scholarly journals Treatment of Agricultural Drainage Water by Surface-Flow Wetlands Paired with Woodchip Bioreactors

Water ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (7) ◽  
pp. 1891
Author(s):  
Lorenzo Pugliese ◽  
Henrik Skovgaard ◽  
Lipe R. D. Mendes ◽  
Bo V. Iversen

Nutrient losses from agricultural fields have long been a matter of concern worldwide due to the ecological disturbance this can cause to surface waters downstream. In this paper a new design concept, which pairs a surface-flow constructed wetland (SFW) with a woodchip bioreactor (WB), was tested in relation to its capacity to reduce both nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) loads from agricultural tile drainage water. A nutrient mass balance and a comparative analysis were carried out together with statistical regressions in order to evaluate the performance of four SFW+WBs under different catchment conditions. We found marked variations between the systems in regard to hydraulic loading rate (0.0 to 5.0 m/day) and hydraulic retention time (1 to 87 days). The paired system worked as nutrient sinks throughout the study period. Total N and total P removal efficiencies varied from 8% to 51% and from 0% to 80%, respectively. The results support the use of the new design concept for nutrient removal from tile-drained agricultural catchments in Denmark as part of national management plans, with the added advantage that smaller areas are needed for construction (0.1% to 0.2% of the catchment area) in comparison to standalone and currently used SCWs (~1%).

2019 ◽  
Vol 62 (1) ◽  
pp. 131-138
Author(s):  
Peter A. Vadas ◽  
J. Mark Powell

Abstract.On dairy farms, outdoor lots where cows spend substantial time can be areas of high nutrient deposition in manure. This represents an inefficient use of farm nutrients, if the nutrients are not recovered, and a potential for nutrient loss to the environment. Management of barnyards to recover nutrients can have environmental and production benefits. We monitored nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) fate for five years in dairy heifer barnyard plots constructed with soil, sand, or bark mulch surfaces. The plots were stocked with heifers several times per year for about a week at a time. We monitored N and P loss in runoff (soil plots only), leachate, and gas emissions. Of the total N inputs to the plots through heifer excretion, 6% to 8% of inputs were lost in runoff (~2%), leachate (~3% to 4%), and gas emissions (~3% to 4%) from the soil and mulch plots. Most of the N inputs remained in the surface materials. For the sand plots, more N inputs were lost in leachate (~13%) and gas emissions (~6%), but most of the N remained in the surface material. Of total P inputs to the plots through heifer excretion, 4% to 6% of inputs were lost in runoff and leachate, with most of the P remaining in the surface materials. The results suggest that most of the nutrients deposited by heifers onto barnyards could be recovered and used as fertilizer for crop growth by excavating the surface materials and spreading them on cropland, by including animal holding areas in land used for crop rotation so crops can recover nutrients , or by corralling animals directly on cropland. Keywords: Barnyards, Cattle, Leaching, Nutrients, Runoff.


Agronomy ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 170 ◽  
Author(s):  
Massimo Tolomio ◽  
Nicola Dal Ferro ◽  
Maurizio Borin

Surface flow constructed wetlands (SFCWs) can be effectively used to treat agricultural drainage waters, reducing N and P surface water pollution. In the Venice Lagoon drainage basin (northeastern Italy), an SFCW was monitored during 2007–2013 to assess its performance in reducing water, N, and P loads more than 10 years after its creation. Nitrogen concentrations showed peaks during winter due to intense leaching from surrounding fields. Phosphorus concentrations were higher after prolonged periods with no discharge, likely due to mobilization of P of the decomposing litter inside the basin. Over the entire period, N removal efficiency was 83% for NO3–N and 79% for total N; P removal efficiency was 48% for PO4–P and 67% for total P. Values were higher than in several other studies, likely due to the fluctuating hydroperiod that produced discontinuous and reduced outflows. Nitrogen outlet concentrations were reduced by the SFCW, and N removal ratios decreased with increasing hydraulic loading, while no strong correlations were found in the case of P. The SFCW was shown to be an effective long-term strategy to increase water storage and reduce N and P loads in the Venice Lagoon drainage basin.


