Pathogen Runoff From Small Plots Fertilized with Poultry Litter.

Animal manure, such as poultry litter, has been implicated in the contamination of surface water resources with pathogens, however, scant data exists on the fate and transport of bacterial pathogens from fields fertilized with manure.  The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of various poultry litter treatments on pathogen (Salmonella and Campylobacter) runoff.  Rainfall simulations were conducted on small plots cropped to tall fescue.  The treatments were: (1) unfertilized controls, (2) one ton/acre poultry litter, (3) two tons/acre poultry litter, (4) four tons/acre poultry litter, (5) two tons alum-treated litter/acre, (6) two tons deep stacked litter/acre, and (7) two tons composted litter/acre.  Each of the treatments were replicated three times in a randomized block experiment.  Rainfall simulations were conducted 1, 8 and 15 days after fertilization at a rate of 5 cm/hr for sufficient duration to cause 30 minutes of runoff.  Runoff samples were analyzed for indicator organisms in addition to the pathogens.  None of the runoff samples were positive for Campylobacter.   However, Salmonella was detected in runoff from some of the plots, including unfertilized control plots, indicating that it may have originated from sources other than the applied litter.