Cattle Manure Treatment Research Articles

Effects of cattle manure on selected soil physical properties of smallholder farms on two soils of Murewa, Zimbabwe

AbstractThe effects of cattle manure and inorganic N‐fertilizer application on soil organic carbon (SOC), bulk density, macro‐aggregate stability and aggregate protected carbon were determined on clay and sandy soils of the Murewa smallholder farming area, Zimbabwe. Maize was grown in four fields termed homefields (HFs) and outfields (OFs) because of spatial variability induced by management practices and with the following fertility treatments: control (no fertility amelioration), 5, 15 and 25 t/ha cattle manure + 100 kg/ha N applied annually for seven consecutive years. The addition of cattle manure resulted in significant (P < 0.01) increases in SOC, macro‐aggregate stability and aggregate protected carbon in clay soils from at least the 5 t/ha cattle manure rate and was comparable between HFs and OFs on clay soils. Aggregate protected carbon in clay soils was significantly higher from the 15 and 25 t/ha cattle manure rates compared to the 5 t/ha cattle manure treatment. In contrast, only SOC was significantly (P < 0.05) increased with the addition of cattle manure on the sandy soils, while bulk density, macro‐aggregate stability and aggregate protected carbon were not significantly changed. Bulk density was also not significantly (P > 0.05) different on the clay soils. A significant and positive linear relationship (r2 = 0.85) was found between SOC and macro‐aggregate stability, while an r2 value of 0.82 was obtained between SOC and aggregate protected carbon on the clay soils. However, no regressions were performed on data from the sandy soils because of the lack of significant changes in soil physical properties. Application of cattle manure and inorganic N‐fertilizer significantly increased (P < 0.05) maize grain yield on both soil types. Results show that inorganic N‐fertilizer combined with cattle manure at 5–15 t/ha per yr is necessary to increase maize yields and SOC on sandy soils in Murewa, while at least 15 t/ha per yr cattle manure is required on the clay soils to improve physical properties in addition to maize yields and SOC.

Farklı gübre kaynaklarının organik buğdayda yabancı otlanmaya etkisi

Fertilization and weed control are the most significant problems in organic farming. Since herbicides are prohibited in organic farming, generally cultural, mechanical and biological practices are implemented for weed control. In current research, effects of 7 different fertilizer sources [control, standard inorganic (ammonium sulphate + triple superphosphate) (NP), soil amending bio-organic (Bio), soil amending bio-organic SR (Bio SR), organic soil amending leonardite (Leo), organic manure (OM) and cattle manure (CM)] on weed control in two wheat varieties (Kirik, Dogu-88) were investigated among the years 2006-2009. Weed intensity, frequency and dry weights were analyzed to assess the impacts of treatments on weed control. A total of 43 different weed species were observed in Dogu-88 plots and 45 different species were observed in Kirik plots during the entire experimental years. Average weed density for Dogu-88 and Kirik cultivars were found to be 36.6 weed m-2 and 42.8 weed m-2 respectively. However, the difference in weed density of cultivars was not found to be significant statistically. Significant differences were observed among cultivars with regard to weed densities and weed dry weights per square meter and dry weights were determined as 139.5 kg da-1 for Kirik and 90.3 kg da-1 for Dogu-88. While the lowest weed density was observed in OG (organic manure) treatment, the highest values were observed in CM (cattle manure) treatments with 40.0 weed m-2 in Dogu-88 and 49.5 weed m-2 in Kirik. Dry matter yields of weed per unit area were lower in OM, Bio, NP, BioSR treatments than the other treatments. Along with current findings, Dogu-88 cultivar with OG fertilizer can be recommended for organic wheat farming in Erzurum.

