Project Number: 6612-32000-037-00
Project Type: Appropriated

Start Date: Apr 03, 2000
End Date: Apr 02, 2005

Objective:
Prevent transmission of pathogens to the environment and human food from land application of poultry manure. Specifically to; 1) Assess pathogen levels in watersheds and landscapes, 2) Develop methods to collect and identify microbes, 3) Develop systems for handling and application of poultry manure and litter, 4) Elucidate pathogen survival and transport processes and determine filtering efficiency of soils and vegetation, and 5) Assess indirect pathogen risks.

Approach:
With the Poultry Microbiological Safety Research Unit, we will assess pathogen movement in the landscape and develop collaboration with new partners. Existing field sites will be used to determine what organisms are in the environment. Molecular techniques will be explored for source identification of pathogens. Salmonella, Campylobacter and Clostridia will be studied and practices developed to eliminate these pathogens from poultry litter. Impacts of landscape position, vegetation, and soil properties on pathogen persistence and transport will be investigated. Solute transport models will be modified to describe organism movement in surface and subsurface water. Hydrologic models will be linked with baseline data to develop control strategies. After initial studies, analyses will be conducted of indirect risks, such as toxic algae that may result from nutrient-enriched aquatic ecosystems. Previously was 6612-42000-032-00D (10/01).