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Potential traceable markers of organic matter in organic and conventional dairy manure using ultraviolet–visible and solid-state 13C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy

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Abstract

Very limited information is available on the impacts of organic farming practices on the chemical composition and properties of dairy manure. In this study, we found the differences in the absorptivities of dissolved organic matter between conventional and organic dairy manure samples at 254 and 280 nm, reflecting the difference in aromaticities of dissolved organic matter of the manures. The 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) characteristics of triple peaks around 30 ppm were more evident in organic samples than in conventional dairy manure samples. This observation was presumably due to more forage feedstuff used in organic dairy farms as this spectral feature was assigned to cutin and cutan from the outer cuticle of herbaceous plants. Thus, the distinct NMR feature of manure around 30 ppm, if further confirmed, can serve as a traceable forage marker to evaluate the authenticity of organic dairy farming programs.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. USDA-ARS, Southern Regional Research Center, New Orleans, LA, 70124, USA

    Zhongqi He

  2. Department of High Latitude Agriculture, School of Natural Resources and Agricultural Sciences, University of Alaska, Fairbanks, AK, 99775, USA

    Mingchu Zhang

  3. Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA, 23529, USA

    Xiaoyan Cao, Yuan Li & Jingdong Mao

  4. USDA-ARS, Conservation and Production Research Laboratory, Bushland, TX, 79012, USA

    Heidi M. Waldrip

Authors
  1. Zhongqi He
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  2. Mingchu Zhang
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  3. Xiaoyan Cao
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  4. Yuan Li
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  5. Jingdong Mao
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  6. Heidi M. Waldrip
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Correspondence to Zhongqi He.

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Mention of trade names or commercial products in this publication is solely for the purpose of providing specific information and does not imply recommendation or endorsement by the US Department of Agriculture. USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

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He, Z., Zhang, M., Cao, X. et al. Potential traceable markers of organic matter in organic and conventional dairy manure using ultraviolet–visible and solid-state 13C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Org. Agr. 5, 113–122 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13165-014-0092-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13165-014-0092-0

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