Progress 06/15/20 to 08/06/24

Outputs
Target Audience:This project had multiple target auidences including students, stakeholders, and inductry & academic professionals. Students were engaged in lanaerobic digestion information incorporated into lecture and laboratory components of Environmental Health Practices, Fruit & Vegetable Production, Organic Crop Production, and Renewable Energy and Agriculture courses at Illinois State University with the objective of enhancing instruction of sustainable waste and energy management. Approximately 60 students took pre- and post-learning surveys and participated at the undergraduate and graduate student levels. Stakeholders were engaged over the duration of the project at several farmer/grower meetings where anaerobic digestion was dicussed including two feild days at the Illinois State Unversity Farm at Lexington, IL and the Down on the Farm Grower Cooperative in Faributy, IL. Approximately 150 growers were in attendence in total at these meetings. Industry and acadmeic professionals were enaged at several confernences including the American Society for Horticultural Science (ASHS) and the North American Colleges and Teachers of Agricutlure (NACTA) where presentaitons were given by the project PIs. Changes/Problems:The major problem with this project was the COVID pandemic and the switch to on-line teaching for 2020-2021 which occured nationwide. This greatly delayed the completion of our Educational Task obejctives and somewhat slowed our progress on our Research Task objectives. However, with the granting of a no-cost extension to the project, all Research and Educational Task objectives were accomplished. Wewere also able to accomplish more with the anaerobic digestion equipment pruchased than proposed. The capacity-building grant has greatly improved our program and accomplishments. The project PIs received the Illinois State University Cross Disciplinary Research Team Award from the Research and Sponsored Programs Office in 2024. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?This project has trained over 70 undergraduate and graduate students in anaerobic digestion processes and equipment through course laboratory exercises, undergraduate student laboratory proejcts and work, and graduate student thesis projects with pennycress and other cover crops. Undergraduate and graduate students who were employed on the project were also trained in anaerobic digestion processes and equipment. Project objectives and reuslts have been shared with over 150 industry farmers and growers at several field days at the Illinois State Unverstiy Farm in Lexington, IL and the Down at the Farms Grower Cooperative Field Day in Faribury, IL. Growers have responded with much interest in anaerobic digestion technology and the other grant projects equipment from this funding has made possible. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Reseerach Task objectives and reuslts have been shared with over 150 industry farmers and growers at several field days at the Illinois State Unverstiy Farm in Lexington, IL and the Down at the Farms Grower Cooperative Field Day in Faribury, IL. Growers have responded with much interest in anaerobic digestion technology and the other grant projects equipment from this funding has made possible. Resutls have been publsihed in two refereed journal articles to infomed research colleagues in the academic community. Education Task objectives have been deseminated to national reserach and teaching conferences including the annual confernce of the American Society for Horticutlural Science (ASHS) and the North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture through poster presentations and publsihed abstracts. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Research Task objectives: 1) determine potential synergistic effects of combining anaerobic digestion and composting for agricultural waste management; This objective was accomplished through experimentation with anaerobic digestion equipment and results were published in the following refereed journals: Yang, L., T.Y. Lubna, M.A. Moklak, B. Gautam, N.J. Heller, R.L. Rhykerd, D.E. Kopsell, and J.C. Sedbrook. 2024. Impacts of harvest date and concurrent alkali pretreatment and ensiling on anaerobic digestion of pennycress biomass. Fermentation 10(2), 96. https://doi.org/10.3390/fermentation10020096 Yang, L., L.D. Lamont, J.C. Sedbrook, N.J. Heller, and D.E. Kopsell. 2022. Anaerobic Digestion of Cereal Rye Cover Crop. Fermentation 8(11): 617. Kopsell, D.E. and L.C. Yang. 2022. Effects of Applying Anaerobic Digestion Effluent to Leaf Compost.HortScience57(9):S155 (Abstr.). 2) quantify the revenues and costs of adding an anaerobic digestion system to the Illinois State University Farm at Lexington and a local organic farm to improve waste, nutrient, and energy management; and This objective was reported with the following: L.C. Yang andS.Cosolini. 