Progress 10/01/05 to 09/30/10
Outputs
OUTPUTS: The objective of this project was to evaluate primary, secondary and tertiary dairy wastewater treatment practices that are appropriate for manure typically collected in grazing dairy farms. A manuscript discussing treatment efficacy of the three stage lagoon system at the LSU AgCenter Southeast Research Station was published at the ASABE Journal of Applied Engineering in Agriculture. A poster was presented during the 2010 USDA-CSREES Land Grant and Sea Grant National Water Conference at Hilton Head, SC. The poster described a study comparing the delivery of wastewater either 0.6 meter below or 0.6 meter above wastewater surface in anaerobic lagoons. An abstract was prepared and submitted to the 2011 USDA-CSREES National Water Conference in Washington, DC. Results of the studies in this project were summarized in more than 10 articles and abstracts published in local, state, regional, and national venues (Field Day Reports, Louisiana Dairy Reports, Louisiana Agriculture, Southern Region Water Quality Conference, ADSA Meeting, eXtension). Wastewater management recommendations were shared with students, local producers, scientific and industry personnel during lectures, field days, dairy days, meetings and direct contact. The cost benefit of wastewater recycling from commercial lagoons was evaluated for dairy farms in Louisiana (Dr. Westra). PARTICIPANTS: Dr. Vinicius Moreira, LSU AgCenter Southeast Research Station, PI Dr. Brian D. LeBlanc, LSU AgCenter and Sea Grant, and Callegari Environmental Center, Co-PI Dr. Ron Sheffield, LSU AgCenter Biological and Agricultural Engineering Dept., Co-PI Dr. Eric Achberger, LSU AgCenter Southeast Research Station, Co-PI Dr. John Westra, LSU AgCenter Department of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness, Collaborator Dr. Claudia Leonardi, Collaborator Ms. Laura K. Zeringue, LSU AgCenter Southeast Research Station, Research Associate LSU AgCenter Southeast Research Station personnel TARGET AUDIENCES: This project develops our understanding of biological treatment of dairy wastewater and promotes the use of best management practices for waste treatment and recycling. The study's results target specifically dairy scientists, environmental engineers, dairy farmers, but they benefit the public at large. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
The LSU AgCenter Animal Waste and Nutrient Management Team has been evaluating technologies and management practices to optimize wastewater treatment at the Southeast Research Station Dairy Wastewater Treatment Evaluation System (DWTES). DWTES is a replicated system of wastewater treatment lagoons consisting of an anaerobic/facultative lagoon (ANL), followed by an aerobic lagoon (AEL), and constructed wetlands (WLD). The contribution of additional stages was compared to the effluent from previous stage and the overall system treatment effectiveness was quantified. Emerging plants (Pickerel weed - Pontederia cordata) were also evaluated in the constructed wetlands. The addition of AEL and WLDs to a single ANL significantly improved the system's effluent. More than 18 water quality characteristics were evaluated, 11 of which decreased 50% or more, including suspended solids (95%), oxygen demand, nitrogen, E. coli and phosphorus. An attempt to replace AEL with WLDs resulted in poor performance of the 2-stage system (ANL-WLD), particularly for the breakdown of organic nitrogen, suggesting the WLDs surface area merely replaced that of the AEL. Treatment stage plant species (3 cool season and 5 warm season) growth on artificial floating islands (Floating Islands Environmental Solutions, Baton Rouge, LA) was evaluated over 2 years (4 growing seasons). In the first cool season, ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) outperformed rye (Secale cereale) and oats (Avena sativa) by nearly 100% in yield (6.4 g dry matter/day/m2 of island), in nitrogen uptake (0.22 g/day/m2 of island) and in phosphorus uptake (0.03 g/day/m2 of island). Samples from the 3 subsequent seasons are being processed for laboratory analyses. Finally, wastewater flow rates (in liters per minute: 19.7 - H; 6.8 - M; and 1.5 - L) into each of the six constructed wetlands were evaluated. Concentrations of most characteristics analyzed (solids, nitrogen, ammonia, phosphorus, E. coli) sharply decreased from H and M treatments to L wetlands effluents. Anaerobic/facultative lagoons, the standard dairy wastewater treatment system in Louisiana, are noticeably inefficient in eliminating pathogens. Although it improved significantly over the facultative lagoon alone, E. coli removal rates were surprisingly low in the DWTES effluent, considering the estimated period wastewater remained in the system (hydraulic retention rates) more than 200 days. Counts of E. coli decreased by 2 orders of magnitude in wetlands at low flow rates. Pollutants (solids, sulfate, phosphorus, nitrogen, ammonia, oxygen demand) averaged 80% lower (ranging from 53% for phosphorus to 95% for suspended solids) in L wetlands' effluents than their concentrations in fresh wastewater. Molecular biological techniques are being used to investigate sources of E. coli (e.g., wildlife or bovine) as well as the survivability of different strains among bovine E. coli (Dr. Achberger). It has been observed that most E. coli found in the system's effluent can originate from wildlife in some years. DNA fingerprinting was also able to document that some E. coli strains can survive in the system much longer than others.
