Temporal changes in the nutrient content of cattle dung in the Nebraska Sandhills ecosystem

Dung excreted by cattle composes a significant portion of the nutrient inputs in grazed ecosystem and can have wide-ranging effects on soil properties vegetation. However, little research has been conducted dynamics dung situ that not disturbed prior to field sampling. In this study, we analyzed 294 pats (1–24 days old) collected from Nebraska Sandhills meadow determine water-extractable organic carbon (WEOC), nitrogen (WEN), phosphorus (WEP), percent dry matter (DM) changes over time. addition, investigated if sample handling - frozen storage – formation surface crust during drying affect concentrations. WEOC WEN both followed exponential decay curves loss time were modeled as function age. contrast, WEP was poorly correlated with The conjunction concentration stronger determinants than age alone. Freezing samples analysis increased (37–98%) (37–123%), but lowered (0.8–65%) compared same pat fresh. crusts had higher (98–112%) (112%) moist interiors (on average, 3 cm surface). This provides evidence concentrations decreased 73% (WEOC) 76% (WEN) 24 shows subsequent thawing for analysis, well drying, significantly spatial partitioning nutrients.