ACCESSION NO: 0187081  SUBFILE: CRIS PROJ NO: LAB03483  AGENCY: SAES LA.B PROJ TYPE: STATE  PROJ. STATUS: NEW START: 01 AUG 2000 TERM: 30 JUL 2002

INVESTIGATOR: Owens, W. E.; Ray, C. H.

INFLUENCE OF ANIMAL WASTE FERTILIZERS ON THE FECAL COLIFORM AND ESCHERICHIA COLI CONCENTRATION OF SURFACE RUNOFF WATER, SOIL, AND STREAMS

OBJECTIVES: 

1. Determine the background fecal coliform concentration of runoff water and soil from hay meadows, forests, and streams. 
2. Determine the fecal coliform and Escherichia coli content of animal waste fertilizer. 
3. Determine the effect over time of animal waste application on fecal coliform and E. coli concentration in soil, runoff water, and streams. 
4. Screen E. coli isolates from animal waste, soil, and runoff water for E. coli O157:H7.

APPROACH: 
The effect of application of animal waste (poultry litter and dairy lagoon effluent) on water quality
will be determined by determining the coliform content of animal waste applied to test plots. The presence of Escherichia coli 0157:H7 will be determined in animal waste and the survival of this pathogen (if present) after application will be followed. The background level of fecal contamination in streams and run off water originating on the Hill Farm Research Station will also be determined and the effect of animal waste application projected.