Effects of cattle slurry and cultivation on infiltration in sandy and silty soils from northern Norway

• Published in: Soil & tillage research 1994-04, Vol.29 (4), p.307-321
• Main Authors: Haraldsen, Trond K., Sveistrup, Tore E.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Biological and medical sciences; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Physical properties; Physics, chemistry, biochemistry and biology of agricultural and forest soils; Soil science; Water and solute dynamics
• ISSN: 0167-1987; 1879-3444
• DOI: 10.1016/0167-1987(94)90105-8

The study was conducted on virgin (uncultivated) and cultivated bare sandy and silty soil monoliths to investigate the infiltration rate before and after application of cattle slurry. Both soils had higher infiltration rates in the virgin state than in the cultivated state. Application of either 50 Mg ha −1 fresh or aerated slurry to the soil surface caused a significant decrease in infiltration rate which lasted for 3 months. No significant difference in infiltration rate was found between fresh and aerated slurry. The application of slurry decreased the infiltration rate most on the virgin sandy soil. Only a small decrease was recorded, owing its to low initial infiltration rate on the cultivated silty soil. The infiltration rate before slurry application was positively correlated with air-filled porosity at −5 kPa matric potential and negatively correlated with soil on ignition. After slurry application the infiltration rate was positively correlated with soil air-filled porosity and negatively correlated with slurry dry matter content.