2019.A case study on converting organic farm waste vegetables to biogas using a cartridge design anaerobic digester.Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology, 198, 638-646. Information from this project is also suporting a new proposal to the U.S. Dept. of Energy:Feasibility Study of Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) Productionfrom Organic Wastes for Local Transportation in Bloomington-Normal, IllinoisforDOE Program WASTE: Waste Analysis and Strategies for Transportation End UsesDE-FOA-0003072Topic Area 1: Feasibility Study Developmentin the Sept. 2024. 3) examine an bio-electrochemical method for phosphorus recovery from the anaerobic digestion effluent. We have not publsihed data from this objectve but we have a news report: Sludgy science: Student recovers nutrients from wastewater for Research Symposium project. Redbird Scholar, March 30, 2022. Illinois State University Marketing. Education Task objectives are: 1) increase undergraduate participation and training in sustainable agriculture research; During the course of the grant project, four undergraduate students and one graduate students worked in laboratory experimentation to fulfill Research Tasks. These students were in Health Sciences, Agricutlure, and Audiology majors. One undergraduate working on the proejct was selected as an Illinois State University Bone Scholar, the highest student award at our university. A second undergraduate student who participated on the project reveiced the College of Applied Science and Technology Outstanding Undergraduate Student Researcher Award. and 2) enhance teaching of laboratory-based, hands-on skills on anaerobic digestion Anaerobic digestion (AD)information was incorporated into lecture and laboratory components of Environmental Health Practices, Fruit & Vegetable Production, Organic Crop Production, and Renewable Energy and Agriculture courses at Illinois State University with the objective of enhancing instruction of sustainable waste and energy management. After IRB approval (IRB-2022-58) students completed a pre-learning survey prior to instruction. Students also rated their attitudes and perceptions of waste management, the environment, and climate change. After completing the pre-learning survey, students participated in AD lecture and laboratory exercises with hands-on activities. Students completed a post-learning survey measuring the same metrics. Fifty-nine students in five courses completed the surveys from Spring 2022 to Fall 2023. Student demographics were 81.4% male/16.6% female and 75% white or Caucasian/25% African American, Hispanic, or Asian. Pre-survey knowledge of bioenergy was 1.66 on a scale of 0=no knowledge to 4=excellent knowledge. Pre-survey knowledge of AD including feedstocks used, operation, applications, and products produced were all less than 0.9 on the same scale. Post-survey knowledge of bioenergy (2.67; P≤0.001), AD (2.83; P≤0.001), feedstocks (2.85; P≤0.001), operation (2.76; P≤0.001), applications (2.76; P≤0.001), and products (3.01; P≤0.001) all increased. Student concern about climate change remained unchanged from pre- to post-learning (3.27 and 3.31, respectively; P=0.453) on a scale of 0=not concerned to 4=extremely concerned. Students also identified the importance of hands-on learning both pre-learning (3.51) and post-learning (3.74) and this remained unchanged (P=0.072). Student participants increased their knowledge of AD after instruction, placing a high value on hands-on learning. Anaerobic digestion may be a valuable addition to horticulture and agriculture curricula as sustainable waste and energy management increases in importance in specialty crop production. Resutls from these surverys was presented at the following annual conferences: Kopsell, D.E. and L.C. Yang. 2023. Pre- and Post-learning Perceptions of Anaerobic Digestion by Horticultural, Renewable energy, and Environmental Health Undergraduate Students. HortScience 58(9):S279-S280 (Abstr.). Kopsell, D.E. and L.C. Yang. 2024.Perceptions of Anaerobic Digestion Lecture and Laboratory Exercises by Horticultural, Renewable Energy, and Environmental Health Students. NACTA Journal (Abstr.). In press.

Publications

• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2024 Citation: Yang, L., T.Y. Lubna, M.A. Moklak, B. Gautam, N.J. Heller, R.L. Rhykerd, D.E. Kopsell, and J.C. Sedbrook. 2024. Impacts of harvest date and concurrent alkali pretreatment and ensiling on anaerobic digestion of pennycress biomass. Fermentation 10(2), 96. https://doi.org/10.3390/fermentation10020096
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Awaiting Publication Year Published: 2024 Citation: Kopsell, D.E. and L.C. Yang. 2024. Perceptions of Anaerobic Digestion Lecture and Laboratory Exercises by Horticultural, Renewable Energy, and Environmental Health Students. NACTA Journal (abs.). In press.

