Abstract
The natural copper content of soils in England and Wales extractable in EDTA is usually < 5 mg/l and consequently most soils can tolerate additions up to 280 kg/ha Cu without significantly limiting the cropping potential of the land. This guideline may be used for the application of sewage sludge or pig manure. Although most fattening pigs receive copper supplements the quantity of copper recycled will vary according to management practices. Only a little over 1/3 of the pig herd is stocked at rates which would result in average copper additions to soil exceeding 2 kg/ha per year. The area of land receiving more than 5 kg/ha Cu per year is small. Advice can be given which will prevent harmful accumulations in soil and minimise the risks to grazing livestock. Reducing the permitted level of copper supplementation will not remove the environmental hazards but sensible disposal practice can achieve this. Authorities are increasingly tightening controls on pollution of water and air from pig units. The recent trend for a greater proportion of the national herd to be kept on holdings with adequate land for manure disposal is expected to continue.
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© 1981 ECSC, EEC, EAEC, Brussels and Luxembourg
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Unwin, R.J. (1981). The Application of Copper in Sewage Sludge and Pig Manure to Agricultural Land in England and Wales. In: L’Hermite, P., Dehandtschutter, J. (eds) Copper in Animal Wastes and Sewage Sludge. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-8503-2_7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-8503-2_7
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