Commonly liquid slurry is stored in anaerobic lagoon prior to land application. The water losses either by evaporation or seepage (if not unlined) from these lagoons can be considerable. In addition, elevated levels of pathogens in the slurry can potentially contaminate farm lands if applied as fertilizers with increased pathogen levels. Developing models can help identifying the crucial environmental factors controlling pathogen levels in anaerobic lagoon slurry as well as help in mitigating the water losses of lagoons.

Sponsor: Start-up fund, School of Veterinary Medicine/Extension, UC Davis (http://www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/index.cfm)

Anaerobic lagoon receiving flushed dairy manure (left); Pramod Pandey (fiber separation behind) (right) (photo credit: Pramod Pandey)