Publications
- Moreira, V. R., B. D. LeBlanc, E. C. Achberger, R. E. Sheffield, J. Westra, L. K. Zeringue, C. Leonardi. 2010. Improving dairy wastewater treatment for environmental quality in Louisiana, Louisiana Agriculture, 53:8-9.
- Sheffield, R. E., V. R. Moreira, B. D. LeBlanc, T. Davis. 2010. Lime precipitation of dairy wastewater, Louisiana Agriculture, 53:14-15.
- Westra, J., V. R. Moreira, R. Bardwell. 2010. An Economic Analysis of the Dairy Waste Lagoon Clean-out Program in Louisiana, Louisiana Agriculture, 53:12-13.
- Moreira, V. R., B. D. LeBlanc, E. C. Achberger, R. Sheffield, L. K. Zeringue, and C. Leonardi. 2010. Effect of loading profile on multi-stage wastewater treatment system effectiveness. In Proceedings of the 2010 CSREES National Water Conference, Hilton Head, SC. http://www.usawaterquality.org/conferences/2010/PDF's/Moreira.pdf. (Abstract).
- Moreira, V. R., B. D. LeBlanc, E. C. Achberger, D. G. Frederick, C. Leonardi. 2010. Design and Evaluation of a Sequential Biological Treatment System for Dairy Parlor Wastewater in Southeastern Louisiana. Applied Engineering in Agriculture. 26:125-136.
- Moreira, V. R. 2009. Chapter 13. Ruminant Nutrition and the Environment. In: Feeding Dairy Cattle. L. C. Goncalves, I. Borges, P. D. S. Ferreira, eds. Belo Horizonte, Brazil. 396-432. In press.
- Sheffield, R., V. R. Moreira, and B. D. LeBlanc. 2009. Phosphorus Removal of Dairy Wastewater via Lime Precipitation. in Proceedings of the 2009 CSREES National Water Conference, St. Louis, MO. http://www.usawaterquality.org/conferences/2009/Abstracts/Ag_BMPs-pos ter/Sheffield09.pdf (Abstract).
- Moreira, V. R., B. LeBlanc, E. Achberger, R. Sheffield, L. Zeringue, C. Leonardi. 2008. Comparison between two-stage and three-stage sequential wastewater treatment systems. Southeast Research Station Field Day Summaries, 2008. 12-14.
- Bardwell, R. and V. R. Moreira. 2007. Dairy waste lagoon clean-outs on Southeast Louisiana dairy farms: costs and returns. Southeast Research Station Field Day Summaries, 2007. 5-6.
- Moreira, V. R., B. LeBlanc, E. Achberger, C. Leonardi. 2007. Evaluation of multiple-stage lagoons and constructed wetlands treatment of dairy parlor waste effluent. Southeast Research Station Field Day Summaries, 2007. 7-10.
- LeBlanc, B.D. and V. R. Moreira. 2006. Early Results From Evaluation of Two-Stage Lagoons and Constructed Wetlands Treatment of Dairy Waste Effluent. in Proceedings of the 2009 CSREES National Water Conference, San Antonio, TX. http://www.usawaterquality.org/conferences/2006/Abstracts/LeBlanc.pdf (Abstract).
- Moreira, V. R., LeBlanc, B. D., and Achberger, E. 2006. Evaluation of lagoons and constructed wetlands designed to treat dairy wastewater effluent. Preliminary results. 2006 Louisiana Dairy Report. B. F. Jenny. 60-64.
