Tracing the flow-driven vertical transport of livestock-derived organic matter through soil using biomarkers

► Infiltration of livestock-derived organic matter (LD-OM) through soil leads to fractionation into three components. ► 5β-Stanols (lipids) were found to be good tracers of soil-bound LD-OM. ► Soil-bound LD-OM remains at the top of the soil column even after intense leaching. ► Ammonium and proteinaceous material are good tracers of dissolved LD-OM. ► The identified partitioning of LD-OM has implications for contamination timing.