Liquid Cattle Manure Research Articles

Health risk assessment and soil and plant heavy metal and bromine contents in field plots after ten years of organic and mineral fertilization

Heavy metals and bromine (Br) derived from organic and industrialized fertilizers can be absorbed, transported and accumulated into parts of plants ingested by humans. This study aimed to evaluate in an experiment conducted under no-tillage for 10 years, totaling 14 applications of pig slurry manure (PS), pig deep-litter (PL), dairy slurry (DS) and mineral fertilizer (MF), the heavy metal and Br contents in soil and in whether the grains produced by corn (Zea mays L.) and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) under these conditions could result in risk to human health. The total contents of As, Cd, Pb, Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn and Br were analyzed in samples of fertilizers, waste, soil, shoots and grains of corn and wheat. Afterwards, enrichment factor (EF), accumulation factor (AF), health risk index (HRI), target hazard quotient (THQ) and target cancer risk (TCR) were determined. Mineral fertilizer exhibited the highest As and Cr content, while the highest levels of Cu and Zn were found in animal waste. The contents of As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn in soil were below the limits established by environmental regulatory agencies. However, a significant enrichment factor was found for Cu in soil with a history of PL application. Furthermore, high Zn contents were found in shoots and grains of corn and wheat, especially when the plants were grown in soil with organic waste application. Applications of organic waste and mineral fertilizer provided high HRI and THQ for Br and Zn, posing risks to human health. The intake of corn and wheat fertilized with pig slurry manure, swine deep bed, liquid cattle manure and industrialized mineral fertilizer did not present TCR.

A model for estimating seasonal trends of ammonia emission from cattle manure applied to grassland in the Netherlands

Field data on ammonia emission after liquid cattle manure (‘slurry’) application to grassland were statistically analysed to reveal the effect of manure and field characteristics and of weather conditions in eight consecutive periods after manure application. Logistic regression models, modelling the emission expressed as a percentage of the ammonia still present at the start of each period as the response variable, were developed separately for broadcast spreading, narrow band application (trailing shoe) and shallow injection. Wind speed, temperature, soil type, total ammoniacal nitrogen (TAN) content and dry matter content of the manure, application rate and grass height were selected as significant explanatory variables. Their effects differed for each application method and among periods. Temperature and wind speed were generally the most important drivers for emission.The fitted regression models were used to reveal seasonal trends in NH3 emission employing historical meteorological data for the years 1991–2014. The overall average emission was higher in early and midsummer than in early spring and late summer. This seasonal trend was most pronounced for broadcast spreading followed by narrow band application, and was almost absent for shallow injection. However, due to the large variation in weather conditions, emission on a particular day in early spring can be higher than on a particular day in summer. The analysis further revealed that, in a specific scenario and depending on the application technique, emission could be reduced with 20–30% by restricting manure application to favourable days, i.e. with weather conditions with minimal emission levels.

CO2 emissions and mineral nitrogen dynamics following application to soil of undigested liquid cattle manure and digestates

Anaerobic digestion of animal manures, and separation of digestates into a liquid (LF) and a solid fraction (SF) affect manure N availability to crops. Digestates and LF potentially supply more readily available N to crops compared to undigested manures and SF, due to their higher ammonium content, lower C to organic N ratio and lower dry matter content. Studies on digestates decomposition in soil are still scarce compared to those on undigested manures. We therefore carried out an incubation experiment to measure CO2 emissions and soil mineral N dynamics following addition to soil of: ammonium sulphate (AS); digested cattle slurry-maize mix (DSMM); LF and SF of DSMM; undigested cattle slurry (US). The incubation lasted 181days and was conducted at 25°C and constant soil water content. Mineralization of C from US (51% of manure C after 181days) was higher than that of digested manures (32–34%). Availability of applied ammonium after 181days was similar for AS, DSMM and LF (70–78% of added ammonium), and was higher than that of SF and US (8 and 46% of added ammonium, respectively). Physical-chemical differences among manures explained main differences in decomposition dynamics. Indeed, US and SF induced net N immobilization (9–16% of manure organic N at day 181) due to high C to organic N ratio, high cellulose and volatile fatty acids content. Conversely, DSMM and LF induced net N mineralization (≈30% of manure organic N) due to a low C to organic N ratio and cellulose content. The findings of this laboratory experiment confirm the availability of manure N previously measured in a field experiment, where the same manures were applied to the same soil for the fertilization of silage-maize.

