Boosting Crop Production by Spreading Effluent
Tararua district farmer Jamie Harris milks around 400 cows using a split calving system on his farm, Crossdale Dairies.
REL says a separator offers a consistent treatment result: liquid and solid fractions stay within a 10 -15% range of nutrient split between solids and liquids.
“In order to be able to manage how effluent is applied to land, we first need to quantify the nutrient content of what is being applied, in order to plan effluent applications,” the company says.
“Nutrient content will vary from day to day based on feed volume and type.
“By separating liquids from solids, and then injecting into irrigation at a rate of up to 30% effluent/70% water, we can better manage fluctuations in nutrient loading.”
REL says other treatment systems don’t allow this same flexibility.
In removing the solids from the liquids, the anaerobic breakdown of wastes is halted, mitigating the risks of the waste becoming anoxic through the fermentation process.
Both solids and liquids remain nearly pH neutral -- preserving the nutrient value and reducing the need for man-made fertilisers, but also keeping nutrients in a storable format.
“In halting the anaerobic process, we are able to reduce greenhouse gas emissions at the storage pond by up to 85%, as well as almost eliminating unpleasant odours,” REL says.
The company’s Bauer Separators are able to screen particles from as fine as 0.25mm, up to 1mm, offering a range of irrigation options.
“With all coarse material being extracted in the separation process, irrigated wastes have the quickest possible path to the root zone of the crop and, with fertiliser in a natural format, the quickest possible uptake.
“On farms where nutrient volume is too high, the solids fraction is dry enough to be moved without environmental risk.
“With separation being able to lock up to 30% nutrient in the solids, moving solids to another site allows the farmer to drop the overall nutrient loading on site dramatically.”
Farmers are facing more pressure to increase control over their nutrient loadings on farm.
REL says separators are the only method of treatment which will adequately deal with increased solids loadings.
Bauer Separators are warrantied to perform with waste up to 20% solids content, so are suited to changing site & environmental requirements, REL says.
“No other system provides the same level of solids removal, without the need to remove bulk wet solids waste from storage, and without further drying being required.
“Not only are wastes in a very useable format, they are very easy to handle with existing farm equipment.
“The FDE Design Code of Practice indicates that separating solids as soon as possible is a preferable outcome for handling farm wastes. Only mechanical separation can truly delver this intended result.”
Bauer Separator
• Can easily be incorporated to an existing effluent system.
• Consistent treatment standard, nutrient split % stable.
• Nutrient split adjustable, depending on distribution requirements.
• Considerable reduction in odours emitted from the slurry, also in pig manure.
• Reduces storage required by 15 – 30%, depending on actual slurry consistency.