1996 ◽  
Vol 33 (4-5) ◽  
pp. 81-88 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Kronvang ◽  
P. Græsbøll ◽  
S. E. Larsen ◽  
L. M Svendsen ◽  
H. E. Andersen

Since 1989, nutrient loading of the Danish aquatic environment has been monitored in 270 Danish streams draining catchment areas differing in climate, physico-geographic and land usage. Diffuse nutrient loading from non-point sources (mainly agricultural) is now the main cause of eutrophication of the Danish aquatic environment; thus in 1993, diffuse sources accounted for 94% of riverine nitrogen loading and 52% of riverine phosphorus loading. Annual riverine total nitrogen (total-N) loading from diffuse sources during the period 1989-93 was on average 10 times greater in 66 small agricultural catchments (median 23.4 kg N ha−1) than in 9 natural catchments (median 2.2 kg N ha−1). Correspondingly, annual riverine total phosphorus (total-P) loading from diffuse sources was on average 3.5 times greater in the agricultural catchments (0.29 kg P ha−1) than in the natural catchments (0.07 kg P ha−1). The annual total-N and total-P load was found to increase with the proportion of agricultural land in the catchments. In 1993, intensive measurements of phosphorus load in 8 agricultural catchments showed that normal point sampling (fortnightly) underestimates annual total-P loading by a median of 37% as compared to that estimated by frequent sampling. Moreover, estimates of monthly total-P loading are even more biased, especially in late summer and early autumn (−50% to −65%).


1997 ◽  
Vol 35 (5) ◽  
pp. 307-314 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andreas Schönborn ◽  
Brigitta Züst ◽  
Evelyn Underwood

The human waste concept of the Centre for Applied Ecology Schattweid, Switzerland combines treatment of feces in compost toilets and a constructed wetland for the liquid wastes. The wastewater of 5.1 population equivalents (greywater and urine) is treated in a two chambered settling tank followed by an underground vertical flow sand filter and a horizontal flow constructed wetland. The wastewater system has been in operation since 1985. Its performance has been monitored on COD, NH4-N, NO3-N, NO2-N, Total-P and Total-N almost monthly since then, and on other parameters (Total-Fe, Cl) occasionally. COD elimination (91.4 %) and Total-P removal (90.6%) were stable over the years, whereas NH4-N and Total-N elimination have improved markedly from around 55% to 93.0% (NH4-N) and 80.0% (Total-N). Performance in winter was excellent. The addition of an easily degradable carbon source to the plant filter in summer 1991 led to a markedly decreased phosphorus retention and a washout of iron during the experiment.


Author(s):  
D.J. Houlbrooke ◽  
D.J. Horne ◽  
M.J. Hedley ◽  
J.A. Hanly ◽  
V.O. Snow

