Project Number: 6406-12630-006-12
Project Type: Reimbursable

Start Date: Mar 15, 2010
End Date: Aug 14, 2012

Objective:
(1) To determine inactivation rates for microbial parameters as related to manure or biosolids waste matrix. (2) To determine inactivation rates for microbial parameters as related to soil type (sandy loam versus clay) and management plan (i.e. immediate incorporation versus delayed incorporation).

Approach:
This study aims to determine survival (inactivation) rates associated with Salmonella, Escherichia coli 015:H7, Listeria monocytogenes, and Campylobacter jejuni in soils applied with either mesophilically anaerobically digested Class B biosolids or bovine, ovine, and poultry manure. In addition, norovirus will also be included. Inactivation rates and times will be related to established USDA-AMS and USEPA regulations for the land application of manure and biosolids to soils intended for the growth of food crops, respectively. Briefly, soils will be applied and incorporated (mixed in) or delayed incorporated with manure and biosolids at agronomic rates as dictated by soil test results. These organic fertilizers will be inoculated with approximately 10 6 cfu or viral genomic units per g and applied to soil microcosms. Microcosms will be followed through time, and samples will be collected intensively at times of 0, 7, 14, 21, and 30 days, followed by less intensive collections. Microbial measurement will comprise cultural methods involving dilution and plating for the first four sample periods. In addition to the cultural methods, direct real-time (quantitative) polymerase chain reaction (RTiPCR) will also be used. Inactivation rates for each respective organism and soil type or waste will be determined.