Objetivou-se avaliar os efeitos do uso de sulfato de alumínio, da densidade de alojamento e de estratégias nutricionais sobre índices produtivos, econômicos e qualidade de carne na produção de frangos de corte. Foram conduzidos dois experimentos, nos quais: Experimento I (EI) Objetivou-se avaliar os efeitos das doses de sulfato de alumínio [Al2(SO4)3 18 H2O] - (0, 200, 400 e 600 g/m2) no tratamento da cama aviária e da taxa de lotação (8 e 9 aves/m2). Foi avaliadas na cama, a amônia volatilizada, pH, teor de matéria-seca e nitrogênio, além do desempenho das aves, rendimento de carcaça, cortes (peito e coxa-sobrecoxa), ocorrência de lesão de peito e pododermatite e qualidade da carne (pH, cor, perdas totais por cozimento, maciez objetiva e análise sensorial). No Experimento II (EII) os objetivos foram avaliar os efeitos da inclusão dietética de fitase (1.000 FTU/kg de ração) e da redução do nível de proteína bruta (um ponto percentual) nas dietas de frangos criados em cama tratada ou não com sulfato de alumínio (1.568 g/m2). Além das análises citadas anteriormente, objetivou-se avaliar o aspecto microbiológico das carcaças de frango e propor uma estimativa econômica do poder fertilizante da cama aviária. Foi realizada a análise da viabilidade econômica do uso do sulfato de alumínio, da fitase e da redução do nível proteico da dieta na produção avícola. (EI) As doses de sulfato de alumínio e as taxas de lotação influenciaram as características da cama, reduzindo os valores de pH e minimizando a quantidade de amônia volatilizada. A melhor dose de sulfato de alumínio foi de 400 g/m2 independente da lotação adotada. As doses de sulfato de alumínio avaliadas não influenciaram o desempenho das aves, que foi afetado negativamente pelo aumento da densidade. Observou-se efeito significativo da interação sulfato de alumínio × taxa de lotação (P = 0,0094) sobre o rendimento de carcaça. O teste afetivo mostrou que o sulfato de alumínio não influenciou a aceitabilidade dos consumidores pela carne de frango. A análise economica demonstrou que a margem bruta aumentou quando a lotação foi de nove aves/m2 já que o peso do lote é maior. (EII) A aplicação do sulfato de alumínio na cama aviária reduziu os valores de pH e consequentemente a amonia volatilizada. Além disso, a baixa PB e a fitase reduziram o pH e a amônia também. O sulfato de alumínio (1.568 g/m2) reduz a emissão de amônia e as perdas de N da cama. Valorar o dejeto avícola como fertilizante orgânico permite uma melhor decisão com relação às quantidades a serem aplicadas na lavoura, promovendo benefícios econômico e ambiental. A inclusão dietética de fitase (1.000 FTU/kg de ração) influenciou características de cor da carne e melhorou sua maciez segundo a percepção de consumidores não treinados. O uso de 1.568 gramas de sulfato de alumínio por m2 diminui a margem de comercialização, onerando os custos de produção. Além disso, pode-se concluir que as diferentes estratégias nutricionais não apresentaram diferenças nas margens de comercialização, indicando a viabilidade econômica na utilização de ferramentas nutricionais para manutenção do impacto ambiental da produção avícola. / The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of the use of aluminum sulfate, stocking density and nutritional strategies on productive, economic indexes and meat quality on poultry industry. Therefore, two experiments were conducted. Experiment I (EI) the aim of study was to evaluate the effects of aluminum sulfate doses [Al2(SO4)3·18H2O] - (0, 200, 400 e 600 g/m2) to treated poultry litter and bird densities (8 and 9 birds/m2). It was evaluated volatilized ammonia, pH values, dry matter and nitrogen content from poultry litter. Furthermore, it was evaluated live performance, carcass, breast, drumstick and thigh yield, prevalence of breast skin lesions and foot-pad dermatitis, and chicken meat quality (pH, color, shear force, cook loss and sensorial analysis). Experiment II (EII) aims evaluate the effects of aluminum sulfate to treat litter (0 or 1.568 g/m2), including phytase (1,000 FTU/kg of feed) in the diet and diets with low-crude protein (one percentage point of reduction). This study aims to evaluate the Microbiological Plate Counts on carcasses was evaluated and propose a method to value the manure in relation to its potential as fertilizer too. The economic analysis was also performed, considering the use of aluminum sulphate, phytase and diets with low-crude protein in the production of broiler chickens. The economic analysis the marketing margin increased when the density was 9/m2 because the sold broilers weight was higher. (EI) Aluminum sulfate doses and the stocking density influence poultry litter characteristics, lowering the pH values and reducing the amount of volatilized ammonia. The best dose of aluminum sulphate was 400 g/m2 regardless of the density adopted. The use of aluminum sulfate doses evaluated did not influence the broiler performance, which was negatively affected by