Transformation of Organic Matter and the Emissions of Methane and Ammonia during Storage of Liquid Manure as Affected by Acidification.

Acidification of livestock manure can reduce emission of the greenhouse gases methane (CH) and nitrous oxide (NO), as well as ammonia (NH). We examined the relation between emission of these gases and transformation of organic matter as affected by acidification. Liquid cattle manure was acidified with sulfuric acid to pH 5.5 at a pilot scale (100 L), and we measured effects on CH, NO, CO and NH emissions and on transformation of pH buffer components and organic matter. Acidification reduced NH emissions by 62% (47 d) and emission of CH by 68% (57 d). Emissions of NO were negligible, probably due to the absence of a surface crust. Reductions in NH and CH emission were highest at the start but declined over time concomitantly with a gradual increase in the stored liquid manure pH. Acidification did not significantly affect CO emissions. Emission of CO was high, five- to ten-fold of CH emissions, until Day 16 of storage, after which the CO emission rate declined to around twice the CH emission rate; consequently, the majority of C loss during the early stages of storage was CO. Cumulative emission of C in CO and CH closely matched depletion of dissolved organic carbon (DOC), suggesting that DOC may be a predictor for CH emission from dilute slurries. volatile fatty acid and total ammoniacal nitrogen concentrations in surface layers were substantially higher than at the center of stored liquid manure, perhaps resulting from microbial activity at the surface. This pattern deserves attention when predicting NH emission from stored slurry.

Relationship between Manure Management Application Practices and Phosphorus and Nitrogen Export in Snowmelt Run-off Water from a Black Chernozem Saskatchewan Soil

In Saskatchewan, soil nutrients released from land-applied solid cattle manure (SCM) and liquid hog manure (LHM) could be subject to off-field export via spring surface run-off water and/or subsurface leaching from melting snow. The objective of this study was to determine how the placement of SCM and LHM using surface and subsurface application methods affects the amounts of soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP), nitrate-nitrogen (NO3-N) and ammonium nitrogen (NH4-N) exported in simulated snowmelt run-off. Intact soil slabs were collected post-harvest in Oct. 2008 and Oct. 2009 from an annually cropped Black Chernozem in east-central Saskatchewan having treatments of: 1) a control, with no SCM or urea fertilizer added and 2) SCM applied at a rate of 60.6 t ha-1 for 2 years as: surface broadcast, broadcast and incorporated and subsurface banded. For comparison purposes, intact soil slab monoliths were collected post-harvest in Oct. 2009 from an annually cropped Black Chernozem in east-central Saskatchewan having treatments of: 1) a control, with no LHM or urea fertilizer added; 2) LHM broadcast and incorporated at a rate of 37,000 L ha-1 for 12 years; and 3) LHM subsurface banded at rates of 37,000 L ha-1 and 148,000 L ha-1 for 12 years. Run-off water and leachate were collected under two different simulated prairie spring melt conditions: 1) thawing soil slabs containing snow that slowly melted on the surface; and 2) frozen soil slabs with run-off water applied to the surface and allowed to run-off across the frozen soil surface. Export of SRP in the thawing soil slabs that had SCM applied in subsurface bands was 0.51 kg P ha-1 and was significantly higher than the non-manured control (0.07 kg P ha-1). Dissolved NO3-N exported in water running across the frozen soil slabs was highest in the broadcast and incorporated treatment (0.30 kg N ha-1). All SCM manured treatments had higher export of nitrate (0.2-0.25 kg NO3-N ha-1) compared to the non-manured control (0.07 kg ha-1). There was no significant (P ≤ 0.10) effect of placement method on SRP, NO3-N and NH4-N export on thawing or frozen SCM soil slabs. Export of SRP was less in LHM treatments than SCM treatments. In thawing soil slabs with 148,000 L ha-1 LHM treatment, the P export was 0.05 kg P ha-1 and was greater than the control treatment (0.01 kg ha-1). Rate of application and manure type appears to be more important than method of placement in influencing P and N transport in melt water on these soils.

