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ARS Home » Midwest Area » West Lafayette, Indiana » National Soil Erosion Research Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #357865
Title: Soil surface sealing by liquid dairy manure as analysed by X-ray computed tomography

Author
item FERNANDA CHEROBIM, VEREDIANA - Universidade Federal Do Parana
item FAVARETTO, NERILDE - Universidade Federal Do Parana
item DE FREITAS MELO, VANDER - Universidade Federal Do Parana
item B. RUMBELSPERGER, ANELIZE - Universidade Federal Do Parana
item Huang, Chi Hua

Submitted to: Agricultural Water Management
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/27/2018
Publication Date: 12/1/2018
Publication URL: https://handle.nal.usda.gov/10113/6542236
Citation: Fernanda Cherobim, V., Favaretto, N., De Freitas Melo, V., B. Rumbelsperger, A., Huang, C. 2018. Soil surface sealing by liquid dairy manure as analysed by X-ray computed tomography. Agricultural Water Management. 213:742-748.

Interpretive Summary: Using animal manures as plant nutrients in agricultural production is a common practice around the world. However, the effects of surface-applied liquid dairy manures (LDM) on soil properties are not well investigated. This research used X-ray computed tomography, a technology to measure the soil pore geometry after LDM application on two soils, a clayey and a sandy clay loam. Two mechanisms that may cause the clogging of surface soils: by physical clogging from solids in the LDM or by chemical dispersion of clays due to electrolytes in the LDM. Results showed that the porosity in the top 1-mm layer of the soil was reduced by 25% with the LDM containing 4.3% solid materials while the porosity reduction was only 5% with filtered LDM, i.e., without solids. Both soils showed a similar degree of pore clogging. This means physical pore clogging by solid particles in the liquid manure was the main process of soil surface sealing after LDM application. Dairy operators or land managers need to be aware of the surface sealing effects from surface application of LDM as it may cause soil sealing, hence an increased runoff and erosion during rainfall events after LDM application.

Technical Abstract: The application of animal manure in agricultural production is common around the world. Nevertheless, the effects of surface-applied liquid manures on soil properties are not well investigated. The purpose of this research was to use X-ray computed tomography to assess near-soil surface porosity and to evaluate the thickness of the sealing caused by physical and chemical mechanisms after liquid dairy manure (LDM) application in clayey and sandy clay loam soils. The treatments included application of LDM with 4.3% total solids to determine physical and chemical mechanisms and application of LDM with 0% total solids (filtered) to determine the chemical mechanism of surface sealing. Image analysis obtained by X-ray microtomography was performed before LDM application and 24 hours and 7 days after LDM application. Porosity was quantified for each 1-mm layer of the soil. Soil porosity was reduced mainly in the first 5 mm of depth, and this reduction was more distinct in the first 1-mm layer, independent of the soil texture. The decrease in soil porosity in the first mm after application of LDM with 4.3% total solids, at 24 hours and 7 days, was around 25 and 6%, respectively, compared with the treatment before LDM application. After application of LDM with 0% total solids, the decrease in soil porosity in the first 1-mm layer at 24 hours and 7 days was around 5 and 4%, respectively. Physical pore clogging by solid particles from manure was the main process (around 80%) of soil surface sealing after LDM application.