Abstract
The technology for biodegradation of pig manure by using houseflies in a pilot plant capable of processing 500–700 kg of pig manure per week is described. A single adult cage loaded with 25,000 pupae produced 177.7±32.0 ml of eggs in a 15-day egg-collection period. With an inoculation ratio of 0.4–1.0 ml eggs/kg of manure, the amount of eggs produced by a single cage can suffice for the biodegradation of 178–444 kg of manure. Larval development varied among four different types of pig manure (centrifuged slurry, fresh manure, manure with sawdust, manure without sawdust). Larval survival ranged from 46.9±2.1%, in manure without sawdust, to 76.8±11.9% in centrifuged slurry. Larval development took 6–11 days, depending on the manure type. Processing of 1 kg of wet manure produced 43.9–74.3 g of housefly pupae and the weight of the residue after biodegradation decreased to 0.18–0.65 kg, with marked differences among manure types. Recommendations for the operation of industrial-scale biodegradation facilities are presented and discussed.
Highlights
The production and disposal of large quantities of agricultural waste is a recurrent problem in many countries throughout the world
The common method of manure management in small to medium farms is to apply livestock waste to crop and forest surfaces that are close to the farms, after storing it for several months in lagoons [1]
Starting from day 5 after emergence, the flies are provided with oviposition substrate offered in special oviposition devices [27] and placed at the bottom of the cage
Summary
The production and disposal of large quantities of agricultural waste is a recurrent problem in many countries throughout the world. The common method of manure management in small to medium farms is to apply livestock waste to crop and forest surfaces that are close to the farms, after storing it for several months in lagoons [1]. The great amount of waste applied to the soil contributes to environmental pollution, due to the presence of pathogens and the leaching of excess nitrogen, phosphorus and other elements, which may contaminate soil and water [2,3,4,5]. The majority of farms in the regions of study (Slovakia and Spain) are small or medium scale; farms are mainly family facilities with economic limitations that inhibit them from applying current recommended manure management technologies [1]. There is a need to find new and affordable technologies that solve this environmental problem
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