Phosphorus fractions in soil with a long history of organic waste and mineral fertilizer addition

ABSTRACT Applications for long periods of organic animal waste as a source of nutrients to crops can contaminate the soil and the surface and subsurface waters. This study aimed to evaluate how the utilization of organic waste, after successive applications, affects P fractions in the soil and consequently environmental contamination. In an experiment conducted for 8 years, totaling 12 applications with pig slurry manure (PSM), liquid cattle manure (LCM), swine deep bedding (SDB), and mineral fertilizer (NPK), 460; 505; 1.111; and 535 kg P∙ha−1 were added to the soil through PSM, LCM, SDB, and NPK, respectively. In September 2012, soil samples were collected in the layers 0.0 – 0.04; 0.04 – 0.08; 0.08 – 0.12; 0.12 – 0.16; 0.16 – 0.20 m, prepared and subjected to a sequential chemical fractionation of P. The 12 applications of pig slurry, liquid cattle manure, swine deep bedding and NPK fertilizer for eight years (urea + triple superphosphate + potassium chloride) provided accumulations of P fractions in the soil that were above the necessary for a proper nutrition to plants considering the available P fractions (AER + organic NaHCO3 + inorganic NaHCO3) in the soil. In addition, they showed that the use of swine deep bedding, followed by pig slurry, means higher levels of available P fractions in the soil. In this sense, the establishment of a dosage of organic waste to meet the nitrogen need of crops is not an environmentally appropriate parameter. It may cause P accumulation in the soil, increased absorption ability of plants and soil support, contributing to environmental contamination.

Design and analysis of a biogas production system utilizing residual energy for a hybrid CSP and biogas power plant

This paper proposes a novel hybrid CSP and biogas power plant in which biogas is produced with anaerobic treatment of liquid cattle manure under mesophilic conditions. The residual energy from the hybrid power plant is used to maintain the digester content at the optimum temperature of 35°C for stable production of biogas. A simulation model for the power plant with focus on the biogas production has been developed on TRNSYS platform. The thermal performance and dynamic behaviors of this biogas production system under typical climatic conditions in West China are investigated. It is found that the volume of anaerobic digester increases with the increase of hydraulic retention time while the feedstock flow rate decreases with the increase of hydraulic retention time. The maximum temperature fluctuation of the digester in a day is less than 0.8°C with PID control, which guarantees the yield and quality of biogas. For the hybrid power plant, hybridizing solar energy with biogas energy not only improves the power stability but also increases power dispatchability. The increase of solar power sharing ratio can obviously improve the total electricity generation of the hybrid power plant without obvious negative impact on the total efficiency of the hybrid power plant.

Nitrogen fertilizer replacement value of undigested liquid cattle manure and digestates

Abstract Accurate estimation of animal manure nitrogen (N) availability is required to maximize crop N use efficiency and reduce environmental N losses. Many field and laboratory experiments have shown that first-year net mineralization of manure organic N is often negligible, which often causes crop available N to approximate the ammonium N content of the manure. Anaerobic digestion increases the ammonium share and reduces the C to organic N ratio of animal manures, potentially increasing their N fertilizer value. In 2011, we undertook a three-year field experiment in Northern Italy to estimate the N fertilizer value of four manures: undigested cattle slurry, digested cattle slurry-maize mix, and liquid and solid fractions of the digested slurry-maize mix. The experiment also allowed us to test if ammonium recovery was similar among manures, and between manures and ammonium sulphate. Fertilizers were applied annually to plots before silage maize cultivation that was followed by an unfertilized Italian ryegrass crop. Results showed that the recovery of ammonium from manure in maize did not differ significantly compared to ammonium sulphate among all the fertilizers in 2013; however, in 2011 and 2012 it was significantly lower for all manures except digested slurry-maize mix and its liquid fraction in 2011. The increased recovery of applied N in 2012 and 2013 for solid fraction and undigested manure were likely due to the residual effect of previously applied organic N.

