2014
Drainage water quality from manure treated soybean crops assessment of woodchip bioreactors for edge of field treatment
Contributor/Checkoff:
Category:
Sustainable Production
Keywords:
Abiotic stressField management SustainabilityWater supply
Parent Project:
This is the first year of this project.
Lead Principal Investigator:
Michelle Soupir, Iowa State University
Co-Principal Investigators:
Chris Jones, (not specified)
Keegan Kult, Iowa Soybean Association
Matthew Helmers, Iowa State University
Natasha Hoover, Iowa State University
Thomas Moorman, Iowa State University
+4 More
Project Code:
Contributing Organization (Checkoff):
Institution Funded:
Brief Project Summary:

One emerging technology for nitrate removal from subsurface waters is the woodchip bioreactor. These reactors are popular with farmers because of their edge-of-field treatment capabilities which do not require changes in land management practices. However, to date, limited research has been conducted to study the potential of these bioreactors to also reduce downstream transport of contaminants commonly detected in manure amended cropland, including pathogens and phosphorous.

While preliminary field monitoring results are encouraging, controlled study of the potential of woodchip bioreactors to remove manure-associated contaminants is needed. The research team will expand upon the...

Unique Keywords:
#bioreactor, #environmental studies, #manure management, #water quality & management
Information And Results
Project Deliverables

Final Project Results

Much of the upper Midwest and 1/3 of Iowa is under tile drainage management. Subsurface tile drainage systems (often equipped with surface intakes) remove excess water from the land and improve the crop production in areas with hydric soils. However, these systems also have the potential to convey pollutants directly to nearby surface waters. When agricultural lands are amended with animal manures, there is concern of pathogen export as well as nutrient loading to downstream waters. One emerging technology for nitrate removal from subsurface waters is the woodchip bioreactor. These reactors are popular with farmers because of their edge-of-field treatment capabilities which do not require changes in land management practices. However, to date, limited research has been conducted to study the potential of these bioreactors to also reduce downstream transport of contaminants commonly detected in manure amended cropland, including pathogens and phosphorous. A 50% reduction in E. coli levels was observed in a single season of field sampling in Minnesota (K. Kult, Personal communication, 10 May 2013). Wide variations have also been reported regarding the potential for phosphorous removal by woodchip bioreactors (Ranaivoson et al., 2012). Potential filters using agents designed to adsorb P (limestone, steel shavings or slag, and gypsum, zeolites) have been described (King et al., 2010), but few studies have examined these in combination with woodchips.

The United Soybean Research Retention policy will display final reports with the project once completed but working files will be purged after three years. And financial information after seven years. All pertinent information is in the final report or if you want more information, please contact the project lead at your state soybean organization or principal investigator listed on the project.