EFFECTS OF CATTLE SLURRY AND CULTIVATION ON INFILTRATION IN SANDY ANDSILTY SOILS FROM NORTHERN NORWAY

The study was conducted on virgin (uncultivated) and cultivated bare s andy and silty soil monoliths to investigate the infiltration rate bef ore and after application of cattle slurry. Both soils had higher infi ltration rates in the virgin state than in the cultivated state. Appli cation of either 50 Mg ha-1 fresh or aerated slurry to the soil surfac e caused a significant decrease in infiltration rate which lasted for 3 months. No significant difference in infiltration rate was found bet ween fresh and aerated slurry. The application of slurry decreased the infiltration rate most on the virgin sandy soil. Only a small decreas e was recorded, owing its to low initial infiltration rate on the cult ivated silty soil. The infiltration rate before slurry application was positively correlated with air-filled porosity at -5 kPa matric poten tial and negatively correlated with soil loss on ignition. After slurr y application the infiltration rate was positively correlated with soi l air-filled porosity and negatively correlated with slurry dry matter content.