ARS | Publication request: NUTRIENT SEPARATION FROM LIQUID MANURE USING PAM

Submitted to: Agronomy Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: June 30, 1999
Publication Date: N/A

Technical Abstract: Most of the organic nutrients in liquid swine manure are contained in fine suspended particles not separated by mechanical separators. Treatment with polyacrylamide (PAM) has the potential for enhancing solids-liquid separation, thus concentrating nutrients and organic C. In this work we evaluated solids and nutrient removal from flushed swine manure using PAM and screening. The project was conducted at a 14,400 head feeder-to-finish operation in Bladen Co., N.C. Trials were done every other week during a complete growing cycle (16 wk). The flushed manure contained 110 to 590 mg/L of P, and 890 to 2440 mg/L of N; approximately 85% of P and 45% of N were organic. PAM treatment significantly increased capture of organic nutrients by screening: PAM rates of 60 to 100 mg/L provided efficiencies >90% for both suspended solids and organic P and N, vs. <15% for a control (no PAM). The technology provides an attractive alternative to existing manure handling methods for conserving nutrients and avoiding excessive nutrient application in areas where swine production is concentrated.