Bacterial contamination of tile drainage water and shallow groundwater under different application methods of liquid swine manure

Abstract

A 2 year field experiment evaluated liquid manure application methods on the movement of manure-borne pathogens (Salmonella sp.) and indicator bacteria (Escherichia coli and Clostridium perfringens) to subsurface water. A combination of application methods including surface application, pre-application tillage, and post-application incorporation were applied in a randomized complete block design on an instrumented field site in spring 2007 and 2008. Tile and shallow groundwater were sampled immediately after manure application and after rainfall events. Bacterial enumeration from water samples showed that the surface-applied manure resulted in the highest concentration of E. coli in tile drainage water. Pre-tillage significantly (p < 0.05) reduced the movement of manure-based E. coli and C. perfringens to tile water and to shallow groundwater within 3 days after manure application (DAM) in 2008 and within 10 DAM in 2007. Pre-tillage also decreased the occurrence of Salmonella sp. in tile water samples. Indicator bacteria and pathogens reached nondetectable levels within 50 DAM. The results suggest that tillage before application of liquid swine manure can minimize the movement of bacteria to tile and groundwater, but is effective only for the drainage events immediately after manure application or initial rainfall-associated drainage flows. Furthermore, the study highlights the strong association between bacterial concentrations in subsurface waters and rainfall timing and volume after manure application.

Effects of tillage and poultry manure application rates on Salmonella and fecal indicator bacteria concentrations in tiles draining Des Moines Lobe soils

“…The results of this study are consistent with previous studies which report increased concentrations of bacteria in tiles lines under NT plots when compared to tilled plots (Pappas et al, 2008;Samarajeewa et al, 2012;Hoang et al, 2013). However, bacteria concentrations observed in tile-waters below NT plots with PM2 treatment in this study were substantially higher than previously reported from swine manure amended plots (Garder et al, 2014).…”

“…Previous studies report increased concentrations of manure-derived bacteria in tiles lines under NT plots when compared to tilled plots (Pappas et al, 2008;Samarajeewa et al, 2012;Hoang et al, 2013). All three studies hypothesized that increased macroporosity in NT plots was the cause of these differences; however, it is important to consider other possible explanations for these differences.…”

“…Timing of manure application relative to precipitation has been shown to play an important role in determining transport to drainage tiles (Samarajeewa et al, 2012). Recent studies of PMamended soils have reported survival of FIB and pathogens for weeks and months after application (Rogers et al, 2011;Cook et al, 2014), highlighting the potential for continued release of bacteria to subsurface waters.…”

Salmonella and Fecal Indicator Bacteria Survival in Soils Amended with Poultry Manure

“…In addition, various common agricultural practices, such as storage practices, method of application, timing of application, and tillage practices, have been shown to impact bacterial survival and must be considered (Hutchison et al 2004b;Arrus et al 2006;Coelho et al 2007;Semenov et al 2009;Samarajeewa et al 2012;Amin et al 2013;Hoang et al 2013). While numerous studies have documented persistence of SALM, and other pathogens in soils amended with swine and bovine manures, fewer have evaluated bacterial survival on artificially drained glacial till-derived soils (Gessel et al 2004;Rogers et al 2011;Samarajeewa et al 2012;Hoang et al 2013;Garder et al 2014). Islam et al (2004) observed longer survival times of SALM in soils amended with composted PM in comparison to composts from other manure sources; however, studies of untreated PM are rare.…”

Impact of manure storage conditions and time on decomposition and losses from liquid dairy manure stored in a temperate climate

“…Incidentally, animal manures have been identified as a leading cause of pathogen contamination of streams and rivers in United States (Soupir et al 2006). For example, Samarajeewa et al (2012) found E. coli and C. perfringens in shallow groundwater and tile drainage water samples within 3-10 days of applying swine manure to loamy soil in southern Ontario. The practice of injecting manure into the soil as a mean to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and nutrient losses may increase survival times of pathogens after manure application (Hodgson et al 2016).…”