Influence of Total Solid and Stirring Frequency on Performance of Dry Anaerobic Digestion Treating Cattle Manure

The aim of this paper was to analyze the biomethanization process of cattle manure with four different total solid percentages (15%, 20%, 25%, 30% TS) and three different stirring frequency. The experimental procedure was programmed to select the initial performance parameter and the operational parameter in a lab-reactor. The values of VFAs indicated that all the reactors showed no destabilization and at the end of the experiment the VFAs were consumed completely. The best performance for cattle manure biodegradation and methane generation was the reactor with 20% TS, with the biogas yield of 0.22 L/g VS and the methane yield of 0.11 LCH4/g VS. Furthermore, the better operational parameter of stirring frequency was stirring once every two days.

Selection and evaluation of biofilm carrier in anaerobic digestion treatment of cattle manure

Selection and evaluation of biofilm carrier represent the two significant ways for improving the anaerobic digesters. This study investigated the performances of the AD (anaerobic digestion) reactors using three types of fibrous biofilm carriers, including the ACF (activated carbon fiber), the PVAF (polyvinyl alcohol fiber) and the GF (glass fiber). The biogas and methane production, pH, COD (chemical oxygen demand), TS (total solids), VS (volatile solids), residual coenzyme F 420 as well as the residual amount of methanogen were measured periodically during the experimental run. Also, the SEM (scanning electron microscopy) was used to identify the microbial consortium and their attachments onto the surface of ACF carrier. The ACF carrier performed better than the other two types of carriers in achieving higher amount of biogas and methane production and pollutants’ removal. The experimental results also demonstrated that the ACF carrier could make the reactor keep higher biogas and methane productions than the control blank reactor during the long run.

Physical–anaerobic–chemical process for treatment of dairy cattle manure

An overall treatment process for the removal of nitrogen, methane production and obtention of valuable fertilizers from dairy manure has been investigated in laboratory scale. Solid and liquid fractions were separated by flocculation and screening. The solid fraction contained 81.6%, 84.4%, 58.6% and 85.2% of TS, VS, TKN-N and P(T) originally present in manure. Batch anaerobic digestion of this solid fraction at 50°C resulted in methane production of 29.0 L CH(4)/kg. The liquid fraction, free of suspended solids, was satisfactorily treated at 35°C in an upflow anaerobic sludge blanket reactor operating stably at an organic loading rate of 40.8 g COD/(L·d) reaching a methane production of 10.3 L CH(4)/(L·d). Accumulation of volatile fatty acids did not occur. Ammonia nitrogen concentration in the anaerobic effluent fluctuated between 850-1170 mg NH(4)(+)-N/L and was reduced to values less than 100mg NH(4)(+)-N/L by struvite precipitation.

Adubação orgânica e cobertura do solo no crescimento e produção de camapu

Foi implantado um experimento na UEG, em Ipameri-GO, visando estudar os efeitos da adubação orgânica residual e cobertura do solo no desenvolvimento e produção de camapu. A semeadura foi feita em bandejas de poliestireno expandido em 01/10/2007 e as mudas foram mantidas em telado com 50% de sombreamento, até a data de plantio no campo, em 27/11/2007, em sucessão ao plantio de tomate. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi em blocos casualizados, com três repetições, com parcelas subdivididas, tendo na parcela duas doses de esterco de curral curtido (30 e 60 t ha-1) e nas sub-parcelas três tipos de cobertura do solo (plástico preto, capim braquiária e sem cobertura). Cada sub-parcela foi constituída por 20 plantas, dispostas no espaçamento de 1,00 x 0,30 m. A cobertura plástica favoreceu tanto o crescimento das plantas, quanto a produtividade. O efeito do esterco de curral foi pouco evidenciado. As curvas de crescimento em altura seguiram modelos cúbicos de regressão.