Uso de Substrato Compostado na Produção de Mudas de Eucalyptus dunnii e Cordia trichotoma

Os substratos apresentam influência na germinação e no crescimento de mudas de espécies florestais. Com o objetivo de avaliar a germinação, o crescimento e a qualidade de mudas de Eucalyptus dunnii e Cordia trichotoma em substratos obtidos pela compostagem de resíduos orgânicos foi conduzido um experimento na UFSM, campus de Frederico Westphalen, Brasil. Foram usados quatro substratos de compostagem (resíduos de restaurante universitário, resíduos de reciclagem de lixo domiciliar, dejeto líquido de bovinos e lodo do processo de flotação) e um substrato comercial (com e sem fertilizante mineral). O delineamento foi inteiramente casualizado com quatro repetições. Os substratos influenciaram na velocidade de germinação, mas não afetaram o percentual final de germinação. Os substratos alternativos provenientes de resíduos de restaurante universitário e do lodo de processo de flotação proporcionaram maior altura e diâmetro de colo das mudas E. dunnii e C. trichotoma e podem ser usados em substituição ao substrato comercial.

Measurement of methane production from pig and cattle manure in Lithuania

The current experiment was conducted to quantify methane (CH4) productivity from pig and cattle manure. The manure was collected from twenty commercial farms in different parts of Lithuania. The biogas production and ultimate methane production were measured in a batch experiment according to the international standard. Manure was stored for a period of up to 70 days at constant 35 ± 1°C temperature. Infrared or electrochemical detection was adopted to analyze the methane and carbon dioxide content in biogas. Theoretical methane production was calculated according to the chemical composition of manure. In our study, the theoretical methane production from the total volatile solids (VS) for both pig and cattle manure was in the range of 0.41–0.46 m3 kg-1 CH4 VS. Theoretical methane production from easily degradable volatile solids was by 26.72% lower than that from total volatile solids. During the storage period, up to 64% of total manure volatile solids and up to 89% of easily degradable volatile solids had decomposed. The ultimate methane production for pig liquid manure was the highest and reached 0.29 m3 kg-1 CH4 VS. The methane production for pig solid fraction of manure was 0.12 m 3 kg-1 CH4 VS, for the liquid fraction of pig manure – 0.18 m3 kg-1 CH4 VS. The methane production for dairy cattle liquid and solid manure, also non dairy cattle solid manure reached 0.20–0.21 m3 kg-1 CH4 VS. For dairy cattle slurry the methane production was the lowest – 0.05 m3 kg-1 CH4 VS, in comparison with other samples. Our study showed that methane production for pig and cattle manure in Lithuania was from 13% to 36% lower than the default values recommended for Europe (IPCC Guidelines..., 2006) and are used for calculations of national methane emission from manure.

