Soluble salts, copper, zinc, and solids constituents in surface runoff from cattle manure compost windrows

Abstract

Larney, F. J., Olson, A. F., Miller, J. J. and Tovell, B. C. 2014. Soluble salts, copper, zinc, and solids constituents in surface runoff from cattle manure compost windrows. Can. J. Soil Sci. 94: 515–527. Composting has become widely adopted by the beef cattle feedlot industry in southern Alberta. Compost windrows subjected to heavy rainfall can lead to runoff whose properties may vary with compost maturity. A rainfall simulator generated runoff on days 18, 26, 40, 54, 81, 109 and 224 of manure composting. Runoff was collected in timed 5-L increments to 30 L, creating the variable “time during runoff event” (TDRE). Calcium, K and S showed significant maturity×TDRE interactions, especially earlier in the composting process, e.g., on day 18, Ca values increased from 34 mg L−1 for the initial 0- to 5-L runoff increment to 43 mg L−1 for the final 25- to 30-L increment. Most significant changes in runoff concentrations occurred between days 26 and 40, e.g., Cu levels fell by 67% and Zn levels by 78%. Even though compost Cu and Zn concentrations were higher during the latter stages of composting, their transport potential in runoff was curtailed due to binding with stable organic matter (OM). The C:N ratio of runoff solids decreased from 10.5 on day 18 to only 4.9 on day 224, suggesting the transport of very stable OM after compost curing. The study showed that runoff quality was influenced by compost maturity, which has implications for the timing of rainfall events relative to the maturity spectrum and the potential risk to surface water quality if runoff is not contained.

Comparative Genomic Analysis of Mannheimia haemolytica from Bovine Sources

“…Multiple roles have been proposed for multicopper oxidases that include iron transport and copper resistance [ 62 ]. Copper is a trace element added to cattle feed [ 63 ], the vast majority of which, with all other heavy metals, is excreted in faeces and urine [ 64 ]. It is possible the multicopper oxidase is playing a role in copper resistance as a result of environmental exposure.…”

Physical and chemical properties of biochars co-composted with biowastes and incubated with a chicken litter compost

“…The mobility of elements in the composting pile depends on a number of factors e.g., temperature, pH, CEC, composting stage (Larney et al, 2014), mass flow of elements compost pore solution, concentration gradient (that drives diffusion) of elements in compost pore solution (Seymour and Bourdon, 2003), and binding with organic matter that is in solid or solution phase (Leita and De Nobili, 1991;Larney et al, 2014). Moisture (40-60%) is added to feedstocks to mainly favor the growth of microbial population.…”

Copper and Zinc Runoff from Land Application of Composted Poultry Litter

“…These results potentially show that the compost in Year 2 may have been more mature and stable than that in Year 1. Larney et al (2014) reported significant decreases in Cu and Zn concentrations in runoff water from composting feedlot manure windrows, whereas total metal concentration in the compost remained similar, indicating stabilization with more stable organic matter.…”