The Effects of Solid, Liquid and Combined Cattle Manure Applications on the Yield, Quality and Mineral Contents of Common Vetch and Barley Intercropping Mixture

A field experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of solid, liquid and the combination of solid and liquid cattle manure applications on the yield, quality and mineral content of common vetch (Vicia sativa L.) + barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) intercropping mixture in 2006-2007 at Gumuþhane, Turkey. The treatments were control (no manure), two liquid (L 1 = 10 000 L ha-1 liquid cattle manure and L 2 = 20 000 L ha-1 liquid cattle manure), two solid (S1 = 20 ton ha-1 solid cattle manure, S2= 40 ton ha-1 solid cattle manure) and four different combinations of liquid and solid cattle manure applications (S1L1 = 20 ton ha -1 solid cattle manure + 10 000 L ha-1 liquid cattle manure, S 1 L 2 = 20 ton ha-1 solid cattle manure + 20 000 L ha-1 liquid cattle manure, S2L1 = 40 ton ha-1 solid cattle manure + 10 000 L ha-1 liquid cattle manure, and S2L2 = 40 ton ha -1 solid cattle manure + 20 000 L ha -1 liquid cattle manure). Total forage dry matter yield (TFDMY), crude protein content (CP), crude protein yield (CPY), acid detergent fiber (ADF), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), dry matter intake (DMI), dry digestible matter (DDM), relative feed value (RFV) and mineral contents (Mg, Ca, K, P, Na, Mn, Zn, Fe and Cu) were determined to evaluate the effects of different cattle manure applications on intercropping mixtures. Solid, liquid and the combined cattle manure treatments had no effect on the TFDMY, CPY, ADF, NDF, DMI, DDM, RFV, Mg, Ca, K, Mn and Zn of the intercropping mixture except CP (p<0.01), P (p<0.01), Na (p<0.05), Fe (p<0.05) and Cu (p<0.05) in the first year. The treatments had significant effects on TFDMY (p<0.01), CP (p<0.01), ADF (p<0.05), NDF (p<0.01), DMI (p<0.01), DDM (p<0.05), RFV (p<0.01) and Zn (p<0.01) values of the intercropping mixture except CPY, Mg, Ca, K, P, Na, Mn, Fe and Cu in the second year. The results of the study revealed that the common vetch and barley intercropping mixture can be fertilized with 40 ton ha-1 solid cattle manure to improve the yield and quality. But if mineral content of forage is more important than yield and quality for the farmer, then it may be fertilized with 20 ton ha-1 solid cattle

Development and analysis of microbial characteristics of an acidulocomposting system for the treatment of garbage and cattle manure

An acidulocomposting system for the treatment of cattle manure with little emission of ammonia gas was developed, and the structure of its microbial community was investigated by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) and clone library construction. An acidulocomposting apparatus (BC20, 20 L) was operated for 79 days to treat 2 kg (wet wt) of garbage per 1 or 2 days. On day 80 of operation, the substrate was changed from garbage to cattle manure (1 kg of beef cattle manure was added to the apparatus every 2 or 3 days), and the system continued operating from days 80 to 158. The compost in the vessel was under acidic conditions at pH 5.2-5.8, and ammonia emission was below the detectable level (<5 ppm) throughout the period of cattle manure feeding. Total nitrogen and total carbon in the compost were 26-29 and 439-466 mg/g of dry weight, respectively, which are higher than those in general cattle manure compost. The main acids accumulated during operation were lactic and acetic. Sequencing analysis targeting the 16S rRNA gene revealed the stable dominance of the bacterial phylum Firmicutes, with a high proportion of the isolates belonging to the genus Bacillus. Using a culturing method with MRS agar, we isolated lactic acid bacteria (LAB) related to Pediococcus acidilactici, Weissella paramesenteroides, and Lactobacillus salivarius, indicating the existence of LAB in the system. These results indicate that acidulocomposting treatment of cattle manure is not accompanied by ammonia emission and that Bacillus and LAB may be the key components in the system.

Cattle manure fertilization increases fig yield

Fertilization using organic compounds is complementary to chemical fertilization, being essential to integrated fruit production. Reports on fig tree (Ficus carica L.) organic fertilization and mineral nutrition are worldwide scarce, especially in Brazil. This experiment aimed to evaluate the effects of cattle manure fertilization on the yield and productivity of the fig tree 'Roxo de Valinhos' in Botucatu, São Paulo State, Brazil, during the 2002/03, 2003/04, 2004/05 and 2005/06 crop cycles. Plants aged one, two, three and four year olds received the following cattle manure treatments: control (no fertilizer), 25%, 50%, 75%, 100%, 125% and 150% of the recommended N level for this crop. The evaluated variables were: fruit number, weight and mean diameter, plant yield and productivity. The application of cattle manure increased productivity, yield and fruit number, slightly affecting fruit dimensions. After four years of cattle manure application, the best results were obtained with 76 to 124% of the N level recommended for the fig crop.

