Hydraulic conductivity reduction due to ponded hog manure

Abstract

Hydraulic conductivity reduction due to ponded hog manure. Can. Agric. Eng. 42:157-163. Results are presented from a study concerning the reduction in soil hydraulic conductivity due to ponded hog manure. Of specific interest is how much of the reduction is ‘at the soil surface’ as opposed to within the soil. Seven different soils with clay contents ranging from 9 to 33 % were studied using 200 mm long soil columns in a low-temperature (5-6ºC) environment. Hydraulic conductivities, as measured with water, ranged between 3.0 x 10-8 and 1.3 x 10-6 m/s before manure application. Fresh hog manure was ponded on these soil columns for a period of 634 days. Hydraulic conductivity, for all soils, decreased rapidly to about 1.0 x 10-9 m/s and maintained this value except during the time of failure of the cooling system. A black layer was observed to have developed at the manure-soil interface of all columns within 36 hours of manure ponding. Visual observations conducted between days 136 and 618 showed that the black layer grew