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Progress 01/01/09 to 12/31/09
Outputs
OUTPUTS: The objective of this project is to evaluate dairy wastewater primary, secondary and tertiary treatment practices that are appropriate for the manure typically collected in Louisiana grazing dairy farms. A manuscript evaluating the treatment efficacy of the three treatment stages in our system was submitted to the ASABE Journal of Applied Engineering in Agriculture in September, 2008. The manuscript was returned for review in March, 2009 and accepted in October, 2009 for publication in 2010. On February, 2009, a poster was presented during the USDA-CSREES National Water Conference in St. Louis, MO. The poster described a study in which the three-stage treatment system (anaerobic lagoon - aerobic lagoon - constructed wetlands) was compared to a two-stage treatment system (anaerobic lagoon - constructed wetlands). Floating islands, donated by Floating Islands Environmental Solutions, were deployed and forages were planted in the fall 2008 and summer 2009. Individual plants were harvested in the spring and fall 2009, respectively. The wastewater delivery profile was also evaluated in 2009. An abstract was prepared and submitted to the 2010 USDA-CSREES National Water Conference in Hilton Head, SC. A summary of the results obtained in the completed studies was shared with stakeholders during the Southeast Research Station field day, dairy days, farmer meetings and through direct contact with individual farmers. The current study's objective is to evaluate different flow rates in constructed wetlands. The study begun on November, 2009. The preparation of a model to estimate the cost of nutrient removal through the experimental wastewater treatment system, which will evaluate the economic benefit of additional technologies is underway. Anaerobic/facultative lagoons, the standard dairy wastewater treatment system in Louisiana, are noticeably inefficient in eliminating pathogens. Although it improved significantly over the facultative lagoon alone, E. coli removal rates were surprisingly low in the Dairy Wastewater Treatment Evaluation System effluent, considering that the estimated period wastewater remained in the system (hydraulic retention rates) was more than 200 days. Molecular biological techniques are being used to investigate sources of E. coli (p.e., wildlife or bovine) as well as the survivability of different strains among bovine E. coli. PARTICIPANTS: Dr. Vinicius Moreira, LSU AgCenter Southeast Research Station, PI Dr. Brian D. LeBlanc, LSU AgCenter and Sea Grant, and Callegari Environmental Center, Co-PI Dr. Ron Sheffield, LSU AgCenter Biological and Agricultural Engineering Dept., Co-PI Dr. Eric Achberger, LSU AgCenter Southeast Research Station, Co-PI Dr. John Westra, LSU AgCenter Department of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness, Collaborator Dr. Claudia Leonardi, Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Collaborator Ms. Laura K. Zeringue, LSU AgCenter Southeast Research Station, Research Associate LSU AgCenter Southeast Research Station personnel TARGET AUDIENCES: This project develops our understanding of biological treatment of dairy wastewater. The study's results targets specifically dairy scientists, environmental engineers, dairy farmers, but they benefit the public at large. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
Six floating devices (8 x 10 ft) were used to grow forages, two floating devices per treatment stage (1 per replicate). Ryegrass, rye, oats, and cup plants, selected for winter growing season, were planted in December, 2008 and harvested in May, 2009. Corn, forage sorghum, sweet sorghum, pearl millet, and sunflower were grown during the warm season from July, 2009 to October, 2009. Weights fresh and dry were recorded and forage samples are being processed to evaluate nutrient outputs in the canopy and roots. In December, 2009, cool season forages were planted, but extreme cold temperatures may have damaged seedlings. Results from the hydroponic planting study will allow for proper recommendation of forage species adapted to grow on islands floating on dairy wastewater. Hydroponic plant growth should benefit wastewater treatment by contributing to the removal of nutrients in two ways. Nutrients are expected to be removed by direct uptake by plants from the wastewater, and nitrogen removal as a result of denitrification enhanced by root development in the islands structures. This study was used to obtain extra-mural financial support to fund greater coverage of the treatment-stage where plants grew most efficiently. Although wastewater delivery profile was applied at the anaerobic lagoons, statistical comparisons were made at the wetlands (3 replicates per treatment). There was no significant difference in any water quality characteristic observed. Concentration of total suspended solids tended to be higher when wastewater was delivered above anaerobic lagoon wastewater level. In fact, below surface inlet resulted in 3.5 inches more solids accumulating at the bottom of anaerobic lagoons. Phosphorus content in wetlands effluents tended to be higher when wastewater was delivered through below surface inlet. Recycling of nutrients is an essential factor in well designed nutrient management plans. High equipment/operation costs, absence of custom operators, or land shortage can make land spreading manure uneconomical. Alternatively, AFOs can use sequential treatment systems to remove pollutants. A study carried out in 2008-2009 evaluated the effect of delivering wastewater above or below surface level in anaerobic lagoons. Delivering wastewater below surface could improve treatment efficiency if coupled with P capture method in the effluent. It has been observed that most E. coli found in the system's effluent in the 2005-2006 study was of wildlife origin. DNA fingerprinting was also able to document that some strains of common E. coli can survive in the system much longer than others.