EFFECT OF ORGANIC, BIO- AND MINERAL FERTILIZATION ON GROWTH, YIELD, OIL PRODUCTIVITY AND CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS OF CORIANDER PLANT

This experiment was conducted at the Experimental Station and in the Laboratory of Vegetable and Floriculture Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Mansoura University during the two successive seasons of 2005/2006 and 2006/2007 to study the effect of fertilization with cattle manure, bio-fertilizer and/or mineral NPK on growth, yield, oil production and chemical composition of coriander plant. Regarding the effect of organic fertilization, the obtained results indicated that the application of cattle manure significantly increased plant height (cm), number of branches/plant, herb dry weight/plant (g), number of umbels/plant, yield of seeds/plant (g), yield of seeds/fed. (kg), essential oil (%), essential oil yield/plant (ml), essential oil yield/fed. (liter), leaves content of chlorophyll a, b and carotenoids (mg/g fresh weight), as well as the percentages of N, P and K in both seasons. The superiority in all previous traits was for the plants growing in the soil fertilized with the highest level of cattle manure (25 m3/fed.) as compared with the lower levels. The plants fertilized with either 100% NPK or 75% NPK plus the two bio-fertilizers (effective microorganisms and phosphorein) gave the best results in all investigated parameters in both seasons, whereas the least values were recorded by the plants fertilized with the two bio-fertilizers either individually or together. The interaction between cattle manure, bio- and/or NPK treatments were the most effective on the previous parameters. The highest values in all measurements were obtained due to the high cattle manure level (25 m3/fed.) in combination with the two bio-fertilizers plus 75% NPK or 100% NPK alone. Such two superior treatments gave almost equal results which assure the possibility of replacing 25% of the chemical NPK by the use of effective microorganisms plus phosphorein in fertilizing medicinal or aromatic plants such as Coriandrum sativum.

Change in nutrient content and solubility by carbonization or heat treatment of cattle manure

Change in nutrient content and solubility by carbonization or heat treatment of cattle manure

Evaluating phosphorus loading from repeated manure applications to two Saskatchewansoils

An understanding of the impact of repeated manure additions on soil phosphorus (P) is needed to determine appropriate manure application rates for prairie soils and manure sources. The objective of this study was to assess the loading of manure-derived phosphorus using P budgets and soil P measurement techniques applied to two Saskatchewan soils with known histories of manure application. Liquid hog manure (LHM) and solid cattle manure (SCM) treatments were applied annually over 8 yr to Black Chernozemic soils (Dixon site), and LHM was applied to Dark Brown Chernozemic soils (Plenty site) over 6 yr. Soil samples were collected in the spring of 2003 and 2004 and analyzed for labile P (Modified Kelowna extractable, Olsen extractable, water extractable, and Plant Root Simulator exchange resin methods) and total P. The P budgets were in good agreement with the observed patterns in labile soil P at the two sites. The annual application of LHM (37000 L ha-1 yr-1) at agronomic nitrogen (N) rates with no additional P fertilizer (Dixon only) did not significantly elevate soil labile P compared with the unfertilized controls at both Dixon and Plenty. The annual application of SCM (7.6 Mg ha-1 yr-1) at agronomic N rates did not significantly elevate soil labile P compared with the unfertilized control at Dixon; whereas of SCM at higher rates (15.2 Mg ha-1 yr-1 and 30.4 Mg ha-1 yr-1) showed some elevation in labile soil P. Measures of labile P were sensitive to P surpluses or deficits predicted by P balances, and all methods of measuring labile soil P were strongly correlated with one another at both sites (r ≥ 0.803 at P ≤ 0.01). Key words: Manure, cattle manure, nitrogen, phosphorus, soil test phosphorus

