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Trace elements in feed, manure, and manured soils.

S C Sheppard1, B Sanipelli

  • 1ECOMatters Inc, Canada. sheppards@ecomatters.com

Journal of Environmental Quality
|November 7, 2012
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Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Animal manure can contain high levels of trace elements like zinc and copper. Long-term application of this manure to soil may lead to accumulation, potentially exceeding safe concentrations for soil health.

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Area of Science:

  • Agricultural Science
  • Environmental Chemistry
  • Soil Science

Background:

  • Modern animal feeds and pharmaceuticals supplement livestock diets with essential and non-essential trace elements (e.g., Cu, P, Se, Zn, As, Bi).
  • Trace elements can also be inadvertently introduced into animal systems through feed or manure.
  • Concerns exist regarding the long-term accumulation of trace elements in soils amended with animal manure, potentially surpassing safe environmental guidelines.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To quantify the concentrations of approximately 60 elements in manure and feed samples from various livestock operations.
  • To assess the potential for trace element accumulation in manured soils compared to unmanured soils.
  • To evaluate the implications of manure's elemental composition, particularly Cu/P and Zn/P ratios, on soil accumulation.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of ~60 elements in 124 manure samples from diverse livestock (broiler, layer, turkey, swine, dairy, beef).
  • Analysis of corresponding feed samples to determine manure/feed concentration ratios.
  • Measurement of total trace element concentrations in soil profiles of 10 manured and 10 adjacent unmanured sites.

Main Results:

  • Manure generally exhibited 2- to 5-fold higher element concentrations compared to feed, with consistent manure/feed ratios across many elements.
  • Elevated concentrations of several elements, notably zinc (Zn) and phosphorus (P), were detected in manured soils.
  • Boron (B) concentrations in one dairy soil sample exceeded established soil health guidelines.

Conclusions:

  • Manure application can lead to the accumulation of trace elements in agricultural soils.
  • The elevated Cu/P and Zn/P ratios in manure suggest these elements will accumulate in soil, even when P application is managed.
  • Long-term soil health may be impacted by trace element buildup from repeated manure amendments.