Publications
- Moreira, V. R., B. D. LeBlanc, E. C. Achberger, R. Sheffield, L. K. Zeringue, C. Leonardi. 2009. Evaluation of multi-stage lagoon and wetland systems for Southern dairies. In Proceedings of the 2009 CSREES National Water Conference, St. Louis, MO. http://www.usawaterquality.org/conferences/2009/Abstracts/Ag_BMPs-pos ter/Moreira09.pdf (Abstract).
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Progress 01/01/08 to 12/31/08
Outputs
OUTPUTS: The objective was to evaluate wastewater delivery either above or below wastewater surface in anaerobic lagoons. We expected that fewer disturbances of wastewater surface layers in anaerobic lagoons would improve treatment efficiency and reduce short-circuiting. Early preliminary results have not confirmed our hypothesis so far. In a major improvement over previous methodology, Escherichia coli isolated from wastewater were analyzed by DNA fingerprinting to unambiguously determine their concentration in the water and the number of each of the different strains of E. coli as a function of time and location in the treatment system. This analysis permitted better quantification of E. coli strains from dairy sources that persist through the entire treatment regime independent of E. coli from exogenous sources, such as wildlife. PARTICIPANTS: Six sets of floating mats were donated by Floating Islands Environmental Solutions. The material will be used in a trial to evaluate growth of winter crops. This donation also already helped our research group obtain extra-mural funds from the Lake Pontchartrain Foundation. TARGET AUDIENCES: Information on multi-stage wastewater treatment performance was shared with farmers at every opportunity available, researchers in a multistate project meetig and visitors to the Southeast Research Station. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.
Impacts
This study has been delayed because of a series of pump breakdown/replacements before and during the study. Treatments were applied for three months, but the study had to be halted in July 2008 because of another pump breakdown. The specific E. coli strains that survive the treatment process would be expected to persist in dairy runoff and will be tested as specific targets for real-time detection methodology. The use of multistage waste treatment systems should improve waste management strategies for livestock operations nationwide and consequently contribute to enhance public water quality.
Publications
- Moreira, V. R., B. D. LeBlanc, E. C. Achberger, R. Sheffield, L. Zeringue, and C. Leonardi. Comparison between Two-Stage and Three-Stage Sequential Wastewater Treatment Systems. In: Southeast Research Station Field Day Summaries 2008. LSU AgCenter SERS, Franklinton, LA. 12-14.
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Progress 01/01/07 to 12/31/07
Outputs
OUTPUTS: The impact of wastewater sequential treatment on effluent water quality was shared with stakeholders (dairy producers, media, industry personnel) during the 2007 Southeast Research Station Field Day on November 13, 2007. A manuscript of 2005-2006 study is under preparation, targeting publication in Transactions of ASABE.
PARTICIPANTS: Claudia Leonardi, Visiting Assistant Professor, Department of Experimental Statistics Laura Zeringue, Research Associate
TARGET AUDIENCES: Dairy operators, general public
Impacts
The main objective of this study was to substitute constructed wetland for aerobic lagoons to treat wastewater effluent from facultative lagoons. The Dairy Wastewater Treatment Evaluation System (DWTES) was used for this study. It is a replicated wastewater treatment system consisting of anaerobic lagoons followed by aerobic lagoons and constructed wetlands. Water quality monitoring began November 11, 2006. The study was completed in June 7, 2007. The current study in DWTES was run as a cross-over design. Wastewater effluent from facultative lagoons by-passed aerobic lagoons directly into constructed wetlands. This could significantly reduce costs to dairymen by avoiding the large construction needed to provide adequate aeration in aerobic lagoons compared to smaller wetland cell. Data is being summarized for statistical analyses. Recycling of manure nutrients is an essential factor in a well designed nutrient management plan. However, some dairy operators cannot
afford to spread manure onto their land because of high equipment costs, deficit of custom operators, or limited land availability. Those operations can alternatively use sequential treatments to minimize nutrient concentrations in the wastewater to be disposed. The study carried out in 2005-2006 evaluated the potential treatment capacity at each stage of anaerobic lagoon/aerobic lagoon/constructed wetland sequential systems. Each stage had significant impact on water quality characteristics, including solids and nutrients removal, and coliform abatement. However, Pickerelweed did not seem to reduce contaminants in wastewater reaching constructed wetlands. Alternative management should be tested to determine those practices with enhanced treatment capacity.
