Movement of Faecal Bacteria through the Vadose Zone

Abstract

The impact of biosolid and soil type on the movement of faecal coliforms through the vadose zone was investigated following the application of animal manure to soil. Two types of biosolid, solid and liquid manure, were applied to two soil types at a wide range of initial water contents. Bacteria present in the soil solution were collected using calibrated ceramic-porous-cup samplers. Estimated bacterial migration velocities in the soil profile were consistent with the hypothesis that bacteria move mostly through soil macropores, as the rate of transport was faster than the average pore-water velocity. Macropore transport was more likely to occur in wet soils, but it was not necessarily restricted to soils with high initial soil water content. A larger soil clay content, lower total soil porosity, and lower saturated hydraulic conductivity resulted in a greater likelihood that suspended bacteria would be funnelled through pores of larger diameter and faster pore water velocity, increasing the potential vertical transport length of bacteria through the vadose zone. Total porosity was not a significant factor in enhancing deep transport of faecal bacteria. The potential of faecal bacteria to be transported to depth in soil was correlated with the water content of the manure. We conclude that application of animal manure to soil can readily lead to groundwater contamination with faecal bacteria especially under moist soil conditions, and that macropores are important in the transport.