Swine (Sus scrofa) wastewater was applied to three separate 4 m
wide x 30 m long riparian filterstrips consisting of 20 m grass and
10 m forest, 10 m grass and 20 m forest, and 10 m grass and 20 m
maidencane (Panicum hemitomon Schult.) in Southern Georgia during
each season. Total and fecal coliform numbers in the applied
wastewater pulse did not decline as water moved downslope regardless
of vegetation type or season. The pulse of applied wastewater did
not move beyond 15 m in any treatment in autumn or summer (dry
seasons) and only moved beyond 7.5 m in the 20 m grass-10 m forest
treatment in the summer. Total and fecal coliform numbers in soil
water and shallow ground water declined by approximately 10-fold
every 7 d for the first 14 d regardless of vegetative treatment or season.
Soil temperature and soil moisture correlated with total coliform
bacteria in both 13 m wells (r2 = 0.89) and 2.0 m wells (r2 = 0.89),
and with fecal coliform bacteria in 1.5 (r2 = 0.82) and 2.0 m (r2 =
0.76) wells. Animal production operations may need to locate in
warm–dry climates so animal waste can be applied to lands to help
ensure enteric bacteria input to surface and ground water will not
occur
