Project Number: 1265-12000-028-08
Project Type: Specific Cooperative Agreement

Start Date: May 01, 2004
End Date: Apr 30, 2009

Objective:
Development and evaluation of manure treatment systems. Specific objectives: define and determine engineering parameters of existing and proposed biological treatment systems for treatment of animal manures and agricultural wastewaters; determine optimal strategies for cultivating specific aquatic plants and/or algae, capturing manure nutrients, using farm labor and equipment efficiently; and characterize and compare costs and benefits of aquatic plant treatment systems with existing biological treatment processes and manure management practices.

Approach:
Results from laboratory-scale studies demonstrate the ability of algal systems to remove nutrients from dairy, swine and aquacultural wastewaters. Such systems offer a new approach for management and recycling of nutrients within agricultural facilities. However, further research is necessary to properly evaluate the costs and benefits of full scale versions of these systems for agricultural producers.In this research, engineering parameters for field-scale manure treatment systems using algae and aquatic plants will be developed and used to compare the costs and benefits of different treatment systems.Treatment efficiency, capital and operational costs, and biomass utilization strategies will be evaluated for each type of system. Small scale aquatic plant systems will be used to estimate water quality treatment and biomass production parameters where needed. Costs and benefits of different treatment strategies will be compared to existing manure management practices.