Dr. Larry Newton
Associate Professor, University of Georgia, Tifton, Georgia
G. Sephus Willis
Research Assistant, University of Georgia, Tifton, Georgia

"Testing the Possible Recyclability of Dairy Cattle Manure into Re-usable Nutrients and Clean Water for Cattle"

(Category: Waste Minimization and Management)

Livestock production in the U.S. and some other countries has increased in order to remain economically competitive. Most producers want to have environmentally sound, sustainable farms and the public is demanding environmental accountability. Since it is difficult or impossible to reduce the intensity of animal production, then manure management must be increased in order to regain environmental balance. Dr. Newton plans to develop manure management technology that can achieve this balance and also be cost effective. He plans to evaluate a system that will: utilize nutrients from manure for plant production, reduce odor, and provide clean water for cattle. To do this he will use a vertical drainage drying bed, which is more efficient and less expensive to build and operate than a sand filter bed; an anaerobic digester, which uses a microbial fermentation process without oxygen to produce methane gas and reduce odor; and hydroponic forage production, whereby plants are grown in a film of nutrient-filled water instead of soil. The system becomes even more sustainable when the methane gas produced by the digester is used to power water heaters and possibly heat a greenhouse where the digester liquid waste will be used in hydroponic trays to grow bermuda grass or other forage plants that can be used as cattle feed. As the plant's roots absorb nutrients from the wastewater, the remaining water will be tested for its potential usefulness as cattle drinking water. This project demonstrates a closed-loop system of recycling waste into usable products to sustain an environmentally friendly farm, leaving clean drinking water for cattle, reduced use of chemicals for water treatment and fertilizer, and healthier dairy products.

This Lindbergh/Fried Grant in waste management has been made possible by a gift from Albert Fried, Jr.