TY - JOUR
T1 - Regional variations of bovine and porcine fecal pollution as a function of landscape, nutrient, and hydrological factors
AU - Nshimyimana, Jean Pierre
AU - Martin, Sherry L.
AU - Flood, Matthew
AU - Verhougstraete, Marc P.
AU - Hyndman, David W.
AU - Rose, Joan B.
N1 - Funding Information:
This research is primarily supported by the Corn Marketing Program of Michigan Corn Growers Association and Michigan State University, with supplemental funding from the United States Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture (grants 2015-68007-23133 and 2018-67003-27406). Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the USDA NIFA or the Corn Marketing Program. The authors gratefully acknowledge the generous assistance of the team members of the Water Quality and Environmental Microbiology Laboratory and the Hydrogeology Group at Michigan State University.
Publisher Copyright:
© American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America, and Soil Science Society of America.
PY - 2018/9/1
Y1 - 2018/9/1
N2 - The effects of manure application in agriculture on surface water quality has become a local to global problem because of the adverse consequences on public health and food security. This study evaluated (i) the spatial distribution of bovine (cow) and porcine (pig) genetic fecal markers, (ii) how hydrologic factors influenced these genetic markers, and (iii) their variations as a function of land use, nutrients, and other physiochemical factors. We collected 189 samples from 63 watersheds in Michigan's Lower Peninsula during baseflow, spring melt, and summer rain conditions. For each sample, we quantified the concentrations of bovine and porcine genetic markers by digital droplet polymerase chain reaction and measured Escherichia coli, dissolved oxygen, pH, temperature, total phosphorus, total nitrogen, nitrate-nitrite (NOX), ammonia (NH3), soluble reactive phosphorus, streamflow, and watershed specific precipitation. Bovine and porcine manure markers were ubiquitous in rivers that drain agricultural and natural fields across the study region. This study provides baseline conditions on the state of watershed impairment, which can be used to develop best management practices that could improve water quality. Similar studies should be performed with higher spatial sampling density to elucidate detailed factors that influence the transport of manure constituents.
AB - The effects of manure application in agriculture on surface water quality has become a local to global problem because of the adverse consequences on public health and food security. This study evaluated (i) the spatial distribution of bovine (cow) and porcine (pig) genetic fecal markers, (ii) how hydrologic factors influenced these genetic markers, and (iii) their variations as a function of land use, nutrients, and other physiochemical factors. We collected 189 samples from 63 watersheds in Michigan's Lower Peninsula during baseflow, spring melt, and summer rain conditions. For each sample, we quantified the concentrations of bovine and porcine genetic markers by digital droplet polymerase chain reaction and measured Escherichia coli, dissolved oxygen, pH, temperature, total phosphorus, total nitrogen, nitrate-nitrite (NOX), ammonia (NH3), soluble reactive phosphorus, streamflow, and watershed specific precipitation. Bovine and porcine manure markers were ubiquitous in rivers that drain agricultural and natural fields across the study region. This study provides baseline conditions on the state of watershed impairment, which can be used to develop best management practices that could improve water quality. Similar studies should be performed with higher spatial sampling density to elucidate detailed factors that influence the transport of manure constituents.
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U2 - 10.2134/jeq2017.11.0438
DO - 10.2134/jeq2017.11.0438
M3 - Article
C2 - 30272781
AN - SCOPUS:85055424360
SN - 0047-2425
VL - 47
SP - 1024
EP - 1032
JO - Journal of Environmental Quality
JF - Journal of Environmental Quality
IS - 5
ER -