Progress 06/15/22 to 06/14/23

Outputs
Target Audience:During this reporting period, the target audience reached were undergraduate and graduate students, profesisonal producers, and other academic scientists. Project participants presented research results at the American Society for Horticultural Science annual confernce, a field day at the Illinois State University Farm, and through the peer-reviewed journal Fermentation with a piblsihed article. Changes/Problems:The main problem with fulfilling the objectives of our project was the COVID pandemic and the effects it had on completing our research and educaitonal tasks. Project equipment was delayed in production and shipping in 2020 due to the national shutdown and we estimate this delayed our Research Task progress by 8 to 12 months. The Project PIs were able to complete the Research Tasks proposed by the end of this official reporting period of 6/14/23. The Educational Tasks were also delayed by the COVID Pandemic due to delays in research equipment and also due to the campus closure and switch to on-line learning at Illinois State University in 2020 and partially in 2021. The Project PIs were able to partially complete the Education Tasks and have submitted a conference abstract to the American Society for Horticultural Science annual conference in August 2023. A no-cost extension request was granted for the project to accomodate the COVID delays and was approved on 3/14/23. This no-cost extenison will extend the project to 6/14/24 which will allow the necessary time to complete teh Educational Tasks which involve working with students in laboratory settings and conducting pre- and post-learning surveys. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Research Tasks:One undergraduate student and one graduate studenthave worked on the Reserach Tasks in this project and have been trained in the operation of anaerobic digestion equipment. During the field day presentation in April 2023 at the Illinois State University Farm, approximately 20 professionals attended and learned about composting and anerobic digestion activities of this project. Educaitonal Tasks: Fifty-two (52) undergraduate students in four courses have been educated and trained in anerobic digestion. Theirperceptions were recorded using pre- and post-learning surveys. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?In this reporting period, outcomes of the Research tasks were publsihed in the Fermentation journal;Yang, L.; Lamont, L.D.; Sedbrook, J.C.; Heller, N.J.; Kopsell,D.E. Anaerobic Digestion of CerealRye Cover Crop. Fermentation 2022, 8,617. https://doi.org/10.3390/ fermentation8110617 and acknowledge was made for USDA funding:Funding: This study was funded by the USDA-NIFA NLGCA Capacity Building Grants for Non-Land Grant Colleges of Agriculture Program (Award number: 2020-70001-31279). This material isbased upon work that is supported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agriculture and FoodResearch Initiative Competitive Grant No. 2019-69012-29851. Project activities were presented during a professional industry field day to approximately 20 participants. Educational Task outcomes have been submitted as a conference abstract to the 2023 annual conference of the American Society for Horticutlural Science in August 2023 in Orlando, FL. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Our Reserach Task objectives are now complete, but reserach will continue with the purchased anaerobic digestion equipment in fulfillment of the newly recommended USDA-NIFACapacity Building Grants for Non Land Grant Colleges of Agriculture Proposal Number:2023-01524.Project Director: Liangcheng Yang.Proposal Title: Research and education capacity building for energy and nutrients recovery fromvegetable farm wastes. Should our USDA-NIFA Higher Education Challenge Grant be funded, progress will continue with the anaerobic digestion equipment purchased with this grant. The main effort in the next reporting period will be coverd by the no-cost extension and the continuation of the Educational Tasks that were delayed by the COVID pandemic. Anaerobic digestion lecture and laboratory activites will continue to be incorporated in the horticultural and environmental health science courses to strengthen our survey results for publication. Instruction and surveys have been included in four (4) courses and in the next reporting cycle, anadditional 4courses and estimated 75 students will participate. Results will be analyzed and a manuspcript will be prepared and submitted for publication.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Reserach Tasks: All of the proposed Research Tasks have been accomplished to date with outcomes of several conference presentations and one peer-reviewed reserach publication. The anaerobic digester units purchased with this capacity-building grant have been used in two (2) federal grant proposals; one to the USDA-NIFACapacity Building Grants for Non Land Grant Colleges of Agriculture Proposal Number:2023-01524.Project Director: Liangcheng Yang.Proposal Title: Research and education capacity building for energy and nutrients recovery from vegetable farm wastes. This project has been recommended for funding. Program: Capacity Building Grants for Non Land Grant Colleges of Agriculture Proposal Number: 2023-01524 Project Director: Liangcheng Yang Proposal Title: Research and education capacity building for energy and nutrients recovery from vegetable farm wastes Liangcheng Yang Agriculture & Environmental Health and Sustainability Illinois State University Campus Box 5220 Normal, IL 61790-5220 Dear Liangcheng Yang, Congratulations! Your proposal received by the Non-Land Grant College of Agriculture (NLGCA) Capacity Building Grant program was evaluated and recommended for an award. However, your proposal is pending funds which we anticipate will be made available in the weeks to come. This is only a preliminary notification. Additional correspondence with details on how to initiate the award and specific conditions of the