the increase in the density. A significant effect of the interaction (P = 0.0094) was verified for carcass yield. The affective test showed that aluminum sulfate didnt influence consumers acceptability for chicken meat. The economic analysis showed that the contribution margin increased when the stocking was 9 birds/m2 since the lot weight is higher. (EII) Application of alum to the litter lowered pH values and consequently ammonia volatilization, moreover the low crude protein and phytase reduced this traits too. Aluminum sulfate (1.568 g/m2) reduces ammonia emissions and consequently nitrogen losses from litter. Valuing poultry manure as organic fertilizer allows the better decision in relation to the quantity to be applied to the crop, promoting economic and environmental benefits. It was concluded that the inclusion of phytase (1,000 FTU/kg of feed), influences chicken meat color characteristics, and improved meat tenderness in the perception of untrained panelists. The use of 1,568 grams of aluminum sulphate per m2 decreased the marketing margin, inflating production costs. In addition, it can be concluded that different nutritional strategies did not present differences in the margins of commercialization, indicating the economic feasibility in the use of nutritional tools to maintain the environmental impact of poultry production.

Thesis (M.Sc. (Crop Science)) --University of Limpopo, 2012 / Organic tomatoes are increasingly popular with larger market acceptance since organic farming uses limited or no artificial chemicals. Application of organic fertilisers such as cattle manure has potential to boost organic tomato productivity particularly under low input farming systems. However, information is required on the optimum level of manure application on different tomato cultivars to help emerging tomato farmers in South Africa. The objective of this study was to determine the relative response of yield and yield components among selected determinate and indeterminate tomato cultivars using different levels of cattle manure. Two separate field experiments were conducted at the University of Limpopo during 2007 and 2008 using a split plot design with three replications. Two sets of tomato cultivars were included in which one set consisted indeterminate types (Money Maker, Ox Heart and Sweetie) and the other determinates (Roma and Floradade). Cultivars were assigned as the main plot treatments with six rates of manure (0, 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 in gram per plant) applied as the subplot treatments to each set. Results indicated significant interactions (P ≤ 0.01) between indeterminate tomato cultivars and levels of manure applied for fruit yield and fruit size in both experiments. Plant height showed variation from 78 to168 cm in Experiment I and 87 to 176 cm in Experiment II. During Experiment I fruit number varied from 23 to 91 per plant and 23 to 97 in Experiment II. Significant differences were detected among determinate cultivars on fruit yield varying from 7928 to 3 4705 kg per hectare during Experiment I and 3 169 to 2 9840 kg per hectare during Experiment II. Overall, the best level of manure for maximum fruit yield and greater fruit size was achieved at 40 g per plant in the indeterminate cultivar Sweetie. Conversely, the best level of manure for maximum fruit yield was achieved at 30 g per plant in determinate cultivar Roma. Thus, to achieve maximum yield, tomato growers could apply 600 and 800 kg per hectare manure on the determinate and indeterminate tomato cultivars, respectively. / the National Research Foundation (NRF)

Antidating written human history the dung of animals, chalk, marl, wood ashes and other substances were probably used to increase the productivity of the soil. These practises found their way into the earliest farming activities of the Chinese, Persians, Greeks and Romans. (3)(11) In the Hebrew scriptures mention is made of the "Dung Gate". (10) This was undoubtedly a place given to the marketing of manures. That manure was used as a soil amendment in Asia Minor in Biblical times is not questioned. The famous Roman agricultural writer Cato (234 B.C.) wrote at length on manures and their handling. He gave bird manure preference and spoke of the manurial value of legumes. (3) Jethro Tull believed tillage was manure and contended that manures only benefit the soil because of improved physical condition after application. Liebig, the well known German agricultural chemist, gave prominence to the theory that small quantities of minerals added to the soil would suffice as manure. (1) Today the general ideas of soil fertility and the use of manures and fertilizers incorporates the views of these earlier students with better explanations of the relationships of one usage to the other. (19)(26)(29)(30) The study here reported is limited to other methods of handling barnyard manure and particularly to the recent development in Germany of what is known as "Hot Processing."