Cattle manure and grass residues as liming materials in a semi-subsistence farming system

A field experiment was conducted on an acid soil in a semi-subsistence farming area of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa to investigate the possibility of using organic amendments as liming materials within a minimum tillage (strip cultivation) system to produce maize. Amendments (cattle manure, grass residues and dolomitic lime) were incorporated to a depth of 20 cm in bands 15 cm wide down plant rows at rates of 10 and 20 t ha −1 (in the amended area) for organic materials and 2.5 and 5.0 t ha −1 for lime. The remainder of the field remained untilled. Additions of cattle manure rapidly increased soil pH, and concentrations of exchangeable K, Ca and Mg and extractable P were also greatly elevated. Grass residue additions increased pH progressively and increased exchangeable K and Mg and those of dolomitic lime increased pH, exchangeable Ca and Mg. Addition of each of the amendments decreased concentrations of exchangeable Al; the effect was greatest for animal manure after 6 weeks and for lime and grass residues at harvest. At harvest, addition of all three amendments had significantly reduced concentrations of both phytotoxic monomeric and total Al in soil solution. The system not only resulted in an increase in pH and extractable nutrients in row soil compared to that in the inter-row but also an increase in the size and activity of the soil microbial community. Maize yields were increased by additions of amendments under both unfertilised and fertilised conditions and yields were generally greatest at the higher rate of addition. Under unfertilised conditions, cattle manure treatments gave the greatest yields. Fertiliser additions increased yields greatly particularly in the control, grass residue and lime treatments. It was concluded that the strip tillage system used is a practicable way of applying high rates of organic materials to soils, that cattle manure has a rapid liming effect as well as being a nutrient source and that grass residues from rangeland decompose slowly and, therefore, have a slow liming effect.

Bioaugmentation of a two‐stage thermophilic (68°C/55°C) anaerobic digestion concept for improvement of the methane yield from cattle manure

The possibility of improving a two-stage (68 degrees C/55 degrees C) anaerobic digestion concept for treatment of cattle manure was studied. In batch experiments, a 10-24% increase of the specific methane yield from cattle manure and its fractions was obtained, when the substrates were inoculated with bacteria of the genus Caldicellusiruptor and Dictyoglomus. In a reactor experiment inoculation of a 68 degrees C pretreatment reactor with Caldicellusiruptor resulted in a 93% increase in the methane yield of the pretreatment reactor for a period of 18 days, but gave only a slight increase in the overall methane yield of the two-stage setup.

Nitrogen balance and accumulation pattern in three contrasting prairie soils receiving repeated applications of liquid swine and solid cattle manure