award will follow if these funds become available to the NLGCA program. The award is final when your Institutional Grants Office receives an award notification etter from NIFA's Award Management Division (AMD). Please be sure to review the Terms and Conditions of this award once it is received. You will find the panel summary and individual reviews attached. Please note that the panel summary supersedes the individual reviews. ?Again, congratulations and we look forward to working with you! Sincerely, Michelle Schelske-Santos, Ph.D. National Program Leader Donaven McLaurin Biological Science Specialist www.nifa.usda.gov ============================================================================= United States Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture Capacity Building Grants for Non Land Grants Capacity Building Grants for Non Land Grant Colleges of Agriculture Proposal 2023-01524 submitted by Yang Research and education capacity building for energy and nutrients recovery from vegetable farm wastes The review panel grouped proposals into one of the relative categories below. The percentage ndicates the final distribution of proposals in each category. Outstanding % 13 High Priority % 30 Medium Priority % 30 Low Priority % 26 Do Not Fund % 0 This proposal was placed in : High Priority and ranked as : 5 A second federal grant proposal was submited on 4/18/23 to the USDA-NIFA Higher Education Challenge Grant Program FY 2023 titled:Enhancing Sustainable Urban Agriculture Education Through Project-based Experiential and Service-learning which will also utilize the anaerobic digestion equipment purchsed through this project. Educational Tasks: The Educational Tasks objectives have been partially accomplished as there was a delay in progress during COVID and the semesters when Illinois State University was transitioned to completely on-line learning in 2020 and partially in 2021. The Project PIs requested a no-cost extension to complete the Educational Tasks from 6/14/2023 to 6/14/2024 and this request was granted on 3/14/2023: United States Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture AWARD FACE SHEET Previous Total $149,968.00 $0.00 David Kopsell Illinois State University Normal, IL 61790-5020 15. Project Director/Performing Organization 2023-03309 3. Proposal Number 2020-70001-31279 1. Award No. 3 Revision 6. Type of Action 10.326 7. CFDA Number Sivapathasun Sureshwaran 14. Program Point of Contact: 202-445-5570 sivapathasun.sureshwaran@usda.go Tene Toure Administrative Point of Contact: 410-459-2509 tene.toure@usda.gov 1022431 10. CRIS Number 18. Title of Proposal PROVISIONS 20207000131279 13. Awardee Organization Grant 5. Type of Instrument 12. Agency (Name and Address) 06/15/2020 4. Period of Performance $149,968.00 + or - $0.00 $149,968.00 Total $0.00 Grand Total through 06/14/2024 $0.00 16. Funding: Federal Non-Federal 17. Funds Chargeable BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF ILLINOIS STATE UNIVERSITY DBA: COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE NORMAL, IL 61790-0001 2.Amendment No. 9. Method of Payment Capacity building for student research and education 19-12X1500-70001 $0.00 FY-TAS- FDC Amount Telephone: Telephone: Kendra Edwards Typed Name Authorized Departmental Officer FOR THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Signature Date NIFA-2009 ASAP 70001312797000123000 Awards Management Division National Institute of Food and Agriculture/USDA 805 Pennsylvania Ave Kansas City, MO 64105 This award, subject to the provisions above, shall constitute an obligation of funds on behalf of the Government. Such obligation may be terminated without further cause unless the recipient commences the timely drawdown of funds; such drawdowns may not exceed one year from issuance date of the award. FY-TAS-FDC Amount Page No : 1 / 1 This Award incorporates the following: 1. This amendment is in response to the notification letter dated 02/16/2023. 2. Pursuant to the Research Terms and Conditions and USDA/NIFA Agency-Specific Terms and Conditions, USDA/NIFA is accepting this letter as official notification of the no cost extension. 3. Refer to Block 4. "Period of Performance" for the new expiration date. Please refer to the Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (2 CFR Part 400) at expiration of the grant for closeout procedures. 4. The May 2022 Research Terms and Conditions and the USDA/NIFA Agency-Specific Terms and Conditions shall supersede and replace the prior terms and conditions between the grantee and NIFA effective upon issuance of this amendment. 5. Failure to submit complete, accurate, and timely reports may result in possible award delays or enforcement actions. Federal Financial SF-425 forms are to be sent to awards@usda.gov. Project progress reports are to be completed in the REEport portal located at https://portal.nifa.usda.gov. Questions regarding access to REEport should be directed to electronic@usda.gov. Additional information regarding grant management and closeout can be found at: https://nifa.usda.gov/manage-grant and https://nifa.usda.gov/close-grant. 6. Unless otherwise stated, all other Provisions on the initial Award Face Sheet and any amendments thereto remain in effect. 7. If you have any questions concerning this action, please contact the Award Management mailbox (awards@usda.gov) and cc' the Administrative Point of Contact listed above. Co-Project Director(s): Liangcheng Yang (Illinois State University) 11.Authority: 8.FAIN 7 U.S.C. 3319i, Section 1473F of NARETPA, Capacity Building Grants for Non-Land Grant Colleges of Agriculture KENDRA.EDWARDS 03/14/2023

Publications

• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2022 Citation: Yang, L.; Lamont, L.D.; Sedbrook, J.C.; Heller, N.J.; Kopsell, D.E. Anaerobic Digestion of Cereal Rye Cover Crop. Fermentation 2022, 8, 617. https://doi.org/10.3390/ fermentation8110617