A total maximum daily load (TMDL) assessment in the Upper North Bosque River (UNBR) has mandated reductions of soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP). The large concentrations of dairies in the UNBR watershed have been identified as a source of the SRP. Agricultural best management practices (BMPs) can be used to reduce in-stream loads of manure nutrients from confined dairy feeding operations (CAFOs). A new BMP utilizes turfgrass sod to export composted dairy manure nutrients out of the impaired watershed in a sustainable manner. Previous plot-scale experiments have showed that 46 to 77% of applied phosphorus (P) and 36 to 47% of applied nitrogen (N) were removed in a single sod harvest. Two, 1.4 ha turfgrass fields were instrumented to measure runoff flow and sediment and nutrient transport. One turfgrass field was topdressed with composted dairy manure and fertilizer N and the other with fertilizer N only. A total of 3.5% of the applied manure P and 3.1% of applied manure N were lost in the surface runoff over a 1.5 year period. The runoff data from the experimental fields were used to calibrate and validate Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model simulations of flow, sediment, organic, and mineral nutrients. The Nash-Sutcliffe model fit statistic was greater than 0.6 for flow, sediment, and nutrients during the calibration period and greater than 0.3 during the validation period. Research results indicated that turfgrass sod can be used to export composted dairy manure out of impaired watersheds to improve water and soil quality.

Microbial contamination of drinking water poses an important health risk which causes severe illnesses and epidemics. In order to improve surface and drinking water quality, the understanding of fecal pathogen contamination processes including their prevention and control needs to be enhanced. The watershed model soil water assessment tool (SWAT) is commonly used to simulate the complex hydrological, meteorological, erosion, land management and pollution processes within river basins. In recent years, it has been increasingly applied to simulate microbial contamination transport at the watershed scale. SWAT is used in this study to simulate Escherichia coli (E.coli) and fecal coliform densities for the agriculturally dominated Payne River Basin in Ontario, Canada. Unprecedented extensive monitoring data that consist of 30 years of daily hydrological data and 5 years of bi-weekly nutrient data have been used to calibrate and validate the presented model here. The calibration and validation of the streamflow and nutrients indicate that the model represent these processes well. The model performs well for periods of lower E. coli and fecal coliform loadings. On the other hand, frequency and magnitude of higher microbial loads are not always accurately represented by the model.

The general objective of the research effort reported in this thesis was to develop the knowledge required to optimize the design and operation of solid and semi-solid manure handling and land application equipment. Selected physical and rheological properties of manure products deemed to have an influence on the performances of manure handling and land application equipment were measured and general trends were identified among the measured properties. Relationships were also established between the measured properties and the type of manure as well as its total solids concentration. Field experiments were carried out to evaluate the effects of selected mechanical configurations, operating parameters and product properties on the discharge of manure spreaders. The influence of the type of conveying system (scraper conveyor and system of four augers) and the velocity at which it is operated, the geometry of the holding system and the position of a flow-control gate were all included in the analysis. The discharge rates of the machines as well as the specific energy required by the unloading operations were measured. A numerical modeling method called discrete element method (DEM) was used to create virtual manure, a numerical model of the real product. The measured physical and flow properties were used to develop and validate the virtual manure models. It was found that manure products could successfully be represented in a DE framework and that several parameters defining the contact constitutive model in the DEM had an influence on the behaviour of the virtual products. The DEM was then used to study machine-product interactions taking place in handling and land application equipment. Results from field experiments carried out using various land application equipment were used in the development and validation of the interaction models. The predicted flow rates and power requirements were in good agreement with measured data. The results obtained allowed for a better understanding of the flow of manure products in manure handling and land application equipment. It was found that the constitutive model used for the product influenced the results of the machine-product interactions models. A precision banded applicator under development at the University of Saskatchewan was also modeled. The discharge rate of this equipment is influenced by a number of parameters. The predicted mass distribution across the width of the banded applicator was well correlated to the experimental results. The models developed in this thesis have the potential to become powerful engineering tools for the design of improved machines for the handling and land application of solid and semi-solid manure.

