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Efforts to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from cattle production have led to modifications of livestock diet composition aimed at reducing CH4 emissions from enteric fermentation. These diet modifications can result in varied manure types that may differentially affect GHG emissions when applied to soil. The purpose of this experiment was to examine the effect of different manure types on GHG emissions. We conducted an incubation experiment, comparing the manure from livestock fed a corn-based diet (CM) to that from livestock fed a traditional barley-based diet (BM). The manures were applied to three soil types (with varied soil fertility and pH) and compared to a control (without manure application). Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions were greater from CM than from BM across all soil types (29.1 and 14.7 mg CO2-C kg−1, respectively). However, CM resulted in lower N2O emissions relative to BM in the low fertility soil (4.21 and 72.67 μg N2O-N kg−1, respectively) and in lower CH4 emissions relative to BM in the two acidic soils (0.5 and 2.5 μg CH4-C kg−1, respectively). Total GHG emissions (sum of CO2, N2O, and CH4) were similar between CM and BM across all soil types, but CM (unlike BM) had 52–66% lower emissions in the low fertility soil relative to both CM and BM in the high fertility soil. Our study shows that manure and soil type interact to affect GHG emissions and that CM may mitigate N2O emissions relative to BM when applied to low fertility soils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We analyzed soil prokaryotic and fungal community composition in soils with varying histories of cattle manure application. The manure treatments were (i) annual application for 43 years (MF), (ii) annual application for 14 years followed by 29 years without application (MF14), and (iii) annual application for 30 years followed by 13 years without application (MF30). An annual application of chemical nitrogen (N) fertilizer (CNF) and a non-amended control (Con) were also included. Soil prokaryotic evenness and diversity significantly decreased in MF relative to other treatments in fall, but were similar to the other fertilizer treatments in spring and summer. Distinct prokaryotic and fungal community composition was observed in MF compared to other treatments across fall, spring, and summer seasons. The MF treatment significantly increased the relative abundance of Firmicutes, Gammaproteobacteria, and Gemmatimonadetes, but significantly decreased the relative abundance of Acidobacteria. In fall, the soil prokaryotic and fungal community composition with MF30 was significantly different than the other fertilization treatments. Overall, the study showed that annual manure application (MF) led to a different microbial community composition than the other fertilizer treatments. Soil without manure application for 13 years (MF30) had a significantly different microbial community composition from other fertilizer treatments in fall, while the soil without manure application for 29 years (MF14) resembled a microbial community that had never received manure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated whether nitrification inhibitor nitrapyrin can reduce nutrient leaching and increase nutrient uptake by corn (Zea maysL.) in cattle manure amended soil. Amendments included non-amended check (CK), urea (Urea), REG (manure from cattle fed barley grain), and DDGS (manure from cattle fed 60% dried distillers grains with solubles), co-applied with or without nitrapyrin and leached or unleached with water. Nitrapyrin reduced (P < 0.01) leaching of nitrate by 56, 32, and 24% from DDGS, REG, and Urea treatments, respectively, and also reduced (P < 0.05) leaching of phosphate (58%), potassium (39%), calcium (39%), and magnesium (39%) from DDGS treatment. While nitrapyrin reduces the rate of ammonium conversion to nitrate, higher magnesium and phosphate levels in DDGS-amended soil favor struvite formation and reduce their leaching. Corn biomass and nutrient uptake were higher (P < 0.01) in DDGS and Urea than CK and REG treatments, but remained unaffected by nitrapyrin. The benefits of nitrapyrin should be further investigated under field conditions. Abbreviations: DCD, dicyandiamide; DDGS, dried distillers grains with solubles; NI, nitrification inhibitor; TP, total P; TN, total N. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The microbial fermentation of plant feed by ruminants produces enteric methane (CH 4), a potent greenhouse gas. Supplementing ruminant diets with an experimental methane inhibitor, 3-nitrooxypropanol (3-NOP), has been shown to decrease enteric CH 4 production, but the effect of manure from these cattle on the soil microbiome has not been studied. In 2017 and 2018, we examined the effects of stockpiled manure and composted manure from cattle fed 3-NOP supplement alone or in combination with monensin (an ionophore) on soil permanganate-oxidizable C, microbial biomass C (MBC), the composition and diversity of prokaryotic and fungal communities, and the activities of β - glucosidase (C cycling) , N- acetyl - β-glucosaminidase (C and N cycling), acid and alkaline phosphomonoesterases (P cycling), and arylsuphatase (S cycling) in a forage cropping system. Stockpiled or composted manure from cattle fed 3-NOP increased MBC in 2017, fungal α-diversity in 2018 