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Accepted Year Published: 2023 Citation: A research abstract in fulfillment of the Educational Objectives 1 and 2 was submitted to the 2023 Annual Conference of the American Society for Horticultural Science (ASHS) and was accepted for presentation on Friday August 4, 2023 at the Caribe Royale Orlando in Orlando, FL. Here is the accepted abstract: Pre- and Post-learning Perceptions of Anaerobic Digestion by Horticultural, Renewable Energy, and Environmental Health Undergraduate Students David Kopsell, Agriculture Department, Illinois State University, Normal, IL Liangcheng Yang, Health Sciences Department, Illinois State University, Normal, IL Anaerobic digestion (AD) is used for managing animal, crop, and food wastes while recycling nutrients and capturing energy. AD is the decomposition of organic waste by anerobic microorganisms in sealed vessels or digesters which capture produced biogas as a renewable energy source. AD information and equipment were incorporated into lecture and laboratory components of Fruit & Vegetable Production, Renewable Energy and Agriculture, and Environmental Health Practices courses at Illinois State University with the objective of enhancing instruction of sustainable waste and energy management. After IRB approval (IRB-2022-58), students completed a pre-learning survey prior to lecture and laboratory instruction which assessed their knowledge of bioenergy, anaerobic digestion, feedstocks, operation of digesters, and related careers. Students also rated their attitudes and perceptions of waste management, the environment, and climate change. After completing the pre-learning survey, students participated in AD lecture and laboratory exercises with hands-on activities. Students completed a post-learning survey measuring the same metrics. Fifty-two students in four courses completed the surveys from Spring 2022 to Spring 2023. 84.6% of the students were male and 15.4% were female. 76.9% identified as white or Caucasian and 23.1% identified as African American, Hispanic, or Asian. 28.8% of students were from an urban area or city (population >50,000), 48.1% were from an urban cluster or suburb (population >2,500 but <50,000), and 23.1% were from a rural area (population <2,500). Pre-survey knowledge of bioenergy was 1.50 on a scale of 0=no knowledge to 4=excellent knowledge. Pre-survey knowledge of the AD process including feedstocks used, the operation of, applications, and products produced were all less than 1.0 on a scale from 0=no knowledge to 4=excellent knowledge. Post-survey knowledge of bioenergy (2.58), AD (2.72), feedstocks (2.78), operation (2.70), applications (2.63), and products (2.91) all increased. Knowledge of careers in AD increased from pre-learning (0.39) to post-learning (2.38). Student concern about climate change remained unchanged from pre- to post-learning (3.30 and 3.31, respectively) on a scale of 0=not concerned to 4=extremely concerned. Students also identified the importance of hands-on learning as 3.66 pre-learning and 3.76 post-learning survey. Student participants rated their knowledge of AD and its processes as poor to fair prior to lecture and laboratory activities and this knowledge increased after instruction, where students placed a high value on hands-on learning. Anaerobic digestion may be a valuable addition to horticulture and agriculture curricula as sustainable waste and energy management increases in importance in specialty crop production.

Progress 06/15/21 to 06/14/22

Outputs
Target Audience:We again desseminated project findings at an industry field dayat the Illinois State University Research Farm where reserach projects were being conducted on April 22, 2022. This field day was attended by regional politcal representatives and industry professionals who learned about our project. The anaerobic digesters were utilized in the AGR 225 Renwable Energy and Agriculture course where 16undergraduates and 1 graduate studentlearned of their cababilities and used them in a hands-on labroatory exercisein the Spring of 2022. The laboratory exercise lasted for 30 days. Additional student groups have toured our reserach laboratory to see demonstation of the anaerobic digesters. Our campus Center for Math, Science, and Technology (CeMaST) utilized our digester equipment in an instructional video that they used for K-12 educational programs. The Illinois State University President Terri Goss Kinzy and College of Applied Science and Technology Dean Todd McLoda visited our research lab and witnessed a demonstration of our anaerobic equipment onSept. 24, 2021. Changes/Problems:There are currently no changes to our project other than dealing with the delay the COVID Pandemic has placed on our progress. We did not recieve our anaerobic digestion units unitl May of 2021 and delays in our campus faciltiies (also caused by supply & labor problems with the COVID pandemic) did not see them hooked up in our reserach laboratory in Juneof 2021. We have acheived most of our Reserearch Task Objectives to date and are continuing our progress towards our Educational Task Objectives. The Educational Task Objectives were further delayed this Spring when the COVID conditions in McLean County, IL caused Illinois State University to place the frdit two weeks of the semester on-line. Further delays were encountered when campus was impacted by two inclement weather events that closed campus for two days each. These delays cancelled four (4) weeks of labroatry activities in the courses we teach. We do not anticipate any further problems impacting our progress. If mechanical problems or repairs arise with our anaerobic digestion equipment, we do not have any additional funding in the budget to utilize. We will pursue additional/external funds should the need arise. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?We again desseminated project findings at an industry field dayat the Illinois State University Research Farm where reserach projects were being conducted on April 22, 2022. This field day was attended by regional politcal representatives and industry professionals who learned about our project. