1. Soil Copper Thresholds for Potato Production

A rising concern with the application of dairy wastes to agricultural fields is the accumulation of copper (Cu) in the soil. Copper sulfate (CuSO4) from cattle footbaths is washed out of dairy barns and into wastewater lagoons. The addition of CuSO4 baths on dairies can increase Cu concentration significantly in manure slurry. The Cu-enriched dairy waste is then applied to agricultural crops, thus raising concerns about how soils and plants are impacted by these Cu additions. Repeated applications... A. Moore, M. Satterwhite, J. Ippolito