On-farm solid-liquid separation of pig slurry and stabilization and storing of the solid fraction
The performance of a centrifugal decanter-separator to separate pig slurry into liquid and solid fractions and its main physicochemical components had been studied. The apparatus tested (Asserva-300) could be setup to any type of pig slurry, whatever the origin of the diet (farm or industrial) and type of swine raising (maternity or grower-finisher). The separating capacity in terms of volume (pig/place numbers) and separation of physicochemical components increases with the dry matter content of the slurry. The decanter-separator can process between 1,2 and 2,5m3 of raw slurry per hour. With a dry matter content of more than 3% in a grower-finisher unit and of more than 2% in a pork maternity, the apparatus separates around 70% of the phosphorous. Below these moisture levels, the performance of the separator decreases rapidly. This emphasizes the importance of optimizing water management in the barn. Correct on-farm processing and storing of the solid fraction can produce a nutrient-rich material with significantly less microbes and nuisance odours. After 90 days of observation, the best of our treatments reduced the levels of moisture, carbon, total nitrogen, fecal coliforms and odours by, respectively, 75, 35, 19, 51 and 88%. Processing of the solid fraction can thus improve its value as an organic soil fertilizer and amendment. Solid-liquid separation of pig slurry and processing and storing of the solid fraction can lower the cost of fertilizer management at the farm, while optimizing usage of nearby fields. These treatments also help maximize the use of nitrogen in the liquid fraction.
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