March / April 2004

Graduate Research – Dana Kirk

Title: Decision Support System to Assist Livestock Farms Evaluating Manure Treatment

Animal agriculture in the United States is under extreme pressure to reduce the potential for pollution of air, water, and soil. Under the guidance of Dr. Bickert with assistance from Drs. Alocilja and Harrigan, I am working on developing tools to help dairy producers select manure treatment technologies that meet the farm specific environmental needs and financial constraints. As part of this project, we have developed and are operating the first newly constructed anaerobic digester in Michigan in nearly twenty years at Green Meadow Farms, Inc near Elsie. Anaerobic digestion is the conversion of organic matter (manure) to biogas (methane and carbon dioxide) and stabilized manure slurry. The reduction in fecal coliform is an added benefit, not the primary use of anaerobic digestion. The digester serves as the cornerstone for the demonstration integrated manure management system (IMMS). Other components in the IMMS include; a struvite reactor for phosphorus removal, a constructed wetland for water polishing, and a boiler-heat exchanger system for biogas utilization.

The decision support system will incorporate both research and outreach. The research portion of the project involves characterizing the output stream from each component of the IMMS for physical, biological and chemical properties. Furthermore, each system component will also be evaluated using an investment model. The research findings will be incorporated into a multicriteria optimization model developed by Dr. Alocilja in the late 1990’s for zero-excess phosphorus management for dairy farms. The optimization model will be used to assist producers with the selection of manure treatment technologies that fit their individual needs. The demonstration IMMS will be used to train technical support personnel and staff from farms adapting manure treatment systems. Further manure treatment technologies may be added to both the model and demonstration IMMS in the future.

Agricultural Engineering
Michigan State University
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East Lansing, MI 48824-1323
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March 31, 2004