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Bacterial Characterization, Deposition, and Emission Factors for Particulate Matter Generated During the Land Application of Dairy Manure in Northern New York

Published by the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers, St. Joseph, Michigan www.asabe.org

Citation:  International Symposium on Air Quality and Manure Management for Agriculture Conference Proceedings, 13-16 September 2010, Dallas, Texas  711P0510cd.(doi:10.13031/2013.32654)
Authors:   Michael A Jahne, Shane W Rogers
Keywords:   bioaerosols, particulate matter, manure application, qPCR, emission factors

Although land application of livestock manure remains a standard agricultural practice, it poses a risk to both human and environmental health. Among other concerns, manure is host to a number of microbial pathogens that have been shown to persist in soils and runoff to local waterways following field application. A significant body of research exists regarding the risks of particulate matter and bacteria in the air of livestock confinement houses and emitted during land application of treated human waste biosolids. However, little has been done to assess air quality impacts during land application of untreated livestock manures. In this study, we characterize emission and deposition rates of bioaerosols for broadcast (conventional splash-plate) spreading of manure at a dairy CAFO in northern New York. Horizontal and vertical arrays of sampling equipment at edge-of-field were used to collect size-segregated aerosol and deposition samples, which were analyzed using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) to measure populations of total bacteria, Enterococcus spp., and fecal Bacteroidales. Emission factors were calculated through correlation with PM10 flux measurements and deposition velocities established by direct flux measurement. These results will serve as the basis for future fate and transport modeling, which will lead to an improved understanding of the air quality implications of manure application for farm workers, nearby residents, and local environmental systems.

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