and the relative abundance of Actinobacteriota , but it decreased the relative abundances of Acidobacteriota and Basidiomycota , relative to stockpiled or composted manure from cattle that were not fed 3-NOP. In 2017, relative to the conventional stockpiled manure, 3-NOP in stockpiled manure increased the activities of N -acetyl-β-glucosaminidase and acid phosphomonoesterase, but these effects were not observed for composted manure. Monensin, when used in combination with 3-NOP, did not affect any of the soil parameters measured in this study. The core microbiome found in 90 % of the soil samples included the bacterial and fungal genera Vicinamibacteraceae and Solicoccozyma , respectively. Therefore, 3-NOP manure or compost altered the composition of the soil microbiome, and the 3-NOP in stockpiled manure increased the potential activities of enzymes involved in C-and-N and P cycling in the first year of the study, and fungal α-diversity in the second year, but no negative or persistent effects of 3-NOP on enzyme activities were observed. • Supplementing ruminant diets with 3-nitrooxypropanol (3-NOP) decreases enteric CH 4 production. • We studied the effect of stockpiled or composted manure from cattle fed with 3-NOP supplement (NOP manure) on the soil microbiome in two years. • NOP manure increased microbial biomass C in one year, fungal α-diversity in another year, and the relative abundance of Actinobacteriota. • NOP manure decreased the relative abundances of Acidobacteriota and Basidiomycota. • In one year, NOP in stockpiled manure, but not composted manure, increased the activities of enzymes that mediate C-and-N and P cycling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Manure can be a source of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) that enter the soil. However, previous studies assessing ARG persistence in soil have generally lacked continuity over sampling times, consistency of location, and assessing the impact of discontinuing manure application. We evaluated both short- and long-term ARG accumulation dynamics in soil with a 40-year known history of manure use. Manure application caused a greater abundance of tetracycline, macrolide, and sulfonamide ARGs in the soil. There was an initial spike in ARG abundance resulting from manure bacteria harboring ARGs being introduced to soil, followed by resident soil bacteria out-competing them, which led to ARG dissipation within a year. However, over four decades, annual manure application caused linear or exponential ARG accumulation, and bacteria associated with ARGs differed compared to those in the short term. Eleven years after discontinuing manure application, most soil ARG levels declined but remained elevated. We systematically explored the historical accumulation of ARGs in manured soil, and provide insight into factors that affect their persistence. [Display omitted] • Long- and short-term manure application effects on soil ARG dynamics were evaluated. • 43 years of annual manure application caused linear or exponential ARG accumulation. • ARG abundance generally decreased when manure application was discontinued. • ARG abundance increased immediately and peaked 12 days after manure application. • Bacteria associated with ARGs differed with long and short- term manure application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agricultural operations generate large quantities of manure which must be eliminated in a manner that is consistent with public health guidelines. Meanwhile, construction and demolition waste makes up about 25% of total solid municipal waste. Co-composting of manure with construction and demolition waste offers a potential means to make manure safe for soil amendment and also divert construction and demolition waste from municipal landfills. Therefore, the archaeal, bacterial, and fungal microbiota of two different types of composted cattle manure and one co-composted with construction and demolition waste, were assessed over a 99-day composting period. The microbiota of the three compost mixtures did not differ, but significant changes over time and by sampling depth were observed. Bacillus and Halocella, however, were more relatively abundant in composted manure from cattle fed dried distillers’ grains and solubles. Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes were enriched at day 0 and Firmicutes at day 99. The fungal genus Kernia was the most relatively abundant overall and was enriched at day 0. The concentration of 12 antimicrobial resistance determinants in the compost mixtures was also determined, and 10 of these determinants decreased significantly from days 0 to 99. The addition of construction and demolition waste did not affect the persistence of antimicrobial resistance genes or community structure of the compost microbiota and therefore co-composting construction and demolition waste with cattle manure offers a safe, viable way to divert this waste from landfills. