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Chemical Elements in Soils Under Cattle Pens
Author(s) -
Dantzman C. L.,
Richter M. F.,
Martin F. G.
Publication year - 1983
Publication title -
journal of environmental quality
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.888
H-Index - 171
eISSN - 1537-2537
pISSN - 0047-2425
DOI - 10.2134/jeq1983.00472425001200020002x
Subject(s) - manure , soil water , leaching (pedology) , feedlot , organic matter , soil horizon , soil science , environmental chemistry , environmental science , chemistry , zoology , agronomy , biology , organic chemistry
In cattle feedlots, the manure builds up and to some extent becomes incorporated into the soil profile through downward leaching and the stirring action created by the cattle. The object of this study was to measure the extent of build‐up of certain chemical elements resulting from the cattle wastes within the soil profile (Felda fine sand) in a cattle feedlot after 10 and 15 y. Soil samples were taken at 15‐cm increments from the soil surface to a depth of 137‐cm. Results indicated most of the increase of elements occurred near the soil surface. Within the soil profiles, the magnitude of increase of the chemical measurements compared with the control profile after 10 and 15 y were as follows, respectively: Mg, 23 and 39 times the amount in the control profile; P, 50 and 95; Ca, 11 and 29; K, 133 and 85; Mn, 4.4 and 9.5; Fe, 1.4 and 1.3; Cu, 2.5 and 4.2; soluble salts, 5.9 and 8.6; and percent organic matter, 1.6 and 5.1 times the amount in the control profile. The range of soil pH values increased from 3.6 to 4.7 for the control; from 7.8 to 9.1 after 10 y, and from 8.3 to 8.7 after 15 y.