Overwintering of cows is a major cost in a cow-calf production system on the prairies. Winter feeding hay and straw directly on pasture is a potentially more efficient and economical system compared to conventional drylot feeding in a yard. The objectives of the research described in this thesis were to compare winter feeding cattle directly on pasture to traditional drylot over-wintering of cattle and the associated mechanized spreading of manure on pasture. This trial compared the effects of winter feeding systems on pasture nutrient distribution, nutrient recovery in soil and forage, pasture forage response, cattle performance, and economics. <p>The experiment was conducted at Lanigan, SK, on an old russian wildrye grass pasture. Pasture nutrient levels and distribution were measured before and after winter feeding, as well as forage yield, and cattle weight and condition. Nutrient capture and cycling was assessed along with the economics of the different systems. In the pasture fed systems, cattle were fed by either bale processing or bale grazing methods over the winter of 2003-2004. Cattle concentration was 2080 cow-days ha-1, with the cattle in the field for 130 d. In the intensive system used for comparison, cattle were fed in a drylot and 67 tonnes ha-1 of raw manure or 22 tonnes ha-1 of compost was mechanically spread on the pasture in the fall of 2003.<p>Soil inorganic nitrogen (N) levels (0-15 cm) measured in the spring where the cattle were winter fed on pasture were 3 to 4 times the unfertilized, unmanured control treatment, with a mean gain of 117 kg N ha-1. Soil inorganic N was not significantly elevated where manure or compost had been spread by machine. Soil extractable potassium (K) was doubled on the winter feeding sites, with a mean gain of 1209 kg K ha-1. Soil extractable K did not increase where manure or compost had been spread mechanically. Soil distribution patterns of both nutrients were highly uneven following pasture feeding, with levels of inorganic soil N ranging from 12 to 626 kg ha-1 and extractable soil K ranging from 718 to 6326 kg ha-1. Additional nutrients in surface residue from uneaten feed, bedding, and manure were also heavy and variable following pasture feeding. Greater retention of N and K from urine added directly to the soil in the field in the bale grazing and bale processing systems compared to the drylot system is believed to be responsible for high soil available N and K levels compared to manure hauled from the drylot into the field.<p>Soil extractable phosphorus (P) levels (0-15 cm) were measured in the fall of 2005. The compost treatment had the largest increase at 2.6 times the control, an additional 46 kg ha-1. Mean soil P levels did not increase significantly where the cattle were wintered.<p> Over 18 months and 3 harvests, forage dry matter yields where the cattle were fed on pasture were 3 to 5 times the control where the cattle were fed on the pasture, and 1.4 to 1.7 times the control where raw manure or compost was mechanically spread. Also, protein content of the forage was increased to a greater extent in the in-field feeding compared to hauled raw manure or compost, reflecting a greater conservation of N.<p>The gain of N in the forage over 18 months on the winter feeding sites was 200 kg ha-1 of N, almost double what was measured in soil inorganic forms. Fourteen kg ha-1 of P was also recovered. This represented 34% of original feed N and 22% of original feed P that was imported into the field. Recovery of nutrients applied in the raw manure and compost sites was much lower, with only 7% recovery of N and 4% recovery of P in the forage. This was calculated to be 1% of original feed N and 3% of original feed P.<p>The system by which the cattle were overwintered had little influence on cattle weight and condition. All systems performed favorably in maintaining body weight and condition over the winter. Some slight advantages in cattle weight gain and condition were found on the winter feeding systems compared to the in-yard drylot that appeared to be related to slightly increased feed intake.<p>Economic calculations favored winter feeding directly on the pasture by 25% over the drylot systems when the feed value of additional pasture growth over 18 months was included and by 56% when the value of additional soil nutrients was factored in. Feed costs were similar between the systems but pasture feeding had savings in machinery use, fuel consumption and manure handling costs, and gains in pasture productivity.<p>Systems that winter fed cattle directly on pasture provided gains in nutrient cycling efficiencies, pasture growth, and economic savings compared to drylot feeding systems, while maintaining similar cattle growth and condition.

