Improving soils with livestock manure

Abstract

LIVESTOCK manure can benefit soils and plants beyond its ability to supply nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and micronutrients. For example, manure may improve such soil physical properties as porosity, soil structure, water infiltration rate, and moisture retention capacity. In selecting manure application rates that can benefit soils, however, the possibility of increased salinity must be considered. Manure effects on soil properties Soil structure. Improvements in soil physical structure resulting from the continued use of manure and other soil amendments may not be evident after one or two growing seasons ( 1 ). Microorganisms and the products of organic matter decomposition help soil particles form larger soil aggregates (1, 24). Larger aggregates provide more large pores, which permit the rapid transfer of oxygen and water into the root zone. Several decades ago, researchers found that manure increases the aggregate stability of soils, which improves the water infiltration ...