The Risks of Winter Manure Spreading
Winter manure spreading, a common practice during colder months, involves applying manure on accessible fields or parts of fields depending on weather conditions. However, this practice is intensely scrutinized and regulated due to the high risk of polluting water sources and loss of nutrients. The risk of runoff to surface water increases significantly when manure is applied to frozen or snow-covered ground, spreading contaminants like phosphorus and nitrates.
The greatest risk of runoff and nutrient loss typically occurs within 72 hours of rain or snowmelt. With climate change causing more dramatic rain events, the risk of runoff and surface water contamination is only rising. This makes it imperative for farmers to seek alternative methods to manage manure during winter.
Advanced Filtration Technology: A Solution
Fortunately, you can potentially avoid winter manure spreading with customized filtration technology from Digested Organics. By removing liquid from your lagoon year-round, the chance of needing to spread manure in the winter due to a full lagoon is dramatically reduced.
Digested Organics deploys a stainless steel ultrafiltration system and a Two-Step Reverse Osmosis system that can significantly reduce the volume of liquid in your lagoon while concentrating nutrients for more cost-effective land application. When deployed together, we call this our Nutrient Concentration & Water Reclamation System.
How Our Filtration Solutions Work
Stainless Steel Ultrafiltration System
Our ultrafiltration system uses stainless steel modules designed to handle high-solids content, such as manure. These modules remove suspended solids, bacteria, and larger dissolved compounds, resulting in a clarified liquid that can be further processed. The durable stainless steel construction ensures high filtration rates, easy cleaning, and a long filter life (over 10 years).
Two-Step Reverse Osmosis System
After ultrafiltration, the clarified liquid undergoes our Two-Step Reverse Osmosis process. This system removes additional dissolved substances and recovers clean water. The first step focuses on removing the bulk of the dissolved solids, while the second step polishes the water to a high purity level. The result is a significant reduction in liquid volume and highly concentrated nutrients.
Benefits of Our Nutrient Concentration & Water Reclamation System
By integrating our ultrafiltration and reverse osmosis technologies, you can achieve multiple benefits:
- Reduce Manure Hauling and Spreading Costs: By concentrating nutrients, you reduce the volume of manure that needs to be hauled and spread, cutting down on transportation and labor costs.
- Reduce the Risk of Manure Hauling Spills, Road Deterioration, and Soil Compaction: Less frequent hauling minimizes the risk of spills and reduces wear and tear on roads and soil.
- Prevent Groundwater Contamination and Reduce Odors: Advanced filtration removes contaminants that could leach into groundwater and reduces odors associated with manure storage and application.
- Manage Nitrogen and Phosphorus Levels: Concentrated nutrients allow for more precise application, improving crop uptake and reducing the risk of nutrient runoff.
- Customized Solutions to Meet Specific Needs: Our systems can be tailored to fit the unique requirements of your operation, ensuring optimal performance and efficiency.
Practical Implications
The systems built by Digested Organics can turn manure into clean, reusable water and concentrated fertilizer that is ready to be land applied when it makes the most sense for your crops, not just when your lagoon is full. This approach helps you manage manure more effectively and sustainably, mitigating the risks associated with winter spreading.
Optimize Manure Management with Digested Organics
Winter manure spreading poses significant environmental risks and operational challenges. However, with advanced filtration technology from Digested Organics, you can effectively manage manure year-round and avoid the pitfalls of winter spreading. Our Nutrient Concentration & Water Reclamation System not only reduces the volume of liquid in your lagoon but also enhances the value of your manure as a nutrient-rich fertilizer.
If you are interested in learning more about how our filtration technology can help you avoid winter manure spreading and improve your manure management practices, visit Digested Organics or contact us today.
Contact us at [email protected] or call 608-279-2732 to discuss how we can help you optimize your manure management process.
Empowering businesses to reclaim waste in a cost-effective and eco-friendly way.
