Projects
Evaluating Efficacy of Biological Additive to Reduce Sludge Volume
Funded by Novonesis
01/15/2025 – 03/31/2026
Sludge accumulation in lagoons poses a challenge to NC swine producers. Sludge removal and application cost are a barrier particularly in high concentration areas of production. There is interest in exploring biological interventions to reduce sludge volumes and accumulation rates to alleviate this challenge. This project assesses the impacts of different microbial and enzymatic formulations on sludge volume and nutrient fate using multi-scale lab testing evaluation.
Findings from this project will help product developers identify promising additives and dosages for further testing, as well as provide swine producers with more alternatives to help in lagoon management and ensuring compliance.
Advancing the Sustainability and Resiliency of Lagoon-sprayfield Systems in Eastern North Carolina: Tool Development and Utilization
Funded by NC Department of Justice
01/01/2024 – 12/31/2026
Lagoon management is a critical element of swine farm compliance. Lagoons are vulnerable to climatic conditions and future climate is expected to present producers with added management challenges. There is a gap in resources that simulate lagoon-sprayfield systems to inform decision-making. This project aims to develop and validate a simulation tool to assist producers in assessing long-term farm performance under different weather conditions and identify critical improvement opportunities.Target
Findings from this project will help producers, extension agents and technical specialists advising growers on best practices to ensure resilient lagoon management.
A Framework to Enhance North Carolina’s Natural Resources Through Sustainable Manure Nutrient Cycling and Export
Funded by NC Department of Justice
01/1/2022 – 12/31/2024
This project aims to facilitate development and adoption of sustainable manure processing technologies to achieve environmental quality improvement outcomes. This will be accomplished through: Determining optimal technologies to facilitate sustainable management of surplus swine and poultry manure nutrients, Determining optimal strategies, i.e., scales, locations, and logistics for adopting swine and poultry manure processing technologies, and quantifying comparative environmental and economic impacts associated with adopting optimal technology-strategy combinations for swine and poultry management.
Findings from this project, including data, insights and tools, will help technology developers, policy makers, and funding agencies identify promising technologies and adoption strategies to meet environmental development goals. An outcome of this project is improved regional nutrient distribution and better valuation of manure nutrients through improved cycling and utilization.