ARS | Publication request: EVALUATION OF AN OVERLAND FLOW VEGETATED BUFFER TREATMENT SYSTEM FOR SWINE LAGOON EFFLUENT

Submitted to: Sustainable Land Application Conference
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: January 4, 2004
Publication Date: June 1, 2004
Citation: Hubbard, R.K., Newton, G. 2004. Evaluation of an overland flow vegetated buffer treatment system for swine lagoon effluent (abstract). Sustainable Land Application Conference. Lake Buena Vista, Florida. Jan. 4-8, 2004. p. 103.

Technical Abstract: Animal wastes pose a major threat to soil and water quality. Excess N and P from animal wastes may result in eutrophication of water bodies or contamination of drinking water. Technologies are needed to utilize these nutrients. One method for utilizing lagooned animal wastes is application to grass-forest buffer systems by overland flow. A farm-scale test of this system was started in March 2000 on a commercial hog producer's farm in Tift County, GA. The objective is to test low cost overland flow buffer systems at the farm scale to determine if they can effectively utilize nutrients from wastewater while protecting environmental quality. Six sections of a grass-forested area were selected to receive the wastewater or serve as control areas. Wastewater (average N, 300 mg/L; average P, 30 mg/L) is applied to 4 sections (60 m wide) through slotted pipe such that the wastewater flows first over a grassed buffer and then into forest. Two of the sections receive wastewater based on N (target rate of 800 kg N/ha/yr) while two receive wastewater based on P (target rate of 100 kg P/ha/yr). A remaining 2 sections are used as controls and do not receive wastewater. Transects of shallow groundwater wells are sampled at least twice annually and the shallow groundwater is analyzed for N, P, and Cl. Soil samples to a depth of 1 m are collected annually and also analyzed for N, P, and Cl. This paper reports on 3 ½ years findings on the effectiveness of these vegetated filter systems in assimilating nutrients from the wastewater.