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Portions of the project were presented at the Illinois State University Research Symposium on April 1, 2022 through a poster titled Recovering Nutreints from Waste Water presented an undergraduate student (Rowan Carroll) majoring in Envrionmental Health. A reserach abstract titled Effects of Applying Anaerobic Digestion Effluent to Leaf Compost in fulfillment of the Reserach Objective 1 was submitted to the 2022 Annual Confernce of the American Society for Horticultural Science (ASHS) and was accpeted for presentation on Tuesday August 2, 2022 at the Hyatt Regency O'hare in Chicago. Here is the accepted abstract: Efffects of Applying Anaerobic Digestion Efflunet to Leaf Compost David Kopsell and Liangcheng Yang, Illinois State University Anaerobic digestion (AD) is a waste treatment process which converts organic materials into biogas and nutrient-rich digestate (AD effluent). AD effluent is traditionally applied to land as a soil amendment. However, economic and environmental concerns limit widespread land application. To combat these constraints, we tested a new approach by applying AD effluent to composting piles, aiming to use nutrients, water, and microorganisms in the effluent to speed up the composting process. A pilot study was started in December 2021 on the Illinois State University Farm. Three piles (2 m3 each, labeled Control, Pile A, and Plie B) were created with fallen leaves collected from the City of Bloomington, IL and were separated by concrete blocks. The leaves were dry, so 416 L of water was added to each pile. In addition, 57 L and 114 L of AD effluent collected from an anaerobic digester, with a solids content of 3.25%, were added into Pile A and Pile B, respectively. The initial moisture content of the Control, Pile A, and Pile B were 40.1%, 44.5%, and 55.7%, respectively; while the initial volatile solid contents (as a percentage of the total solids) were 86.6%, 85.0%, and 85.6%. All three piles were turned twice a week. The ambient temperature and temperature of the three piles were measured weekly with a probe was inserted 0.6 m into the pile to measure the pile temperature. The average ambient temperature was calculated to be 3.7°C from December 2021 to February 2022, while the average temperature of Control, pile A, and pile B were 8.4°C, 10.6°C, and 13.0°C, respectively. On Dec. 9, 2021, temperatures between treatments differed significantly (P=0.0146) with the Control, Pile A, and Pile B measured at 22.8°C, 30.2°C and 38.3°C, respectively. Treatment temperatures were significantly different (P<0.001) for the next month. From Jan. 14, 2022 to Jan. 27, 2022, there were no significant temperatures between the treatments. Treatment temperatures were significantly different on Feb. 4, 2022 (P<0.001) and Feb. 11, 2022 (P=0.005), however Pile B exhibited the lowest temperature on Feb. 11, 2022. Higher temperatures during the first month of this study in the two treatment piles suggest that the addition of AD effluent enhanced microbial activities in the composting piles. However, reduction in AD treatment temperatures over the control treatment suggest this effect may not be lasting. We expect the compost will reach maturity sooner with the AD effluent. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?We plan to perpare and submit one (1) manuscript on a summation of the proejct findings; we plan make two (2) conference presentaitons on this project results; attend one (1) industry field day; and conduct student labroatry acitvities and surveys in three (3) more classes with undergraduate and graduate student participation. Plans are currently in place to include the anaerobic digestion equipment we obtained through this grant funding in a USDA-SAS grant proposal. Having this capavcity on our campus is creating more research opportunites.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Research Task objectives are: 1) determine potential synergistic effects of combining anaerobic digestion and composting for agricultural waste management; - we are currently conducting a field test at the Illinois State University Reseach Farm; this data will be presented at the 2022 American Society for Horticultural Science Annual Conference in August of 2022. 2) quantify the revenues and costs of adding an anaerobic digestion system to the Illinois State University Farm at Lexington and a local organic farm to improve waste, nutrient, and energy management; - this research task has been acomplished. and 3) examine an bio-electrochemical method for phosphorus recovery from the anaerobic digestion effluent. - this reserach task has been accomplished. Education Task objectives are: 1) increase undergraduate participation and training in sustainable agriculture research; and 2) enhance teaching of laboratory-based, hands-on skills on anaerobic digestion. On Febraury 23, 2022, we recevied notice that our Institutional Review Board (IRB) Proposal titled Perceptions and Knowledge of Anaerobic Digestion (AD): Pre- and Post-Learning Activities was approved as exempt from further reviewby the Illinois State University Institutional Review Board under the number IRB-2022-58. This proposal outlined a listing of questions that will be used to quage pre- and post-learningduring the incorporation of anaerobic digestion lessons and hands-on activities with our project digestion equipment in our courses. The survey was utilized in AGR 225 Renewable Energy & Agriculture in the Spring of 2022 with 16 undergraduates and 1graduate student enrolled in conjunction with anaerobic digestion course and laboratory materials. Pre- and post-learning surveys were conducted and date generated will be combined with surveys from future courses to assess learning in relation to Education Task Goal 2. This laboratory exercise took 30 days to complete. The topic of anaerbic digestion was discussed in AGR 346/446 Organic Crop Production in the fall of 2021 to 24 students enrolled and again in AGR 257 Fruit & Vegetable Production in the Spring of 2022to 20 students.