EFFECT OF LIQUID CATTLE MANURE ON SOIL CHEMICAL PROPERTIES AND CORN GROWTH IN NORTHERN GREECE

SUMMARYThe impact of liquid cattle (Bos taurusL.) manure, applied to soil at common rates and for several years, on certain plant parameters and soil properties has not been studied extensively. The objectives of this study were: a) to assess the effects of manure application on corn (Zea maysL.) yield, macro- and micronutrient concentrations and uptake, in a three-year (2006–2008) field experiment conducted in northern Greece and b) to evaluate the 11-year effect of manure application on soil fertility (particularly on micronutrients avialability) and chemical properties (especially on organic C and total N content). The field experiment of this study had been used in a similar fertilisation experiment since 1996. The treatments, which were applied on the same plots each year over the 11-year period, were: (i) soil incorporation of liquid dairy cattle manure before sowing, at a rate equal to the common N-P inorganic fertilisation for each crop (based on manure's total N and P content); (ii) application of the common inorganic N-P fertilisation for each crop before sowing; (iii) identical to ii, but with split application of the N fertilisers; (iv) no fertilisation (control). Corn dry aboveground biomass yield at the R3 growth stage and grain yield, N, P, K concentrations and macro- and micronutrients uptake increased (p≤ 0.05) upon manure addition at levels similar to or higher than the inorganic fertilisation treatments. The relative increase in grain yield during the three-year period ranged between 63–75% for manure treatment and 50–75% for both inorganic fertilisation treatments. After 11 years of manure application, organic C, total N, and available NO3-N, P, K, Cu, Zn, Mn, and B increased (p≤ 0.05) in the surface soil (0–30 cm). However, no trend of nutrient build up was evident through years (except for Zn). Surprisingly, salinity and available NO3-N in the 60–90 cm soil depth of the manure-treated plots were lower (p≤ 0.05) than that of the inorganic fertilisation treatments and similar to control. Electrical conductivity was 1.76, 3.05, 2.96 and 1.36 dS m−1, for manure treatment, the two inorganic fertilisation treatments and control, respectively, whereas the respective NO3-N concentrations were 7.7, 44.6, 55.1 and 8.3 mg kg−1. Conclusively, repeated application of liquid cattle manure into the soil, at rates comparable to the common inorganic fertilisation for 11 years, can enhance crop yield and macronutrient concentrations in plant tissues and uptake, at levels similar to the inorganic fertilisation. In addition, it can increase micronutrients plant uptake and maintain soil fertility with respect to both macro- and micronutrients and increase soil organic C and total N, without either causing nutrient build up or increasing soil salinity and NO3−accumulation in the deeper soil layers.

Spectroscopic quantification of soil phosphorus forms by 31p-nmr after nine years of organic or mineral fertilization

Long-standing applications of mineral fertilizers or types of organic wastes such as manure can cause phosphorus (P) accumulation and changes in the accumulated P forms in the soil. The objective of this research was to evaluate the forms of P accumulated in soils treated with mineral fertilizer or different types of manure in a long-term experiment. Soil was sampled from the 0-5 cm layer of plots fertilized with five different nutrient sources for nine years: 1) control without fertilizer; 2) mineral fertilizer at recommended rates for local conditions; 3) 5 t ha-1 year-1 of moist poultry litter; 4) 60 m³ ha-1 year-1 of liquid cattle manure and 5) 40 m³ ha-1 year-1 of liquid swine manure. The 31P-NMR spectra of soil extracts detected the following P compounds: orthophosphate, pyrophosphate, inositol phosphate, glycerophosphate, and DNA. The use of organic or mineral fertilizer over nine years did not change the soil P forms but influenced their concentration. Fertilization with mineral or organic fertilizers stimulated P accumulation in inorganic forms. Highest inositol phosphate levels were observed after fertilization with any kind of manure and highest organic P concentration in glycerophosphate form in after mineral or no fertilization.

Effect of anaerobic digestion residue vs. livestock manure and inorganic fertilizer on the hygienic quality of silage and haylage in bales

AbstractAn increased recycling of nutrients from organic waste to support feed and food production is important for achieving sustainability. However, organic waste may contain undesired microorganisms that may increase the risk of impaired hygienic quality of feeds when used in forage‐cropping systems. This study aimed to investigate how the hygienic quality of silage and haylage was affected after fertilization of grassland with organic fertilizers [anaerobic digestion residue (ADR) pasteurized before spreading, or liquid cattle manure] compared with inorganic NPK fertilization. The experiment was performed on the same grass ley for 2 years, with fertilization carried out before each harvest (year 1, two harvests; year 2, one harvest). The crop was conserved as silage (300 g DM kg−1) and haylage (500 g DM kg−1) in bales (ca 40–55 kg) stored for 1, 5 or 10 months before opening, including effects of storage time and conservation method (silage or haylage) on hygienic quality. Results showed that ADR‐treated crops did not produce silage or haylage with higher microbial counts in comparison with manure‐treated crops on any occasion. The fermentation pattern in silage and haylage from ADR‐treated crops was similar to the pattern in manure‐treated crops. The use of inorganic fertilizer sometimes produced lower pH and higher content of lactic acid in silage, compared with using organic fertilizers. In conclusion, ADR could be used as an organic fertilizer for forage crops without increased risk of impaired hygienic quality compared with using liquid manure or inorganic NPK fertilizers.

