...

Green manure could improve soil nutrients and crop production, playing a significant role in sustainable agriculture. However, the impacts of green manure on crop health and the roles soil microbial communities play in the process haven’t been clarified clearly yet. In this study, we investigated soil microbial community composition and structure in four tobacco farmlands, which were treated wi...

Gaseous emissions from swine (Sus scrofa) manure storage systems represent a concern to air quality due to the potential effects of hydrogen sulfide, ammonia, methane, and volatile organic compounds on environmental quality and human health. The lack of knowledge concerning functional aspects of swine manure management systems has been a major obstacle in the development and optimization of emi...

Residual effects of manure or compost application can maintain crop yield level for several years after Residual effects of manure or compost application on crop production and soil properties can last for several years. This study was manure or compost application ceases since only a fracconducted to evaluate residual effects of annual or biennial application of the N and other nutrients in ma...

A geographic information system (GIS) based manure application plan has been developed for the site-specific application of animal waste to agricultural fields in the Westbrook sub-catchment of the Murray-Darling Basin, south-east Queensland, Australia. Sites suitable for animal waste application were identified using a GIS based weighted linear combination (WLC) model. The degree of land suita...

AIMS To develop and evaluate primer sets targeted to the dissimilatory sulfite reductase gene (dsrA) for use in quantitative real-time PCR detection of sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) in stored swine manure. METHODS AND RESULTS Degenerate primer sets were developed to detect SRB in stored swine manure. These were compared with a previously reported primer set, DSR1F+ and DSR-R, for their cove...

This study characterizes dynamic ammonia (NH3) and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions associated with feeding and defecation activities of laying hens. Manure handling scheme used was reflective of commercial manure-belt house operation. Four dynamic emission chambers and measurement system was developed, featuring continuous measurement of the following variables for each chamber: (a) NH3 concentr...