Publications

• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2022 Citation: Carroll, R. and L.C. Yang. 2022. Recovering Nutrients from Waste Water. Illinois State University Research Symposium, April 1, 2022. Normal, IL.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Accepted Year Published: 2022 Citation: A reserach abstract titled Effects of Applying Anaerobic Digestion Effluent to Leaf Compost in fulfillment of the Reserach Objective 1 was submitted to the 2022 Annual Confernce of the American Society for Horticultural Science (ASHS) and was accpeted for presentation on Tuesday August 2, 2022 at the Hyatt Regency O'hare in Chicago. Here is the accepted abstract: Efffects of Applying Anaerobic Digestion Efflunet to Leaf Compost David Kopsell and Liangcheng Yang, Illinois State University Anaerobic digestion (AD) is a waste treatment process which converts organic materials into biogas and nutrient-rich digestate (AD effluent). AD effluent is traditionally applied to land as a soil amendment. However, economic and environmental concerns limit widespread land application. To combat these constraints, we tested a new approach by applying AD effluent to composting piles, aiming to use nutrients, water, and microorganisms in the effluent to speed up the composting process. A pilot study was started in December 2021 on the Illinois State University Farm. Three piles (2 m3 each, labeled Control, Pile A, and Plie B) were created with fallen leaves collected from the City of Bloomington, IL and were separated by concrete blocks. The leaves were dry, so 416 L of water was added to each pile. In addition, 57 L and 114 L of AD effluent collected from an anaerobic digester, with a solids content of 3.25%, were added into Pile A and Pile B, respectively. The initial moisture content of the Control, Pile A, and Pile B were 40.1%, 44.5%, and 55.7%, respectively; while the initial volatile solid contents (as a percentage of the total solids) were 86.6%, 85.0%, and 85.6%. All three piles were turned twice a week. The ambient temperature and temperature of the three piles were measured weekly with a probe was inserted 0.6 m into the pile to measure the pile temperature. The average ambient temperature was calculated to be 3.7�C from December 2021 to February 2022, while the average temperature of Control, pile A, and pile B were 8.4�C, 10.6�C, and 13.0�C, respectively. On Dec. 9, 2021, temperatures between treatments differed significantly (P=0.0146) with the Control, Pile A, and Pile B measured at 22.8�C, 30.2�C and 38.3�C, respectively. Treatment temperatures were significantly different (P<0.001) for the next month. From Jan. 14, 2022 to Jan. 27, 2022, there were no significant temperatures between the treatments. Treatment temperatures were significantly different on Feb. 4, 2022 (P<0.001) and Feb. 11, 2022 (P=0.005), however Pile B exhibited the lowest temperature on Feb. 11, 2022. Higher temperatures during the first month of this study in the two treatment piles suggest that the addition of AD effluent enhanced microbial activities in the composting piles. However, reduction in AD treatment temperatures over the control treatment suggest this effect may not be lasting. We expect the compost will reach maturity sooner with the AD effluent.

