Nutrient Removal Structures Using Locally-Sourced Iron and Aluminum By-Products Reduce Nutrient Runoff from Broiler Production Facilities

Sheri L Herron,Andrew N Sharpley,Kristofor R Brye,James M Burke

doi:10.4236/jep.2020.114019

Abstract

A common issue with filters designed to remove nutrients from runoff is their reduced effectiveness in high-flow conditions. To overcome this challenge, it was determined that nutrient removal from broiler-house fan dust could be more effective if nutrient removal was conducted at the nutrient source. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of containment trays (CTs) holding locally sourced by-products installed adjacent to broiler house fans at the University of Arkansas Savoy broiler production facility to capture nutrients released from dust during rainfall over four years (2013 to 2017). By-products used were locally sourced, iron-based red mud (RM) generated during the manufacture of steel belts for tires and alum-based drinking water treatment residual (WTR), where both materials have large phosphorus (P) sorption capacities. Four-year mean annual concentrations of dissolved P of through-flow from RM CTs were consistently below 0.7 mg·L-1 and below 1.6 mg·L-1 for WTR CT through-flow. This equated to an average 11- and 4-fold decrease for RM and WTR, relative to concentrations in runoff from same-sized plots adjacent to sidewall fans, demonstrating their potential to trap P at the source and decrease P runoff to nearby flowing waters. While there was no significant decline in RM or WTR effective-ness over the four-year study, further work needs to be conducted to determine the lifespan of CTs. Use of RM and WTR in CTs at poultry broiler production facilities, along with their subsequent land application, has the potential to reduce the amount of by-product materials that are currently landfilled.

Highlights

Accelerated cultural eutrophication continues to be a concern in the U.S and globally [1], with agricultural production systems identified as a major contributor, for example in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed [2] [3], Mississippi River Basin [4], Florida’s inland and coastal waters [5], Lake Erie Basin [6] [7] [8] and China [9]
The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of containment trays (CTs) holding locally sourced by-products installed adjacent to broiler house fans at the University of Arkansas Savoy broiler production facility to capture nutrients released from dust during rainfall over four years (2013 to 2017)
This paper describes a four-year study to test the hypothesis that CTs filled with P-sorbing materials and recessed into the ground adjacent to broiler house fan outlets, could sequester P from dust and decrease P runoff potential

Summary

Introduction

Accelerated cultural eutrophication continues to be a concern in the U.S and globally [1], with agricultural production systems identified as a major contributor, for example in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed [2] [3], Mississippi River Basin [4], Florida’s inland and coastal waters [5], Lake Erie Basin [6] [7] [8] and China [9]. Concerns have centered on regions with spatially concentrated livestock systems, where nutrients, P, in manure produced exceed local crop requirements, leading to an increased risk of P runoff [10]. Additional concerns were focused on nutrient runoff from dust deposit adjacent to broiler house ventilation fans [11] [12]. Accentuating the potential loss of nutrients is the fact that the water solubility of dust P was, on average, three times greater than that in the litter [11]. Strategies to reduce nutrient runoff target nutrient sources, rather than treating receiving waters, to most effectively decrease impairment [13] [14] [15]. Removing nutrients from runoff water prior to water leaving the production area is the most cost-effective, on-farm conservation practice (CP)

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Conclusion