Two Types of Runoff Control Systems For Open Concrete Swine Feedlots

Abstract

TWO types of runoff control sytems were evaluated with open concrete swine feedlots. At one location, an infiltration channel-vegetative filter system was used on a silty loam soil for infiltration of treated runoff. At the second location, a detention pond for runoff storage was used due to a heavy textured, poorly drained silty clay loam soil. Concrete settling basins were used to treat runoff before disposal. Settling basin areas compared were 0.04 and 0.018 mVm2 of lot area. Less solids settled in the 0.018 m basin due to less settling time and less frequent cleaning of these basins. The nutrient content of all settled solids were similar. The infiltration area used to absorb runoff from the 590 m2 feedlot was 103.5 m2. Nutrient accumulation in the soil and soil solution suggested that increasing the slope above 1% and widening the area more than 0.9 m would provide a more uniform absorption of runoff. Because of solids removal, the detention pond size of 0.053 rnVkg of swine liveweight or 1.26 mVm2 of lot area was adequate for odor control and over one year storage. A labor and energy cost analysis indicated that the major cost of the manure management system with the open lot was scraping and hauling solid manure. Detention pond storage with irrigation application increased some labor and energy costs; however, nutrients from the effluent would recover the additional cost if utilized as a fertilizer resource.