CANADA: The scoop on poop: innovation cleans up manure's image
Posted: May 31st, 2009 - 2:41pm Manure has a PR problem. Mention
it and everyone gets squeamish because they associate it with
contamination and disease. But it's not manure that's the
problem, it's our attitude toward it, says George Lazarovits, a
senior research scientist for Agriculture Canada. ``We have to
stop calling it waste and treat it like one more important
element to recycle. We need to stop sprinkling it on the surface
of soil where it can't do much good,'' said Lazarovits.
``Handled differently, manure is a valuable resource for
replenishing our soil.'' For the last seven years, Lazarovits
has been researching how the fatty acids found in pig manure can
stop the spread of Verticillium Wilt, commonly known as potato
scab. His findings contradict standard wisdom that manure
actually contributes to the disease. But his research has
confirmed that when applied to acidic soil with a pH no higher
than five, pig manure has the ability to ki