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Title: Reuse of concentrated animal feed operation wastewater on agricultural lands

Author
item Bradford, Scott
item SEGAL, ERAN - UC RIVERSIDE
item ZHENG, WEI - UC RIVERSIDE
item WANG, QIQUAN - UNIVERSITY OF DELAWARE
item HUTCHINS, STEPHEN - USEPA

Submitted to: Journal of Environmental Quality
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/25/2007
Publication Date: 8/20/2008
Citation: Bradford, S.A., Segal, E., Zhang, W., Wang, Q. 2008. Reuse of concentrated animal feed operation wastewater on agricultural lands. Journal of Environmental Quality. 37:S97-S115.

Interpretive Summary: Concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) generate large volumes of manure and manure-contaminated water. CAFO wastewater has the potential to be a valuable fertilizer and soil amendment that can improve the physical condition of the soil for plant growth and reduce the demand for high quality water resources. However, excess amounts of nutrients, salts, disease causing microorganisms, and chemicals in CAFO wastewater can adversely impact soil and water quality. The Environmental Protection Agency currently requires that the amount of CAFO wastewater that can be applied to agricultural lands is limited by the water and nutrient requirements of the selected crops. This approach assumes that all lagoon water contaminants will be taken up or degraded in the root zone, so that surface water and groundwater will be protected. The validity of this assumption for all lagoon water contaminants has not yet been thoroughly studied. This paper discusses our current level of understanding on the environmental impact and sustainability of CAFO wastewater reuse. Specifically, we address the source, composition, application practices, environmental issues, transport pathways, and potential treatments associated with the reuse of CAFO wastewater on agricultural lands.

Technical Abstract: Concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) generate large volumes of manure and manure-contaminated wash and runoff water. Transportation, storage, and treatment of manure and manure-contaminated water are costly. The large volume of waste generated, and the lack of disposal areas, further limits effective manure management. When applied to land at agronomic rates, CAFO wastewater has the potential to be a valuable fertilizer and soil amendment that can improve the physical condition of the soil for plant growth and reduce the demand for high quality water resources. However, excess amounts of nutrients, salts, pathogenic microorganisms, and pharmaceutically active compounds (antibiotics and hormones) in CAFO wastewater can adversely impact soil and water quality. The Environmental Protection Agency currently requires that CAFO waste application follow a Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plan (CNMP). A CNMP is a design document that sets rates for waste application to meet the water and nutrient requirements of the selected crops and soil types, and is typically written so as to be protective of surface water resources. The tacit assumption is that a well-designed and executed CNMP ensures that all lagoon water contaminants are taken up or degraded in the root zone, so that groundwater is inherently protected. The validity of this assumption for all lagoon water contaminants has not yet been thoroughly studied. This paper discusses our current level of understanding on the environmental impact and sustainability of CAFO wastewater reuse. Specifically, we address the source, composition, application practices, environmental issues, transport pathways, and potential treatments associated with the reuse of CAFO wastewater on agricultural lands.