On the Canadian prairies, organic production generally includes the use of annual green manure (GrM) crops, which are terminated using tillage to add nutrients and organic matter to the soil. However, in a GrM plough-down year, farmers face loss of income. As an alternative to growing traditional GrM crops, legumes can be grown alone or intercropped with cereals and harvested as green feed forage (GF) for use on-farm or for sale to other producers without depleting soil nitrogen (N) for the subsequent crop. We hypothesized that the GF system would have similar biomass, and N yield, and ultimately would return N into the soil. Furthermore, by intercropping a legume with a cereal, biological N2-fixation will be enhanced in the legume.<p> Field experiments, conducted over two years, were established at Vonda and Delisle, Saskatchewan, Canada. The experiment was conducted using a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with 16 treatments and four replicates in which field pea (<i>Pisum sativum</i> cv 40-10 silage pea), oat (<i>Avena sativa</i> L.cv AC Morgan), and triticale (X <i>Triticosecale</i> Wittmack cv Pika) were grown alone or in combination and managed as GrM or GF. Wheat and tillage fallow served as cropped and uncropped controls, respectively. The tillage fallow-control system was tilled twice in the growing season using a small tractor disc. The intercropped oat was seeded at three densities (50, 100, and 150 plants m-2) to determine whether increasing cereal density stimulated N2-fixation in the field pea.<p> The GrM system was sampled and incorporated (when the field pea was at full bloom) two weeks earlier than the GF system. Consequently, at both sites, all treatments in the GF system consistently yielded more dry matter and accumulated more N than treatments in the GrM system. At the Delisle site, where percent nitrogen derived from the atmosphere (%Ndfa) was compared, increasing cereal density did not increase N2-fixation in both management systems. However, pea in the GF system accumulated more than twice the amount of N (kg ha-1) from fixation as compared to pea in the GrM system, presumably because of the longer growth period.<p> Wheat grown following the GrM treatments produced more biomass and accumulated more N than wheat following the GF treatments. Wheat grown after the monoculture field pea as a GrM had greater yield than all treatments. As well, the GrM system returned more N to the soil than did the GF system. The extra two weeks of growth in the GF system resulted in the extraction of significant amounts of nutrients and probably moisture from the soil, which adversely affected yield and nutrient composition of the following wheat crop.<p> Although organic farmers may lose income in the plough-down year, on a longterm soil sustainability basis, the GrM system is a better option than the GF system as it returns nutrients to the soil, thus providing improved plant biomass, and N accumulation of subsequent crops. However, organic farmers growing GF for hay may benefit from the increased productivity of this system on a short-term basis. Thus, farmers pursuing GF options may need to adopt other means of sustaining soil productivity on a longer term. The tilled fallow-control system resulted in high amounts of biomass and N accumulation by the subsequent wheat crop, probably due to the fact that there were no nutrients taken up in the previous year and moisture was conserved in these treatments. However, this system may have less long-term benefits compared to the GrM regime, as no nutrients are returned through ploughing down a crop.

This investigation explored the use of microcosms as a tool for studying the dynamics of tropical aquaculture ponds. The potential use of rabbit excreta as a pond fertilizer in integrated farming systems was also investigated. Twelve insulated fiber glass tanks were utilized as microcosms to simulate earthen ponds. Seven hand-sexed Nile Tilapia O. niloticus) were stocked per tank, and microcosm performance was observed for a 90- day experimental period. Three rabbit excreta loading rates corresponding to 50 and 75 kg/10,000 m³ /day, and a continuously adjusted manure loading rate were assessed. The fertilizer treatments were compared to a control treatment where fish were fed on a prepared food. Water quality variables and fish performance were regularly monitored. Nitrogen and phosphorous content of rabbit excreta were measured. The dynamics of the microcosms were similar to warm water earthen ponds with respect to physical and chemical characteristics. Statistical differences were detected between control and fertilized treatments in relation to dissolved oxygen levels, net primary productivity, total alkalinity, total ammonia and orthophosphate levels. Primary productivity was influenced more by light intensity and penetration than by nutrient limitation. Rabbit excreta overloading was observed in the 75 kg treatment. Fish growth was greatest in the control treatment, but it was not statistically different from the continuously adjusted fertilizer treatment (Pondclass) (0.0065 and 0.0056, respectively). Low daily fish gains were observed in the 50 and 75 kg treatments. Low dissolved oxygen and high total ammonia were concentrations resulted in low weight