Development of a second-generation environmentally superior technology for treatment of swine manure in the USA.
New swine waste management systems in North Carolina need to meet high performance standards of an environmentally superior technology (EST) regarding nitrogen, phosphorus, heavy metals, pathogens, ammonia and odor emissions, and remain affordable and simple to operate. The objective of this study was to develop a second-generation treatment system that can achieve high EST standards at reduced costs. The system used solids separation, nitrification/denitrification and phosphorus removal/disinfection, and was demonstrated at full-scale on a 5145-head swine farm during three production cycles (15-months). Removal efficiencies were: 98% suspended solids, 97% ammonia, 95% phosphorus, 99% copper and zinc, 99.9% odors, and 99.99% pathogens. The system met EST standards at 1/3 the cost of the previous version. Animal health and productivity were enhanced; hog sales increased 32,900 kg/cycle (5.6%). These results demonstrated that: (1) significant cost reductions were achieved by on-farm implementation and continued engineering improvements, and (2) the new waste management system substantially benefited livestock productivity.
Vanotti
Matias B
MB
United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Coastal Plains Research Center, Florence, South Carolina 29501, USA. matias.vanotti@ars.usda.gov
Szogi
Ariel A
AA
Millner
Patricia D
PD
Loughrin
John H
JH
D000818:Animals; D000829:Animals, Domestic; D001835:Body Weight; D004526:Efficiency; D011211:Electric Power Supplies; D004777:Environment; D006262:Health; D006801:Humans; D008372:Manure / Q000032:analysis* / Q000382:microbiology; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000302:isolation & purification; D009812:Odorants / Q000032:analysis; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry; D012037:Refuse Disposal / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D034421:Sus scrofa; D014481:United States; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid; D014867:Water / Q000592:standards; D018508:Water Purification
D008372:Manure; D011108:Polymers; D014867:Water; D010758:Phosphorus; D009584:Nitrogen