Swine (hog, pig) Farm Prescription

Alken-Murray recommends a C/N ratio that is slightly below the ususal recommendation for anaerobic digestion, so that the ratio will not exceed that at which nitrification can proceed in the aerobic lagoon. To balance the C/N ratio to the desired level of 18 to 20, use the following algebraic equations, courtesy of the Water Quality & Waste Management website belonging to the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service:

The formula is: A x [manure C/N ratio] + (1-A) x [oat straw C/N ratio] = 1 x Desired ratio

-124 A = -112 which is the same as,
124 A = 112
Parts by weight
__________________________________
manure: A = 112 / 124 = 0.90 0.90 / 0.90 = 1.00
straw: 1 - A = 1 - 0.90 = 0.10 0.10 / 0.90 = 0.11
............................_____ ............................._____
............................1.00.................................. 1.11

Therefore, in this example, for every 90 lbs. of manure, 10 lbs. of straw would be required to bring the C/N ratio to 20. Keep in mind that for this to work, extra fungi and/or bacteria with strong cellulase enzyme are needed to break this difficult carbon source into a useable offset for the excess nitrogen and phosphorus in the swine (or chicken) manure.

Pork producers must decide whether they wish to conserve manure nutrients for maximum fertilizer value, or reduce the nutrients, for simplified management.

If nutrient reduction prior to land application is the goal (1)

, then a pair of lagoons, the first anaerobic and the second, smaller aerobic lagoon, are the design of choice. The advantages of this configuration is ease of management. Lagoons, storage basins and holding ponds must be properly sized according to USDA-Soil Conservation Service specifications using correct construction, start-up, and management procedures.

If nutrient conservation is desired (2)

, scrapers which move manure to outdoor holding tanks or basins, or settling basins prior to lagoons for flushed waste should be obtained. Liquid manure spreaders or slurry irrigation systems can then move the manure nutrients to large field crop acreages for large scale land application.

Influent lagoon waste will degrade in a

ratio of BOD to Ammonia to Orthophosphate influent equal to 100 to 6 to 3,

in the waste pit, waste transfer system and anaerobic lagoon. With the proper bacterial population, 480 ppm of ammonia and 240 ppm of orthophosphate will be co-metabolized with the 8,000 ppm BOD. This leaves 170 ppm of ammonia going to the lagoon and 810 ppm of phosphate. The remaining ammonia will be nitrified in the aerobic lagoon, leaving only the orthophosphate as an excess nutrient. It is also possible that luxury uptake of phosphorous will occur in some of the bacterial strains, further reducing the available phosphorous.

Method (1) Nutrient Reduction From Swine Manure

STARTUP of Waste Degrading/Odor Control Treatment:

First Month - Apply in the barns
Apply 7 lbs. per week of CF 7000 or Alken Enz-Odor 5 in the junction boxes (where waste water is collected) in each individual barn.

Second month - Apply in the Anaerobic lagoon
Apply 60 lbs. per week of CF 7000 or Enz-Odor 5.

Maintenance of General Waste Degrading
After 3 months, the results should be monitored and the dosage gradually decreased until the BOD, COD, ammonia and hydrogen sulfide first begin to increase. The last dosage applied immediately prior to this rise, will be the anaerobic lagoon's maintenance dose. Upsets caused by excessive dilution from a major rain event, increased antibiotic or disinfectant use and other unusual circumstances will require re-seeding the plant according to the original directions.

When the cold weather begins and lagoon temperature drops below 55°F, the treatment should be switched to Alken Clear-Flo® 7001. CF 7001 may be applied to the lagoon until its temperature drops to 41°F, at which time the prescription should be applied inside the barn until the lagoon returns to 45°F. After the temperature rises to 55°F again, Alken Cler-Flo 7000 or Alken Enz-Odor 5 treatment may be resumed in place of the CF 7001, for the greatest economy.

Mechanical aeration should be added to the second lagoon by wind generated paddle wheel, fountains, or air injection systems to maintain oxygen levels between 2 and 3 ppm. Higher aeration levels from increased motor size, etc. will not enhance the performance of the bacteria, but will increase the cost significantly. Alken Clear-Flo® 7110-50x should be applied to the aerobic lagoon

The balance of 810 ppm of orthophosphate, that remains after digestion in the waste pits and anaerobic lagoon, requires 1710 ppm of calcium carbonate, as Dolomitic limestone, to bind it out of solution. Subtracting the typical 1032 ppm of calcium in the swine waste, and the typical 348 ppm of magnesium from this total, leaves a balance of 330 ppm, or 50 to 80 lbs. per day of lime augmentation required in the aerobic lagoon. The addition of lime, at $30 to $60 per ton, will slightly raise the pH, which will aid the nitrifiers, whose optimum performance is delivered in a pH range between 7.5 and 8.0.

STARTUP - First month
Dosage of Aerobic lagoon with CF 7110-50x for Days 1 & 2:
1.2 pints a day

Dosage of Aerobic lagoon with CF 7110-50x for Days 3 through 7:
11.5 oz a day

Dosage of Aerobic lagoon with CF 7110-50x for 2nd through 4th week:
1.5 pints twice a week

SECOND MONTH
Dosage of Aerobic lagoon with CF 7110-50x for 2nd month:
12 oz. twice a week

MAINTENANCE
After two months of treatment with Alken Clear-Flo® 7110-50x, monitor results and continue to reduce dosage until the ammonia level starts to rise. The level of dosage just prior to the level at which the ammonia level increased, is the permanent maintenance dosage for this system. Stop applying CF 7110-50x when the temperature drops below 49°F, and resume again in the Spring, when the lagoon temperature rises to 50°F.

Method (2) Nutrient Retention from Swine Manure

In order to properly modify the system for nutrient preservation, one needs to study the soil types, including their nutrient deficiencies, in the area in which the fertilizer will be applied. Taking into consideration the appropriate cover crops, both product selection and dosage can be adjusted, in either a one or two lagoon recharge system, so that the swine waste is adjusted to provide an ideal fertilizer for the particular plant and region. The wide variety of land configurations and soil and crop types makes the design of a typical system all but impossible.
Without definite parameters, it is self-evident that a price schedule for nutrient retention treatment cannot be created.