The expansion of intensive livestock operations in western Canada has increased concerns about overloading of nutrients in manured lands. The magnitude of nutrient accumulation and its distribution in the soil profile varies with soil-climatic conditions. The objective of this study was to determine loading and distribution of manure-derived nitrogen (N) in the soil profile as influenced by repeated manure applications. Four field experiments were conducted at three sites (Dixon, Melfort and Plenty) in Saskatchewan under longer-term manure management. The four field experiments provide contrasts in soil type, climatic conditions, manure type, application and cropping history to enable the effect of these factors to be evaluated. Liquid hog manure (LHM—Experiment 1) and solid cattle manure (SCM—Experiment 2) treatments were applied annually over 8 years at Dixon (Black Chernozemic loam soil—Udic Boroll in sub-humid climate), while only LHM was applied at Plenty (Dark Brown Chernozemic heavy clay soil—Typic Boroll in semi-arid climate) over 6 years (Experiment 3), and at Melfort (Dark Gray Luvisol silty clay loam soil—Mollic Cryoboralf in humid climate) over 5 years (Experiment 4). Soil samples were collected in the spring and autumn of 2003 and 2004, and were analyzed for organic N, ammonium-N (NH 4 + -N) and nitrate-N (NO 3 − -N) concentrations. Plant samples were collected to determine the impact of manure application rate on plant N uptake and crop N removal. The annual application of LHM (37,000 L ha−1 yr−1) and SCM (7.6 Mg ha−1 yr−1) at agronomic rates at Dixon (added N balances crop demand for that year), or larger rates of LHM (111,000 L ha−1) applied once every 3 years (Melfort) did not significantly elevate NO 3 − -N in soil compared to the unfertilized control. Lower crop removal and reduced leaching of NO 3 − -N due to drier conditions as occurred at the Plenty site contributed to greater accumulation of nitrate in the top 60 cm at equivalent rates compared to the other two sites. At large manure rates, excess N from the balance estimates could not be accounted for in soil organic N and was assumed to be lost from the soil-plant system. At the Dixon LHM site, deep leaching of NO 3 − -N was observed at the excessive rate (148,000 L ha−1 yr−1) up to the 150 cm depth, compared to the control. At Dixon, the large annual application rate of SCM (30.4 Mg ha−1 yr−1) did not significantly increase NO 3 − -N in the 0–60 cm soil compared to the control, which was attributed to lower mineralization of organic N from the SCM. Over the short and medium term, LHM application at large rates every year poses a greater risk for loading and deep migration of NO 3 − -N in soil than large rates of SCM. Larger single applications made once every 3 years were not associated with accumulation or deep leaching. To prevent loading, rates of applied manure nitrogen should be reduced when crop N removal potential is diminished by high frequency of drought.

Nutrient Concentrations of Runoff During the Year Following Manure Application

Little information is currently available concerning temporal changes in nutrient transport following the addition of manure to cropland areas. This study was conducted to measure nutrient transport in runoff as affected by tillage and time following the application of beef cattle or swine manure to a site on which corn (Zea mays L.) was grown. Rainfall simulation tests were initiated 4, 32, 62, 123, and 354 days following land application. Three 30 min simulated rainfall events, separated by 24 h intervals, were conducted at an intensity of approximately 70 mm h-1. Dissolved phosphorus (DP), particulate phosphorus (PP), total phosphorus (TP), NO3-N, NH4-N, total nitrogen (TN), electrical conductivity (EC), and pH were measured from 0.75 m wide by 2 m long plots. Concentrations of DP, TP, and NH4-N, in general, declined throughout the year on both the no-till cattle and no-till swine manure treatments. Tillage did not significantly affect concentrations of DP, PP, TP, NH4-N, or pH on the swine manure treatments, but significant variations in these variables were measured over time. Under no-till and tilled conditions on both the cattle and swine manure treatments, the smallest concentrations of DP, NO3-N, NH4-N, and TN occurred on the final test date. The increase in pH of runoff during the study is attributed to the addition of CaCO3 to the rations of beef cattle and swine. Tillage appeared to have less of an impact on runoff nutrient transport from cropland areas than length of time since manure application.

Effect of using different types of organic animal manure on plankton abundance, and on growth and survival of Tilapia rendalli (Boulenger) in ponds

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of using different types of organic manure on the plankton abundance, and growth and survival of Tilapia rendalli juveniles in ponds. Fish weighing 18.15±0.44 g were stocked into 12, 20 m2 ponds at 2 fish m−2 (40 fish pond−1). There were three replicate ponds per treatment (chicken manure, cattle manure, pig manure, and no-manure as a control). After 84 days the T. rendalli in the chicken manure treatment were significantly larger and had higher net annual yields than those in the cattle manure, pig manure and no-manure treatments. The survival rates were not significantly different across the treatments. Significantly higher amounts of chlorophyll a and higher numbers of zooplankton were found in ponds fertilized with the chicken manure treatment. The overall results obtained in this study suggest that the use of chicken manure produces better results than cattle and pig manure treatments on unfertilized ponds.