Changes in Soil Nitrous Oxide and Carbon Dioxide Dynamics after the Application of Digested Liquid Cattle Manure

Changes in Soil Nitrous Oxide and Carbon Dioxide Dynamics after the Application of Digested Liquid Cattle Manure

Impact of Biofertilizers on Mineral Status and Fruit Quality of Yellow Passion Fruit in Brazil

Biofertilizers, liquid cattle manure obtained from anaerobic processes, have emerged as an important component of the integrated nutrient supply system. Thus, an experiment was carried out from May 2002 to February 2004 to evaluate the fruit quality and macronutrient foliar contents of biofertilized yellow passion plants in Brazil. The experimental design was in randomized blocks with treatments distributed in a factorial arrangement (2 × 5) referring to two biofertilizers [one simple and another enriched with macro- and micronutrients] and five doses of each biofertilizer (0.0, 0.6, 1.2, 1.8, and 2.4 L plant−1). Fruit quality and nutritional status of yellow passion fruit are affected by biofertilizer doses applied. Fruit length, width, pulp percentage, skin diameter, mass, soluble solids, and titratable acidity were improved with biofertilizer application. Simple biofertilizer promotes optimum supplies of potassium, calcium, and sulfur, while enriched biofertilizer promotes optimum supplies of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and calcium.

Nitrous Oxide Emissions Respond Differently to Mineral and Organic Nitrogen Sources in Contrasting Soil Types

The use of various animal manures for nitrogen (N) fertilization is often viewed as a viable replacement for mineral N fertilizers. However, the impacts of amendment type on NO production may vary. In this study, NO emissions were measured for 2 yr on two soil types with contrasting texture and carbon (C) content under a cool, humid climate. Treatments consisted of a no-N control, calcium ammonium nitrate, poultry manure, liquid cattle manure, or liquid swine manure. The N sources were surface applied and immediately incorporated at 90 kg N ha before seeding of spring wheat ( L.). Cumulative NO-N emissions from the silty clay ranged from 2.2 to 8.3 kg ha yr and were slightly lower in the control than in the fertilized plots ( = 0.067). The 2-yr mean NO emission factors ranged from 2.0 to 4.4% of added N, with no difference among N sources. Emissions of NO from the sandy loam soil ranged from 0.3 to 2.2 kg NO-N ha yr, with higher emissions with organic than mineral N sources ( = 0.015) and the greatest emissions with poultry manure ( < 0.001). The NO emission factor from plots amended with poultry manure was 1.8%, more than double that of the other treatments (0.3-0.9%), likely because of its high C content. On the silty clay, the yield-based NO emissions (g NO-N kg grain yield N) were similar between treatments, whereas on the sandy loam, they were greatest when amended with poultry manure. Our findings suggest that, compared with mineral N sources, manure application only increases soil NO flux in soils with low C content.

Esterco líquido bovino e uréia no crescimento e produção de biomassa do maracujazeiro amarelo

Objetivou-se avaliar o efeito da aplicacao de esterco bovino liquido e ureia no crescimento e na alocacao de biomassa nos diferentes orgaos do maracujazeiro amarelo. O experimento foi desenvolvido no periodo de setembro de 2006 a dezembro de 2007, no municipio de Remigio - PB. O delineamento experimental foi o de blocos ao acaso com tres repeticoes e tres plantas por parcela, totalizando 180 plantas para observacao, usando esquema fatorial 5 x 2, referente ao esterco bovino liquido (ELB) nas proporcoes em agua (A) de 0% (0ELB + 4A); 25% (1ELB + 3A); 50% (2ELB + 2A); 75% (3ELB + 1A) e 100% (4ELB + 0A), tomando 4 L planta-1 da mistura como volume padrao no solo sem e com nitrogenio, fornecido a cada 30 dias apos o plantio ate o final do experimento. Aos 420 dias apos o plantio foi obtido o diâmetro do caule, contado o numero de ramos produtivos e as plantas foram divididas em raizes, caules, ramos laterais, ramos produtivos e folhas para avaliacao da materia seca das partes constituintes do maracujazeiro amarelo. Pelos resultados se constatou que a interacao esterco liquido bovino x nitrogenio exerceu efeitos significativos sobre o diâmetro do caule, numero de ramos produtivos, biomassa das raizes, do caule, das folhas, dos ramos laterais e dos ramos produtivos, em que os valores na maioria dos casos aumentaram com os percentuais do esterco liquido de bovino, mas com superioridade nos tratamentos com ureia.

