Manure Recycling

1
Manure Recycling

• ACP Compost Solutions Workshop
• February 28, 2007
• John Gundlach
• Manager of Organics Management
• Inland Empire Utilities Agency

2
The Good
Soil Health

• Dairy cattle manure contains significant amounts
  of the primary plant nutrients (N, P, and K)
• As well as other essential plant nutrients,
  including Ca, S, Mg, and Cl.

3
More Good

• Manure application, regardless of form, improves
  soil tilth
• Increases water holding capacity
• Lessens wind and water erosion
• Improves aeration
• Promotes beneficial organisms
• When manure is applied to the soil surface, it
  tends to help prevent soil crusting.

4
And

• The application of dairy cattle manure to
  cropland increases the organic matter content of
  the soil which in turn improves long-term
  aggregate stability and decreases bulk density

5
Approximate fertilizer values for N, P, and K

• For solid dairy cattle manure
• N 4.5 g/ kg
• P 0.7 g/ kg
• K 2.5 g/ kg
• For liquid pit dairy cattle manure
• N 3.7 g/ L
• P 0.7 g/ L
• K 1.9 g/ L
• For lagooned dairy cattle manure
• N 0.5 g/ L
• P 0.1 g/ L
• K 0.4 g/ L

6

• There is ample evidence that properly managed
  dairy cattle manure can be used to supply some or
  all of the nutrients to crops with economic
  profitability and no environmental harm

7
The Bad
Water Pollution

• Possible contamination of surface waters and
  groundwaters with excess N, P and Salt (Na, Cl,
  TDS)
• Heavy applications of dairy cattle manure have
  been linked to eutrophication of surface water
  bodies

8
Water Pollution Can Occur

• When application rates are greater than the
  assimilative capacity of the soil and crops
• When manure is left on the soil surface rather
  than being incorporated and hence is subject to
  movement by surface runoff
• When application rates may exceed assimilative
  capacity of the soil
• When the land area is too small relative to the
  number of cattle or where manure is repeatedly
  applied
• When applying commercial fertilizers without
  accounting for the nutrient value of the applied
  dairy manure

9
And

• Problems with dairy manure may occur from surface
  runoff and leaching in feedlot or land
  application areas, or by leakage from lagoons
• Rain-fall-induced surface runoff may carry urine
  and feces into adjacent streams, rivers, or lakes.

10
Regulatory Controls

• Santa Ana Regional Water Quality Control Board -
  NPDES Permit General Order for Dairy Operators
• Best Management Practices on the Dairy including
  an Engineered Waste Management Plan
• Land application is allowed at agronomic rates
  because of mitigation of salt and other
  pollutants by the Chino Basin Groundwater
  Desalter and the IEUA Co-composting Facility

11
Regulatory Controls

• Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control
  Board - NPDES Permit Tentative General Order for
  Dairy Operators
• Best Management Practices on the Dairy including
  an Engineered Waste Management Plan
• Land application is allowed at agronomic rates
  with an approved Nutrient Management Plan
• Budget and manage nutrients from all source
• Site specific conditions, including groundwater
  monitoring, to minimize nutrient movement on
  surface and through the root zone

12
Santa Ana Regional Water BoardTentative Revised
General Order

• Scheduled for adoption in April 2007
• Wastewater Discharge is Prohibited
• Engineered Waste Management Plan Required
• Land Application of Manure is prohibited in zones
  lacking assimilative capacity in March 2012
  unless a Work Plan to offset impacts is approved
• Land application at agronomic rates can continue
  if there is progress on the Work Plan
• Additional mitigation measures will be necessary
  for Chino and San Jacinto areas

13
The Ugly
Air Pollution

• Dairy operations, manure composting operations
  and land application of manure can cause air
  pollution such as VOCs, Ammonia, Methane,
  Hydrogen Sulfide, PM10

14
Regulatory Controls

• Dairies
• South Coast AQMD Rule 1127
• Must use digester, alternative composter or
  approved land application
• Best Management Practices
• Composting
• South Coast AQMD Rule 1133
• Central Valley Tentative Rule 4565
• CIMWB Operating Permit
• Local CUP

15
Alternatives to Land Application - Renewable
Energy Generation !

• Composting
• Lagoon Digesters
• Anaerobic Digesters
• Gasifiers
• Fluidized Bed Reactors