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<OL> <LI> Measure die-off rates of manure-derived indicator (E.coli) and pathogenic organisms (e.g. Salmonella, Campylobacter, Listeria under field conditions following spring, late summer and fall manure application using the sentinel chamber technique.
<LI> Compare these die-off rates to population changes in the bulk soil which result from die-off and transport mechanisms.
<LI> Assess the effect on pathogen survival of manure surface application versus incorporation.
<LI> Compare the survival of indicator and pathogenic organism under identical field conditions.
<LI> Compare die-off rates to pre-planting and pre-harvest waiting times.
<LI> Measure concurrent changes in nutrient (N, P) levels at the same field sites to assess the contradictory impacts on nutrient and pathogen risk management.
<LI> Provide information for manure and compost management recommendations to improve food safety by reducing the risk of food-borne illness resulting from pathogen contamination of food crops
Expected Benefits:<BR>
Using the proposed methods will enable:
<OL>
<LI> comparing pathogen dynamics under spring, summer and fall field conditions, addressing tradeoffs between spring, late summer and fall application,
<LI> comparing the survival of captive pathogens under contrasting application practices (surface, immediate incorporation) and separating survival from transport factors,
<LI> determining the additive or contradictory effects of application practices by concurrently monitoring soil nutrient dynamics at the same field site, and
<LI> provide information for pre-harvest wait periods and management recommendations.</OL>
The Information will be useful to producers, extension and regulatory agencies in reducing the risk of fresh-food based food-borne outbreaks