Soil carbon and physical-mechanical properties after successive applications of swine and poultry organic waste

Abstract

In agricultural crops, the use of swine and poultry waste as organic fertilizers results in gains in the productivity and reduction of production costs, but it may also change the physical properties and mechanical behavior of the soil, either increasing or reducing its quality. This study aimed to investigate the influence of applying increasing doses of liquid swine manure (160 m³ ha-1 year-1, 320 m³ ha-1 year-1 and 480 m³ ha-1 year-1) and poultry litter (6 Mg ha-1 year-1, 12 Mg ha-1 year-1 and 18 Mg ha-1 year-1), along four years, on the physical-mechanical properties and organic carbon content of a very clayey Rhodic Eutrudox. The application of liquid swine manure and poultry litter increased the surface soil organic carbon contents. The soil density decreased, whereas the total porosity and macroporosity increased, with the addition of liquid swine manure and poultry litter. There were no significant changes in the soil susceptibility to compaction.