While it is widely believed that intensive dairy farming is a major contributor to the increased nutrient loads in surface waters, there is little current research quantifying the magnitude of nutrient loss from dairy farms to waterways, particularly from artificial drainage. An experimental site has been established on a Pallic soil (Tokomaru silt loam) to measure the impacts of intensive dairying on the quality and quantity of drainage water exiting from an artificial drainage system. A key component of this study is the development and evaluation of a land-based treatment system for farm dairy effluent (deferred irrigation). The research site has eight replicated plots, each with an isolated mole and pipe drain network. All the plots are subjected to the farm's standard grazing management. Four of the plots receive fer tiliser according to the farm's fertiliser programme, while the other four plots receive applications of farm dairy effluent. Measurements of drainage flows during year one of this study showed that the average concentrations of total nitrogen (12.9 mg N/L) and total phosphorus (0.15 mg P/L) in drainage water for the winter of 2002 under standard dairy farming practices were all well above the levels necessary to prevent aquatic weed growth in fresh water bodies. Adherence to the scheduling criteria prescribed by the 'deferred irrigation' system prevented the direct loss of nutrients during irrigation of farm dairy effluent in the summer of 2001/2002. Summer applications of farm dairy effluent did not increase N loss in subsequent winter drainage. Effluent irrigation increased P loss during the subsequent winter drainage period by 0.52 kg total-P/ha (0.38 kg P/ha as DIP). However, this increase in total loss corresponds to less than 4% of the P (16 kg/ha) applied as effluent. Deferred irrigation proved to be a very successful tool for minimising nutrient losses from effluent irrigated areas in direct drainage of effluent at the time of irrigation and subsequent winter drainage. Dairy cattle grazing events also increased nutrient concentrations in drainage waters following grazing by approximately 5 mg total-N/L (nearly all in the nitrate form) and 0.1 mg total-P/L (nearly all in the DIP form). The effect of an application of urea in spring on nitrate-N concentrations in drainage water was minimal. Keywords: dairying, effluent irrigation, mole and pipe drainage, nitrogen, nutrient leaching phosphorus, water quality


Author(s):  
Trần Thanh Đức

This research carried out in Huong Vinh commune, Huong Tra town, Thua Thien Hue province aimed to identify types of land use and soil characteristics. Results showed that five crops are found in Huong Vinh commune including rice, peanut, sweet potato, cassava and vegetable. There are two major soil orders with four soil suborders classified by FAO in Huong Vinh commune including Fluvisols (Dystric Fluvisols<em>, </em>Gleyic Fluvisols and Cambic Fluvisols) and Arenosols (Haplic Arenosols). The results from soil analysis showed that three soil suborders including Dystric Fluvisols<em>, </em>Gleyic Fluvisols and Cambic Fluvisols belonging to Fluvisols were clay loam in texture, low pH, low in OC, total N, total P<sub>2</sub>O<sub>5</sub> and total K<sub>2</sub>O. Meanwhile, the Haplic Arenosols was loamy sand in texture, poor capacity to hold OC, total N, total P<sub>2</sub>O<sub>5</sub> and total K<sub>2</sub>O


2013 ◽  
Vol 70 (7) ◽  
pp. 941-952 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adam R. Hoffman ◽  
David E. Armstrong ◽  
Richard C. Lathrop

Internal regulatory controls of phosphorus (P) via iron (Fe) scavenging were quantified in four contrasting dimictic Wisconsin lakes: Mendota (eutrophic, calcareous), Fish (mesotrophic, calcareous), Devil’s (mesotrophic, noncalcareous), and Sparkling (oligotrophic, noncalcareous). Hypolimnetic enrichment of P was highest in Mendota and Devil’s and least in Fish and Sparkling. This enrichment was attributed mainly to internal loading in the noncalcareous lakes and regeneration of sedimenting epilimnetic P in the calcareous lakes. Differences in Fe scavenging efficiencies at fall turnover were related to hypolimnetic Fe:P molar ratios as well as Fe availability and its control by sulfate–sulfide chemistries. In the noncalcareous lakes with high hypolimnetic Fe enrichment (Fe:P > 2), 45% of whole-lake total P was removed. P removal was low (<20%) in the two calcareous lakes with minimal Fe enrichment (Fe:P < 2). These differences in hypolimnetic P enrichment and subsequent Fe scavenging at fall turnover help to explain the differences in the amount of P available for subsequent spring and summer primary production as well as the differences in trophic state of the four lakes.


