Strong acid extracts from raw and treated pig slurries were highly inhibitory to the germination and root growth of barley and wheat. While the activity of the extracts reflected the level of phenolic acids therein, the possibility of other substances contributing to this activity cannot be excluded. Tests with pure compounds showed that certain individual phenolic acids identified in pig slurries inhibited germination and root growth but at higher concentrations than previously reported. Of the treatment systems studied, aeration of pig slurry was the most effective in removing the inhibitory activity associated with extracts.
Thin-layer chromatography of extracts of raw and treated pig slurries revealed the presence of phenolic acids. The number of phenolic acids present in raw slurry was reduced considerably by aeration and, to a smaller extent, by treatment with hydrogen peroxide; anaerobic storage and digestion proved ineffective for the removal of phenolic acids from pig slurry.
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