Mesophilic–thermophilic–mesophilic anaerobic digestion of liquid dairy cattle manure

The potential of a mesophilic-thermophilic-mesophilic anaerobic digestion system was investigated with respect to improvement of both digestion and sanitation efficiencies during treatment of liquid cattle manure. The pilot plant produced a high methane yield from liquid dairy cattle manure of 0.24 m3 (kg VSfed)(-1) Considering the low system loading rate of 1.4-1.5 kg VS (m3 d)(-1), digestion efficiency compared to conventional processes did not appear improved. The minimum guaranteed retention time in the tubular thermophilic reactor was increased compared to a continuously stirred tank reactor. Levels of intestinal enterococci in raw liquid manure as determined with cultivation methods were reduced by 2.5 -3 log units to a level of around 10(2) cfu/mL. This sanitizing effect was achieved both during mesophilic-thermophilic-mesophilic and thermophilic-mesophilic treatment, provided the thermophilic digester was operated at 53-55 degrees C. A change in feeding interval from 1 h to 4 h did not significantly alter methane yield and sanitation efficiency. It was proposed that a two-stage, thermophilic-mesophilic anaerobic digestion system would be able to achieve the same sanitizing effect and equal or better digestion efficiency at lower costs.

Anaerobic Mesophilic Treatment of Cattle Manure in an Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket Reactor with Prior Pasteurization

Different autonomous communities located in northern Spain have large populations of dairy cattle. In the case of Asturias, the greatest concentration of dairy farms is found in the areas near the coast, where the elimination of cattle manure by means of its use as a fertilizer may lead to environmental problems. The aim of the present research work was to study the anaerobic treatment of the liquid fraction of cattle manure at mesophilic temperature using an upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor combined with a settler after a pasteurization process at 70 °C for 2 hr. The manure used in this study came from two different farms, with 40 and 200 cows, respectively. The manure from the smaller farm was pretreated in the laboratory by filtration through a 1-mm mesh, and the manure from the other farm was pretreated on the farm by filtration through a separator screw press (0.5-mm mesh). The pasteurization process removed the pathogenic microorganisms lacking spores, such as Enterococcus, Yersinia, Pseudomonas, and coliforms, but bacterial spores are only reduced by this treatment, not removed. The combination of a UASB reactor and a settler proved to be effective for the treatment of cattle manure. In spite of the variation in the organic loading rate and total solids in the influent during the experiment, the chemical oxygen demand (COD) of the effluent from the settler remained relatively constant, obtaining reductions in the COD of ∼85%.

Short-term effects of three animal manures on soil pH and Al solubility

A short-term (3-day) equilibration experiment was carried out to determine the effects of 3 animal manures (poultry, pig, and cattle) added at a rate of 20 mg/g to an Oxisol on pH and the concentrations of total (AlT) and monomeric (AlMono) Al in solution. The pH of equilibrium solutions from the control, cattle, pig, and poultry manure treatments were 4.0, 4.6, 5.2, and 6.3, respectively. AlMono concentrations decreased progressively as pH increased but concentrations of AlT were similar in the pig and poultry manure treatments. Subsequent equilibration experiments examined the solubility of AlMono and AlT when the 3 manures were added to the Oxisol or a 40 um AlCl3 solution and pH was maintained at 4.0, 4.5, 5.0, 5.5, 6.0, and 6.5. In both experiments, addition of manures generally tended to reduce the concentration of AlT in the lower pH range (4.0 and 4.5) but increase it in the higher range (pH 5.5 or 6.0 and above). Concentrations of AlMono, and the proportion of AlT present as AlMono, were reduced over the whole pH range. Results were explained in terms of the strong bonding ability of organic matter in both the solid and solution phases for Al. At lower pH, where Al is highly soluble, complexation by solid-phase organic matter results in a reduction in both AlT and AlMono. However, at higher pH, where Al solubility becomes limited, complexation of Al by soluble organic matter becomes an important mechanism and this results in an elevation in AlT, while concentrations of AlMono remain very low. It was concluded that the effects of manures in reducing concentrations of AlMono in soil solution are attributable to both an increase in pH and the complexing ability of organic matter for Al.