Evaluation of a 1000-head a

Posted in: Environment by admin on January 1, 2001 | No Comments

Develop a Decision Support System for Land Application of Manure Affecting the Groundwater Quality in Manitoba

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Traditionally, livestock operations have remained as part of a mixed-farming operation closely integrating the feed production and manure disposal within the farm. With the expansion of the livestock industry, newer operations of 2500 sow farrow-to-weaner and 6,000 hog finishing operations have become more popular due to the economies of scale. As the operations become larger, the increasing volume of manure generated within a small area requires a larger area for land disposal. However, if the nutrient value of manure can be demonstrated then the manure will become a valuable resource rather than a waste that needs disposal. The Sustain2 computer simulation model is a decision support system (DSS) that is designed to show the economic and environmental impact of land application of manure for a given soil, crop, and weather combination. The Sustain2 model follows the on-farm nitrogen cycle from feed to nitrogen excretion, N losses during collection, storage, spreading, nitrogen conversions in the soil, crop uptake, and eventual leaching of any remainder to the groundwater. Different management practices such as application rate, time and frequency of application, and different forms of nitrogen in manure are used as input and the impact is simulated over a five-year period. The nitrogen in manure has to mineralize to an inorganic form before it can be taken up by the plant as a nutrient. When nitrogen is mineralized to the nitrate form, it becomes highly water soluble facilitating easy uptake by plants. However, the high solubility also leads to increased leaching of nitrates beneath the root zone. By balancing the amount of water applied to the crop with crop water needs, the amount of water leaching beneath the root zone could be controlled. This can minimize the quantity of nitrates moving beneath the root zone and protect the ground water quality in the long term. The Sustain2 model provides output showing the distribution of nitrate and water content within the root zone as a function of time. It also shows the quantity of nitrate leaching beneath the root zone. The Sustain2 model can be used to assess the impact of different dates of manure application as well as application rates. The Sustain2 Model output, presented below, shows distribution of nitrate in the root zone a

Aspergillus niger absorbs copper and zinc from swine wastewater

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Denitrification from a Swine Lagoon Overland Flow Treatment System at a Pasturea

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Nitrates in Soil and Water

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Nitrates are chemicals made up of nitrogen and oxygen. They occur naturally in certain vegetables, preserved meat and soil, and are present in both commercial fertilizers and manure. The presence of nitrates in soil is necessary for plant growth. However, excess soil nitrates can contaminate water supplies, creating a potential health concern.

Measuring Air Pollution and Odour at Minnesota Swine Facilities

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In 1998, the State of Minnesota identified the need for a Generic Environmental Impact
Statement (GEIS) on animal agriculture. The Environmental Quality Board (EQB) was directed
by the Legislature to examine the long-term effects of the livestock industry, as it exists and as it
is changing, on the economy, environment and way of life of Minnesota and its citizens.
Minnesota has always had a very aggressive environmental regulation program and in many areas
has been a national pioneer and leader. This paper examines air quality and odor impacts from
animal agriculture facilities in Minnesota (EarthTech 2001). The general trends discussed are
similar in all Minnesota livestock facilities. This paper focuses on the swine industry, which has
shown the most dynamic and controversial changes in the decade 1990 to 2000.
As farm size and animal concentration increase, there is a greater potential for odor and air
quality concerns to be raised by members of the local community. Increase in the size and
concentration of animal operations does not necessarily mean that more odor and air quality
concerns will result. Management practices are essential to controlling and reducing odor and air
quality problems regardless of facility size. However, citizens are becoming much more vocal
about their environmental concerns, even items that were formerly regarded as minor or normal
aspects of farming operations. In some cases activist groups are organizing grass-roots efforts to
promote more stringent control of nuisances from livestock animal operations.
Little has been done to date by the United States (US) federal government to address air quality
and odor issues from animal agriculture facilities. Consequently, state and local governments
have been essentially left on their own to develop programs addressing air quality. This trend
toward greater regulation by state governments is occurring despite a lack of definitive
information on the sources and quantities of air emissions from animal agricultural operations.
These factors have led to substantial variability in the extent and stringency of rules and
guidelines in those states that have developed programs.

Demonsration Mobile Laboratory Built for OnSite Teasting of Manure Nutrient Content

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Under the auspices of the Western Canadian Hog Manure Management Strategic Initiative, a mobile laboratory was designed and built to bring rapid analysis instrumentation to the farm. Requirements necessary for such included provisions for remote power, protection from inclement weather, stability in transit, user friendly
access, and security when not in use. The mobile laboratory was designed and manufactured in-house by PDK Projects, Inc. and was constructed to fit the bed of a
compact pickup. The resulting design consists of an instrumentation and power deck, tonneau cover, and tent assembly. The instrument deck is easily installed or removed, and requires no drilling or other modification of the pickup truck bed. The deck provides an easily accessible work surface and is very stable under severe driving conditions. The tonneau cover provides lockable, out-of-view security, as well as protection from wind and rain in transit or when parked. The tent assembly provides all weather protection to both the equipment and the operator during laboratory function.

An Instrumentation System for Environmental Measurements in Broiler and Swine Housing

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RAISING pH BY LOWa

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Development and Demonstration of a Management System for Handling Liquid Swine Manure that Minimizes Odours and Losses of Nutrients to the Environment

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