ESTIÉRCOL BOVINO LÍQUIDO Y FERTILIZANTES INORGÁNICOS EN EL RENDIMIENTO DE JITOMATE EN UN SISTEMA HIDROPÓNICO

The use of liquid manure as a source of nutrients and water in agricultural production decreases environmental pollution and leads to economic savings for farmers. We compared the use of liquid cattle manure extract (LCME) and chemical fertilizer in nutrient solution, plus their respective water use efficiency index, in tomato (Licopersicon esculentum Mill) production in a hydroponic greenhouse system. Three factors were assessed at two levels: raw and fermented LCME; electrical conductivity (EC) of two solutions (2 and 4 dS∙m-1); and the addition of chemical fertilizers to supplement the LCME solutions. Two treatments with inorganic fertilizers (Steiner’s solution) were added to each EC level as controls. A total of ten treatments were evaluated in a factorial arrangement (23) with eight replications. Results showed higher dry matter (133.9 g∙plant-1) and yield (2,742 g∙plant-1) values in plants irrigated with nutrient solutions with EC of 2 dS∙m-1. The fermented and fertilizer-supplemented LCME solutions had the same behavior as the raw LCME without fertilizers in tomato plant growth and yield in a hydroponic greenhouse system.

Effect of cattle liquid manure fertilization on the yield of grassland and density of soil oribatid mites (Acari, Oribatida)

Effect of cattle liquid manure fertilization on the yield of grassland and density of soil oribatid mites (Acari, Oribatida) The effect of cattle liquid manure without and with Effective Microorganisms (EM) on the hay yield and density of soil Oribatida was investigated in a lowland meadow. Fertilization of the meadow with low and medium doses (30 m3·ha-1 and 60 m3·ha-1) of liquid manure increased the hay yield, more with EM than without them. However, the highest dose (90 m3·ha-1) of fertilizer did not change hay yield, as compared to the control plot. All doses of cattle liquid manure reduced the density of oribatid mites, distinctly more without EM than with them. This suggests a favourable influence of EM on these mites. Among the Oribatida, Liebstadia similis, Scheloribates laevigatus, Eupelops occultus, and Achipteria coleoptrata, were abundant, while other species were infrequent. The community of Oribatida was dominated by adults.

Influence of Liquid Cattle Manure on Micronutrients Content and Uptake by Corn and their Availability in a Calcareous Soil

The effect of soil application of liquid dairy cattle (Bos taurus) manure on Cu, Zn, Fe, Mn, and B content and uptake by corn (Zea mays L.) and their availability in a calcareous soil was studied. The field received 9 yr of liquid cattle manure in two fertilization experiments, initially with winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) (1996–2000), followed by a similar experiment with corn (2002–2006). The treatments, practiced on the same plots every year since 1996, included: (i) soil incorporation of liquid dairy cattle manure before sowing at a rate equivalent to the recommended N‐P inorganic fertilization for each crop; (ii) application of the recommended inorganic N‐P fertilization for each crop, before sowing; (iii) identical to ii, but with split N application; and (iv) no fertilization (control). Surface soil samples were analyzed at the beginning of each corn‐growing season and in the spring of 2007. Corn samples, collected at the R3 growth stage, were also analyzed. The results showed that concentrations of all micronutrients in corn were not affected by fertilization. However, following manure application in 2005 and 2006, micronutrients' uptake by corn was significantly increased compared to the control, and was similar to levels for the inorganic fertilizer treatments. After 9 yr of manure application to soil, DTPA extractable Cu, Zn, and Mn and hot water extractable B were significantly increased. In addition, soil total and dissolved organic C were significantly increased and dissolved organic C was significantly correlated to DTPA extractable metals.