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated CO2and N2O emissions from soil receiving long-term cattle feedlot manure applications under rainfed and irrigated conditions in semi-arid southern Alberta, Canada. Soil available N and CO2and N2O fluxes were measured after fall crop harvesting and prior to next spring's seeding from plots that had received 0 and 60 t ha−1yr−1cattle feedlot manure application with (Mi0 and Mi60) or without irrigation (Mr0 and Mr60) for 27 years. Both CO2and N2O fluxes varied considerably over the 7-month nongrowing season. Cumulative CO2emissions from manured treatments (Mr60 at 2.20 t ha−1and Mi60 at 2.36 t ha−1) were 2.6 times values from nonmanured treatments (Mr0 at 0.83 t ha−1and Mi0 at 0.92 t ha−1). Similarly, cumulative N2O emission from manured treatments (Mr60 at 4.54 kg ha−1and Mi60 at 5.34 kg ha−1) were 8–12 times values from nonmanured treatments (Mr0 at 0.40 kg ha−1and Mi0 at 0.70 kg ha−1). Growing season irrigation had no effect on CO2and N2O emission over the nongrowing season. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Livestock manure applied to agricultural land is one of the ways natural steroid estrogens enter soils. To examine the impact of long-term solid beef cattle (Bos Taurus) manure on soil properties and 17β-estradiol sorption and mineralization, this study utilized a soil that had received beef cattle manure over 35 years. The 17β-estradiol was strongly sorbed and sorption significantly increased (P < 0.05) with increasing soil organic carbon content (SOC) and with an increasing annual rate of beef cattle manure. The 17β-estradiol mineralization half-life was significantly negatively correlated, and the total amount of 17β-estradiol mineralized at 90 days (MAX) was significantly positively correlated with 17β-estradiol sorption. The long-term rate of manure application had no significant effect on MAX, but the addition of fresh beef cattle manure in the laboratory resulted in significantly (P < 0.05) smaller MAX values. None of the treatments showed MAX values exceeding one-third of the 17β-estradiol applied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Dried distillers’ grain with solubles (DDGS) is becoming a valuable livestock feed with implications for manure composition. This study investigated nutrient uptake by barley (Hordeum vulgare) forage in a growth chamber and accumulation in soil amended with two manure types: from DDGS-fed cattle (DDGS) or grain-fed cattle (REG) at 0, 30, 60, 120 and 180Mgha−1 yr−1. There was also a commercial fertilizer (FERT) and un-amended control (Check). Barley was grown and harvested six-times successively from soil receiving either one-time or six-repeated amendment applications over 297-d. Regardless of application regime, soil N, Ca, K and Mg contents in DDGS were similar to those in REG. Soil total-P (TP) and available-P (AP) contents were higher (p <0.05) in DDGS (except for <60Mg DDGS manure ha−1 yr−1 at one-time application for TP) than REG, Check and FERT. Barley N and P removal from DDGS were 1.3 and 2.3 times those from REG and 1.8 and 11.8 times those from Check. Although higher (p <0.05) barley yields were observed in DDGS than REG and Check, including DDGS in cattle rations may require increasing land area for manure application due to its higher TP content which poses a risk of P environmental pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The emission of greenhouse gases (GHG) during feedlot manure composting reduces the agronomic value of the final compost and increases the greenhouse effect A study was conducted to determine whether GHG emissions are affected by composting method. Feedlot cattle manure was composted with two aeration methods—passive (no turning) and active (turned six times). Carbon lost in the forms of CO2 and CH4 was 73.8 and 6.3 kg C Mg−1 manure for the passive aeration treatment and 168.0 and 8.1 kg C Mg−1 manure for the active treatment. The N loss in the form of N2O was 0.11 and 0.19 kg N Mg−1 manure for the passive and active treatments. Fuel consumption to turn and maintain the windrow added a further 4.4 kg C Mg−1 manure for the active aeration treatment. Since CH4 and N2O are 21 and 310 times more harmful than CO2 in their global warming effect, the total GHG emission expressed as CO2–C equivalent was 240.2 and 401.4 kg C Mg−1 manure for passive and active aeration. The lower emission associated with the passive treatment was mainly due to the incomplete decomposition of manure and a lower gas diffusion rate. In addition, turning affected N transformation and transport in the windrow profile, which contributed to higher N2O emissions for the active aeration treatment. Gas diffusion is an important factor controlling GHG emissions. Higher GHG concentrations in compost windrows do not necessarily mean higher production or emission rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurate estimates of manure-induced carbon retention coefficients (MCR) in soil are required when assessing carbon (C) storage and the C footprint in agricultural production systems. Eight field studies using various types and rates of manure applications on different crop rotations with durations varying from 10 to 74 years were used to quantify MCRs across diverse climatic conditions in Canada. The rate of solid cattle and swine manure had no impact on MCR which averaged 26%, whereas the MCR for liquid manure, including swine and cattle liquid manures, was much smaller, at only 5%. Under semi-arid conditions, irrigation had no impact on MCR. Compared to stockpiled manures, composted manure had a higher MCR (~36%), due to the additional stabilization of C during the composting process. The MCRs can be effectively stratified based on the type of manure affecting soil organic C differently, and the approach has potential application in regional and national estimates of soil C storage in Canada