HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Mullins, G. L. Articles by Hallock, D. L. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Mullins, G. L. Articles by Hallock, D. L. Agricola Articles by Mullins, G. L. Articles by Hallock, D. L.

Copper Availability, Form, and Mobility in Soils from Three Annual Copper-Enriched Hog Manure Applications¹

ABSTRACT

Relatively high Cu concentrations occur in manure from hogs fed growth-stimulating Cu levels. Concern exists that detrimental effects may occur in crop production from incorporation of the Cu-enriched hog manure into agricultural soils. This research was conducted during three growth seasons to evaluate effects of Cu-enriched hog manure applications on Cu availability, form, and mobility in one Alfisol and two Ultisols. Five field treatments applied to the three soils annually for 3 years were 33.6 and 67.2 metric tons/ha of wet manure from hogs on high-Cu diets, Cu levels as CuSO₄ equivalent to that in the manure, and a control. Copper concentrations in the hog feed ranged from 178 to 261 ppm during the 3 years. Amounts of Cu in manure used in the field experiments varied with Cu concentrations in the feed and ranged from 899 to 1,398 ppm. From 55.6 to 65.6 kg/ha Cu were incorporated into the soils over the 3-years at the 67.2-metric ton/ha manure rate. Application of these levels of Cu as either CuSO₄ or Cu-enriched hog manure did not decrease corn (Zea mays L.) grain yields on the three soils. In some cases, the Cu applications caused relatively small increases in Cu concentrations in corn ear leaves and grain. Diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA)-extractable Cu data indicated that downward movement of Cu from Cu-enriched hog manure application occurred in only one of the three soils. This soil contained relatively low amounts of clay and free Fe and Mn. Sequential Cu extraction data indicated that the applied Cu increased the potentially plant-available soil Cu fractions and that a portion of the applied Cu reverted to relatively plant-unavailable soil Cu forms.

Key Words: Cu fractionation • DTPA-extractable Cu • heavy metals • manure disposal

¹ Contribution of the Departments of Agronomy and Animal Science, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061, and the Tidewater Research & CEC, Suffolk, VA 23437. This research was supported in part by the International Copper Research Association, Inc.

² Graduate Research Assistant, Professor, Graduate Research Assistant (now Assistant Professor of Agronomy, Univ. of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602), Professor of Animal Science, and Professor of Agronomy, respectively, Virginia Polytechnic Inst. and State Univ.

Received for publication August 22, 1981.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				M. B. Benke, S. P. Indraratne, X. Hao, C. Chang, and T. B. Goh Trace Element Changes in Soil after Long-Term Cattle Manure Applications J. Environ. Qual., May 1, 2008; 37(3): 798 - 807. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]