Publications
- Moreira, V. R., B. D. LeBlanc, E. C. Achberger, and C. Leonardi. 2007. Evaluation of Multiple-Stage Lagoons and Constructed Wetlands Treatment of Dairy Parlor Waste Effluent. In: Southeast Research Station Field Day Summaries 2007. LSU AgCenter SERS, Franklinton, LA. 6-10.
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Progress 01/01/06 to 12/31/06
Outputs
The main objective of this study was to determine the efficacy of wastewater treatment in a two-stage lagoon system followed by constructed wetlands. The secondary objective was to evaluate the use of Pickerelweed in constructed wetlands following two-stage lagoons. The Dairy Wastewater Treatment Evaluation System (DWTES) consists of two anaerobic lagoons followed by two aerobic lagoons and six constructed wetlands. Four wetlands were control cells consisting of spontaneously emerging native wetland plants, comprised of filamentous algae and duckweed. Two wetlands were each planted with 175 Pickerelweed (Pontederia cordata) rhizomes of similar masses (planted wetlands). Water quality monitoring began June 1, 2005 and was completed in May 31, 2006. Samples were collected bi-weekly at all sites, starting with the untreated dairy wastewater and at the terminal end of each stage of the treatment system. Samples were analyzed for several characteristics including total
solids (TS), total suspended solids (TSS), total diluted solids (TDS), fecal coliforms, E. coli (Escherichia coli), nitrate (NO3), nitrite (NO2), total Kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN), ammonia N (NH3-N), total phosphorus (TP), chlorophyll-A, chemical oxygen demand (COD), dissolved oxygen measured at the surface (DOs), dissolved oxygen measured at mid-depth (DOm), pH, and temperature. Hurricane Katrina compromised the stands of Pickerelweed after August 2005. Sampling was suspended for a month. Plants in both constructed wetlands appeared to have been affected similarly and were expected to recover to pre-Katrina densities, until a group of wild hogs attacked and destroyed the stands completely. Pickerel weed never reestablished. Data compiled throughout the year is being statistically analyzed. Nonetheless, some preliminary trends could be gleaned from the data. Most water quality characteristics appeared to improve as wastewater flows through the treatment system. This was especially
noticeable between anaerobic and aerobic lagoons. The decrease was less evident with the concentration of some parameters including solids, nutrients and coliforms. That may suggest further potential for treatment with wetlands cells. Planted wetlands had little impact on most characteristics measured. There was no clear trend, suggesting that heavy biomass of Pickerelweed plants was no more effective than naturally occurring wetland plants such as duckweed and filamentous algae at improving water quality parameters. In fact, wetland forbs may actually have a negative effect on fecal coliforms and E. coli, likely caused by wildlife contamination. This suspicion is being addressed by DNA fingerprinting. The current study in DWTES was designed as a switch-back and is set to by-pass aerobic lagoons. Dairy wastewater will flow directly from anaerobic lagoons into wetlands cells. This could significantly reduce costs to dairymen by avoiding the large construction needed to provide adequate
aeration in aerobic lagoons compared to smaller wetland cells. This study is currently approaching completion of the first of three planned experimental periods.
Impacts
Recycling of manure nutrients is an essential factor in a well designed nutrient management plan. However, some dairy operators cannot afford to spread manure onto their land because of high equipment costs, deficit of custom operators, or shortage of land. Those operations can alternatively use sequential treatments. The study carried out in 2005-2006 evaluated the potential treatment capacity at each stage of anaerobic lagoon/aerobic lagoon/constructed wetland sequential systems. Each stage had significant impact on water quality characteristics, including solids and nutrients removal, and coliform abatement. However, Pickerelweed did not seem to reduce contaminants in wastewater reaching constructed wetlands. Alternative management should be tested to determine those practices with enhanced treatment capacity.
Publications
- LeBlanc, B.D. and V. R. Moreira. 2006. Early Results From Evaluation of Two-Stage Lagoons and Constructed Wetlands Treatment of Dairy Waste Effluent. USDA-CSREES National Water Conference. February 5-9, 2006. San Antonio, TX. Abstract in Conference Proceedings. http://www.extension.iastate.edu/waterconf2006/ (Abstract).
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