and elsewhere. • Manure application impacted soil organic carbon storage. • Manure-induced C retention coefficient (MCR) varied with type of manure. • Fresh solid cattle manure had MCR of 26% while composted manure had MCR of 36%. • The rate of fresh solid cattle manure had no impact on MCR • MCR from liquid manure, including swine and cattle, was much smaller, at only 5%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cattle production is a large source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the Canadian livestock sector. Efforts to reduce CH4 emissions from enteric fermentation have led to modifications of diet composition for livestock, resulting in a corresponding change in manure properties. We studied the effect of applying manure from cattle fed a barley-based diet with and without the methane inhibitor supplement, 3-nitrooxypropanol (3-NOP), on soil GHG emissions. Three soils common to Alberta, Canada, were used: a Black Chernozem, a Dark Brown Chernozem, and a Gray Luvisol. We compared the supplemented (3-NOPM) and non-supplemented manure (BM) amendments to a composted 3-NOPM (3-NOPC) amendment and a control with no manure amendment (CK). In an 84-day laboratory incubation experiment, 3-NOPM had significantly lower cumulative CO2 emissions compared to BM in both the Black Chernozem and Gray Luvisol. The cumulative N2O emissions were lowest for 3-NOPC and CK and highest for 3-NOPM across all soil types. Cumulative CH4 emissions were only affected by soil type, with a net positive flux from the fine-textured Gray Luvisol and Dark Brown Chernozem and a net negative flux from the coarse-textured Black Chernozem. Cumulative anthropogenic GHG emissions (CO2-equivalent) from soil amended with 3-NOPM were significantly higher than those for both BM and CK amendments in the Black Chernozem, while the cumulative anthropogenic GHG emissions from the 3-NOPC treatment were similar to or significantly lower than those for the BM and CK treatments across all soil types. We conclude that soil GHG emissions resulting from the 3-NOPM amendment are dependent on soil type and 3-NOPM could potentially increase soil GHG emissions compared to BM or CK. Although we show that the composting of 3-NOPM prior to soil application can reduce soil GHG emissions, the composting process also releases GHGs, which should also be considered in assessing the life-cycle of manure application. Our results provide a first look at the potential effect of the next stage in the life cycle of 3-NOP on GHG emissions. Further research related to the effect of soil properties, particularly in field studies, is needed to assess the best management practices related to the use of manure from cattle-fed diets supplemented with 3-NOP as a soil amendment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A correction is presented to a calculation error during conversion of the N2O–N to CO2–C equivalent, which appeared within the issue of the periodical.

Abstract: Biohydrogen production from the anaerobic digestion of specified risk materials (SRM) co-digested with cattle manure was assessed in a 3×5 factorial design. Total organic loading rates (OLR) of 10, 20, and 40gL−1 volatile solids (VS) were tested using manure:SRM (wt/wt) mixtures of 100:0 (control), 90:10, 80:20, 60:40, and 50:50 using five 2L continuously stirred biodigesters operating at 55°C. Gas samples were taken daily to determine hydrogen production, and slurry samples were analyzed daily for volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentration, total ammonia nitrogen (TAN), and VS degradation. Hydrogen production (mLg−1 VS fed) varied quadratically according to OLR (P <0.01), with maximum production at OLR20, while production decreased linearly (P <0.0001) as SRM concentration increased. Reduced hydrogen production associated with SRM inclusion at >10% VS may be attributed to a rapid increase in TAN (r =−0.55) or other inhibitors such as long chain fatty acids. Reduced hydrogen production (P <0.01) at OLR40 versus OLR20 may be related to increased rate of VFA accumulation and final VFA concentration (P <0.001), as well as inhibition due to hydrogen accumulation (P <0.001). Biohydrogen production from SRM co-digested with cattle manure may not be feasible on an industrial scale due to reduced hydrogen production with increasing levels of SRM. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Hydrogen production from the anaerobic fermentation of feedlot cattle manure was examined in batch cultures over a temperature range from 36 to 60°C at a pH of 5.2. The amount of hydrogen produced increased with temperature to a maximum of 65LH2 kgTS−1 at 52°C. At temperatures>52°C, acetate was the main volatile fatty acid (VFA) accumulated, while at <52°C butyrate accumulated the most. Formate was detected in the 56 and 60°C treatments but was absent in all others. Thermophilic conditions resulted in the highest hydrogen production rates, with maximum hydrogen production occurring 52°C. Changing incubation temperature by small (4°C) increments up or down from 52°C resulted in changes in the metabolic flux (conversion of substrate to VFA and gaseous products) of the anaerobic digestion system. These findings indicate that the hydrogen production potential of anaerobic systems utilizing heat treated cattle manure as inoculum is affected greatly by incubation temperature. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]