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Industry Partners
Prairie Swine Centre is an affiliate of the University of Saskatchewan
Prairie Swine Centre is grateful for the assistance of the George Morris Centre in developing the economics portion of Pork Insight.
Financial support for the Enterprise Model Project and Pork Insight has been provided by:
KINETICS OF AMMONIA REMOVAL IN A PILOT−SCALE BIOFILTER
Posted in: Environment by admin on January 1, 2004 | No Comments
The Breakdown of Biodigesters
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Manure digesters are an excellent method for manure management, but the cost of the units is a limiting factor in the adoption of this technology. The advantages to these digesters include reduction of odour levels, reduction in pathogen levels, preservation of nutrients, reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, production of energy, and conservation of water. There are several projects underway to demonstrate and hopefully make them an economically viable option for producers. These projects include The Clear Green/SaskPower/CPIG at Cudworth, SK, the Alberta Research Council/Highmark Renewables feedlot manure treatment system in Alberta, and BioTerre in Manitoba. Digesters need to be of good design, good construction, and have knowledgeable and dedicated management.
Ammonia Emissions from Swine Houses in the Southeastern United States
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Agroecosystem Performance during Transition to Certified Organic Grain Production
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Phosphorus in Soil and Water
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Phosphorus is an essential plant and animal nutrient that can impair surface water quality when present in excess. Phosphorus occurs naturally and is commonly found in fertilizers, manure, detergents, municipal and domestic sewage, and industrial waste. Phosphorus must be carefully managed to minimize the impact on surface water quality.
Although phosphorus is essential for all living things, excess in surface water can degrade water quality and cause a variety of problems. Both agricultural and nonagricultural sources contribute phosphorus to lakes, rivers and streams. All sources must be managed to maintain water quality, however, more than one approach is necessary.
Initial Crop Growth in Soil Collected from a Closed Animal Waste Lagoon
Posted in: Environment by admin on January 1, 2003 | No Comments
In the 21st century, remediation of the soil beneath animal waste lagoons will become an important issue, as they are closed due to environmental regulations or to abandonment. The possibility of growing crops in the soil, which has high concentrations of ammonium-N, has not been studied. The objective of this experiment was to determine if crop species would germinate and grow in lagoon soil. Soil was gathered from a lagoon that had received wastes from swine (Sus scrofa) and beef (Bos taurus) since 1968. Eight crops were grown in greenhouse pots containing the lagoon soil: winter barley (Hordeum vulgare L. ‘Weskan’); field corn (Zea mays L., Cargill’s hybrid 7997); ‘Plainsman’ winter rapeseed [Brassica napus L. spp. oleifera (Metzg.) Sinsk. f. biennis]; soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr. ‘KS 4694’); forage sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench ‘Norkan’]; sunflower (Helianthus annuus L. ‘Hysun 354’); and winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)–two cultivars: ‘2137’ and ‘Turkey.’ Plants were grown for 35 days in lagoon soil or an agricultural soil (Haynie very fine sandy loam; coarse-silty, mixed, superactive, calcareous, mesic Mollic Udifluvent) obtained from a field near the closed lagoon. Ammonium-N (average value of 692 mg/kg) was about 70-85 times greater than the average value of 8-10 mg/kg NH4-N in Kansan soils. The lagoon soil was nonsodic and had a salinity ranking of “medium” with an electrical conductivity averaging 2.29 dS/m. The high ammonium-N concentration in the lagoon soil was not inhibitory to emergence and growth. The eight crops grew taller in the lagoon soil than in the agricultural soil. Except for ‘2137’ wheat, dry weight was higher in the lagoon soil than in the agricultural soil. The results showed that the lagoon soil is not detrimental to early growth of eight crops.
Managing Feedlot Manure to Protect Water Quality and Human Health
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