Progress 06/15/20 to 06/14/21

Outputs
Target Audience:As of Sept 13, 2021: Dissemination Presented the project at a field day at the Illinois State University Farm at Lexington on Apr 16, 2021 to industry professionals and regional political representatives.. Changes/Problems:There are currently no changes to our project other than the delay in the start of our project due to the COVID Pandemic. The COVID Pandmeic has not only delayed the manufacture and receipt of necessary project equipment (three 100-L anaerobic digesters), but has also prevented in-person instruction of courses for student laboratory courses on our campus. We are anticipating receipt of our anaerobic digestion equipment by the end of February 2021, after a 4 month delay. Once the COVID Pandemic is resloved and our campus can safely return to in-person course instruction, our project and progress toward our research and educational tasks will continue. As of September 2021: Out digesting units were not built and delivered to us by our vendor until late May 2021, many monhts behind scheudle due to the COVID pandemic and related personnel and supply chain problems. We have also run into delays on our campsu with personnel and suppy issues due to COVID from our Facilties Electricians. We have acheived many of our Research Task goals however, but need operational digestion units to being fulfillin gour Educational Tasks goals. We hope these issues will be resolved in the next few weeks. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?As of September 13, 2021: We have disseminatedprelimianry project progress which was presented at a industryfield day at the Illinois State University Farm at Lexington on April 16, 2021. This field day was also attended by reginal political representatives who wer able to learn of our fudning and project parameters. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?As of September 13, 2021: We have disseminatedprelimianry project progress which was presented at a industryfield day at the Illinois State University Farm at Lexington on April 16, 2021. This field day was also attended by reginal political representatives who wer able to learn of our fudning and project parameters. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?First and foremost, the COVID Pandemic needs to improve to remove the major delay in starting our project. This is an external factor beyond our control as project PIs and one that we sincerly hope will be over soon. We are anticipating receipt of our three 100-L anaerobic digestion units from our manufacturer no later than the end of February 2021. This equipment is key to our reserach and educations tasks. We do not fault our manufacture for their delay due to the COVID Pandemic. Once the COVID Pandemic improves, we are anitcipating a safe return to in-person course instruction on our campus by the Fall of 2021. This will allow for progress toward our educational tasks. A student pre- and post learning survey has been developed and is awaiting Institutional Review Board approval proir to launching to assess student laboratory experiences with anaerobic digestion equipment in three (3) different courses over several semesters. With equipment in place and a return to in-person course instruction, progress towards our reserach and education tasks will be possible. As of September 13, 2021: By the next reporting period we plan to have our digester units operational. (We have run into COVID-related delays up unitl now in regrads to their produciton and delivery which was 8 monhts late and our on-campus faciltiy electricians in their ability to have time and personnel to hook them up in our laboratory. We also plan to have IRB approval for our Educational Task of pre- and post-learning surveys of anaerobic digestion instruction in several ISU-related courses and hands-on work with the digestion units by ISU students for their career training. We plan to finish up our Reserach Tasks by the next reporting as well.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? As of February 1, 2021, our project has only been active for 6 months since receipt of funding in August of 2020. The COVID pandemic of 2020-21 has severly limited the beginning of our project due to delys in manufacturing of necessary anaerobic digestion equipment which has delayed the start of our reserach tasks and movement to on-line instruction at Illinois State University during the Fall 2020 and Spring 2021 semesters for student and instructor safety which has prevented students from participating in face-to-face laboratory experiences which has delayed the start of our education tasks. Anaerobic digestion equipment (three 100-L customized units) was ordered in August of 2020, but construction and shipment from the manufacturer has been delayed for over 4 months due to the COVID pandemic. We are anticipating receipt of anaerobic digestion equipment by the end of Febraury 2021 (the original shipping date had been October 2020). Despite the lack of equipment and in-person instruction on campus, two (2) undergradaute students were able to safely conduct research in a socially-distanced laboratory setting during the first 6 months of the project. One underegraduate student worked on anaerobic digestion tests of corn stover using 0.5-L glass reactors. Total 30 reactors were tested for over 5 months. Biogas yields were measured every 2-3 days. Solids content, pH values, ammonium nitrogen, and alkalinity were measured for all digestate samples. A another undergraduate student worked on struvite extraction from the digestion effluent. She has developed the experimental setup for this experiment and obtained some preliminary data. More tests will be carried out in the Spring semester of 2021. ?As of Sept. 13, 2021: Research tasks accomplished to date include: Task 1) Determine potential synergistic effects of combining anaerobic digestion and composting for agricultural waste management. Finalized the design of composting piles and selected a location on farm for this experiment. Finalized sampling and analysis methods. Task 2) Quantify the revenues and costs of adding an anaerobic digestion system to the Illinois State University Farm at Lexington and a local organic farm to improve waste, nutrient, and energy management. Experimentally determined biogas potential of a variety of wastes (corn stover, cover crops, various waste vegetables, and swine manure) generated from the Illinois State University Farm at Lexington and a local organic farm at Atlanta. Task 3) Examine an bio-electrochemical method for phosphorus recovery from the anaerobic digestion effluent. Experimentally examined factors including pH, mixing ratio, and reaction time on the phosphorus recovery efficiency. Education Tasks Accomplished to date include: Task 1) Increase undergraduate participation and training in sustainable agriculture research. Two undergraduate students participated in the research activities since fall 2020. Task 2) Enhance teaching of laboratory-based, hands-on skills on anaerobic digestion. Drafted the lab procedure for use in courses for pre- and post-learning assessment. Drafted application for IRB Approval for Human Subjects Research authorization. Expected to get the pilot-scale digesters operational in late-Spetember 2021. Dissemination of Project Progress: Presented the project at a field day at the Illinois State University Farm at Lexington on Apr?il 16, 2021.

Publications