Management of Manure Taking into Account of E.coli Loss from Farmland

Abstract

Manure fermented insufficiently includes pathogen such as E.coli threatens the environment and human health. Thus, a proper management of the excrement is an important issue. In addition, E.coli can be easily transported by surface runoff or percolation from farmland where manure had been applied. So, the loss of E.coli from farmlands and its survival limit in manure are big concern from the viewpoints of environmental conservation. Model experiments were conducted under artificial rainfall simulator to investigate E.coli loss. Slope plots were filled with soil and then applied 3 types of manure; fresh cow dung, manures fermented for 14 days and 60 days. It was proven that E.coli losses occurred even from the manure which was fermented for 60 days. In addition, to acquire a proper treatment of manures, the experiments were conducted to investigate the survival limit of E.coli in the manure. It was observed that E.coli vanished at the temperature higher than 60 degrees Celsius. Furthermore, the reduction of water content was not enough to eliminate E.coli. So, it became clear that controlling temperature of manure is important for vanishing E.coli existing in manures.