2005 ◽  
Vol 65 (1) ◽  
pp. 141-157 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. J. Ramírez ◽  
C. E. M. Bicudo

The vertical and diurnal variation of nitrogen and phosphorus forms, as well as that of soluble reactive silica (SRS), were studied in four sampling days at Garças reservoir, a shallow tropical one located in the city of São Paulo, in southeastern Brazil. Except for N-NH4, all other inorganic forms of nitrogen (N-NO2, N-NO3, and total N) demonstrated decreased concentrations toward the bottom of reservoir. Similarly, all showed significant diurnal differences on every sampling day, with increased values during the night due to absence of photosynthetic assimilation during that period. In the sampling days, these forms decreased on the spring sampling day due to the bloom of Microcystis registered during this period of the year. All three forms of phosphorus (SRP, particulate P, and total P) showed significant vertical variation, except on the fall sampling day. On the summer sampling day there was an increase of both total P and particulate P, the latter because it constitutes more than 70% of the total P during all sampling days. Hourly phosphorus variation was significant during all sampling days, except for the summer one. The SRS vertical variation was significant during all sampling days, except for that in the spring. It was also different hourly on sampling days.


2012 ◽  
Vol 524-527 ◽  
pp. 2139-2142
Author(s):  
Shu Li Wang ◽  
Chao Ma ◽  
Wei Bin Yuan

The soil physical and chemical properties of four densities (A:2500/hm2,B:3300/hm2,C:4400/hm2,D:6600/hm2) of hybrid Larch plantations, Larix olgensis plantation(E) and Quercus mandsurica forest(F) were studied in Jiangshanjiao forest farm of Heilongjiang province of China. Soil bulk density, soil porosity, total N, total P, available N and available P were affected significantly by plantation density in hybrid Larch plantations. The lowest surface soil bulk density was in density 2500/hm2. Soil porosity of density 2500/hm2and 3300/hm2was bigger than that of density 4400/hm2and density 6600/hm2. Total N, total P and available N of density 4400/hm2and 3300/hm2were higher than that of density 6600/hm2and density 2500/hm2. Total N, total P, available N and available P of hybrid Larch plantations were not lower than that of Larix olgensis plantation. The results of the soil physical and chemical properties under different densities of hybrid Larch plantations and different types of forest seems to confirm that hybrid Larch plantation did not decreased the soil fertility, and the hybrid Larch plantation with densities of 3300/hm2and 4400/hm2could be conductive to improving the soil quality. The results would provide the theories basis for manage the hybrid Larch plantations.


Soil Research ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 46 (7) ◽  
pp. 542 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. A. Hanly ◽  
M. J. Hedley ◽  
D. J. Horne

Research was conducted in the Manawatu region, New Zealand, to investigate the ability of Papakai tephra to remove phosphorus (P) from dairy farm mole and pipe drainage waters. The capacity of this tephra to adsorb P was quantified in the laboratory using a series of column experiments and was further evaluated in a field study. In a column experiment, the P adsorption capabilities of 2 particle size factions (0.25–1, 1–2 mm) of Papakai tephra were compared with that of an Allophanic Soil (Patua soil) known to have high P adsorption properties. The experiment used a synthetic P influent solution (12 mg P/L) and a solution residence time in the columns of c. 35 min. By the end of the experiment, the 0.25–1 mm tephra removed an estimated 2.6 mg P/g tephra at an average P removal efficiency of 86%. The 1–2 mm tephra removed 1.6 mg P/g tephra at an average removal efficiency of 58%. In comparison, the Patua soil removed 3.1 mg P/g soil at a P removal efficiency of 86%. Although, the Patua soil was sieved to 1–2 mm, this size range consisted of aggregates of finer particles, which is likely to have contributed to this material having a higher P adsorbing capacity. A field study was established on a Pallic Soil, under grazed dairy pastures, to compare drainage water P concentrations from standard mole and pipe drainage systems (control) and drainage systems incorporating Papakai tephra. The 2 tephra treatments involved filling mole channels with 1–4 mm tephra (Mole-fill treatment) or filling the trench above intercepting drainage pipes with ‘as received’ tephra (Back-fill treatment). Over an entire winter drainage season, the quantity of total P (TP) lost from the control treatment drainage system was 0.30 kg P/ha. The average TP losses for the Mole-fill and the Back-fill treatments were 45% and 47% lower than the control treatment, respectively.


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