Survival of faecal indicator bacteria in bovine manure incorporated into soil.
OBJECTIVE
Survival of Escherichia coli and enterococci was evaluated in bovine manure incorporated into two Wisconsin soils.


RESULTS
Silty clay loam (SCL) and loamy sand (LS) were mixed with fresh bovine manure, exposed daily to 10 h at 22 degrees C/14 h at 9 degrees C, and watered weekly for 12 weeks. Escherichia coli numbers increased 1-2 log cfu g(-1), then decreased < 1 and about 2 log cfu g(-1) in SCL and LS, respectively. Enterococci numbers rose less and then declined faster than those of E. coli. Watering intervals of 3, 7 and 14 days were evaluated in weeks 13-19, but did not affect the slow decline in numbers of E. coli or enterococci.


CONCLUSIONS
Escherichia coli and enterococci may survive at least 19 weeks at 9-21 degrees C in bovine manure/soil, with E. coli surviving better.


CONCLUSIONS
Quantification of E. coli or enterococci in late spring/early summer soil may be useful in indicating recent application of bovine manure.
Lau
M M
MM
Department of Food Science, University of Wisconsin-Madison, WI 53706-1565, USA.
Ingham
S C
SC
D000538:Aluminum Silicates; D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D000077215:Clay; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D016983:Enterococcus / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology*; D008372:Manure / Q000382:microbiology*; D012822:Silicon Dioxide; D012988:Soil Microbiology; D013696:Temperature; D014867:Water
D000538:Aluminum Silicates; D008372:Manure; D014867:Water; D012822:Silicon Dioxide; D000077215:Clay