gains and condition indices of fish in the 50 and 75 kg treatments. Extrapolated fish yields corresponded to 6,205, 4,563, 3,686, 4,869 kg/ha/year for control, 50 kg, 75 kg and Pondclass treatments, respectively. The observed yields are comparable with field experiences in real ponds. The continuously adjusted treatment showed the lowest manure conversion ratio (3.85) in the fertilized treatments. The nitrogen content of rabbit excreta varied according to rabbit size, presence or absence of urine plus water waste, and food droppings. Urine plus water waste provided 28 % of the total nitrogen content in rabbit excreta, whereas food droppings provided 12 %. Rabbit urine may play an important role in aquacultural systems because it contains a large fraction of nitrogen in inorganic forms which are readily utilized for algal growth. Other rabbit excreta characteristics such as buoyancy may be advantageous in aquacultural systems. Rabbit excreta is a potentially rich source of fertilizer for use in fish ponds. / Graduation date: 1992

Development of the swine and cattle industries has led to an increase of manure application to agricultural lands in Saskatchewan. Studies have been conducted to determine the nutrient benefits of swine manure application. However, a need was also identified for information on the effects of manure application on soil physical and chemical properties. The objective of this study was to examine the effect of repeated applications of manure on soil physical and chemical properties and to relate those effects to early plant growth and development.<p>Four experimental sites were used, representing the Dark Brown (Plenty), Brown (Riverhurst irrigated), Black (Dixon) and Gray (Melfort) Soil Zones of Saskatchewan, where liquid swine manure had been applied for four to seven years. At each site, treatments were 1) a control treatment, 2) a nitrogen based agronomic rate of manure application, 3) a high rate of manure application (2-4x the agronomic rate) and 4) a urea fertilizer treatment. At the Dixon site, the same two manure treatments with cattle manure were also examined.<p>Soil strength, as determined by penetration resistance measurements and barley (<i>Hordeum vulgare</i>) emergence were measured at two experimental sites (swine and cattle manure trials at Dixon, SK) in a field study. Penetration resistance was measured at 5, 10, 15 and 20 cm depths, 20, 39 and 123 days after seeding using a recording cone penetrograph. Twenty days after seeding, there were no significant differences among treatments at the 10, 15 and 20 cm depths. But, at the 5 cm depth, the control treatment had soil strength 0.11 MPa lower than the two manure rates. The manure treatments were not significantly different from the urea treatment. Thirty-nine days after seeding, the soil strength of the low rate manure treatment was 1.1 MPa greater than the control at the 10 cm depth, but not significantly different from the urea treatment. One hundred and twenty three days after seeding, the control treatment had greater soil strength than the high rate of manure at 5 and 10 cm depths by 0.28 and 0.71 MPa respectively. At the 20 cm depth, the high rate of manure had the greatest soil strength. Barley emergence on the two manured treatments did not differ significantly from the control. Aggregate size was measured in field samples collected from all sites. Aggregate size for the manured treatments did not differ from the control at any site.<p>Soil crust strength, flax emergence, infiltration rate, salinity, sodicity, coefficient of linear extensibility (COLE) and modulus of rupture were measured under controlled conditions in intact cores of soil removed from all five experimental sites. All soils were treated with a simulated rainfall from a Guelph Rainfall Simulator II. Following the simulated rainfall, crust strength was measured with a hand-held penetrometer. Soil crust strength was measured daily for 10 days as the cores dried. Repeated applications of liquid swine manure at either low or high rates decreased soil strength in the Plenty, Riverhurst and Melfort soils, and increased soil strength in the Dixon soil. Repeated applications of liquid swine manure at low rates caused flax emergence to decrease for the Riverhurst soil compared to its control and had no significant effect at the other sites. There were no notable differences in infiltration rates among treatments. Repeated applications of liquid swine manure caused salinity (EC) to increase slightly for the Plenty and Riverhurst soils, and sodicity (ESP) to increase slightly for the Melfort and Dixon soils relative to their control. The COLE and modulus of rupture measurements indicated no significant effects and were inconclusive due to difficulties in measurement. <p>None of the properties measured in any of the treatments exceeded threshold values for soil productivity, or where plant injury might be considered an issue. It is concluded that repeated (four to seven) annual applications of liquid swine or cattle manure would not cause any large alterations in soil strength, aggregation, infiltration, salinity, or sodicity that would affect early plant growth and development. This was supported by field and lab measurements of emergence that showed limited effect.