Characterizing the process of above ground burial with a biofilter as a means for managing hog mortalities

This research was an attempt to determine the water quality impacts associated with managing hog mortalities using above ground burial with a biofilter (biopiles) constructed on soil surfaces. A hog mortality management system was established at the Bio-Environmental Engineering Centre in Bible Hill, Nova Scotia. Three cover treatments (sawdust, hog manure pack and hog manure pack with tarp) over carcasses (700 to 900 kg mortalities per biopile), replicated twice were investigated over three trials (2001 through 2004). Leachate and surface runoff water samples were collected and analyzed for E. coli, NO 3--N, NH3-N, SRP and BOD5. The sawdust cover provided for higher temperatures and better carcass decomposition, and had the lowest leachate and surface runoff volumes, and lowest leachate and surface annual loads for SRP (0.186 and 1.18 kg ha-1yr -1), NO3--N, (10.5 and 4.87 kg ha -1yr-1), NH3-N (2.25 and 2.16 kg ha-1yr-1) and E. coli (8.17 x 107 and 4.19 x 108 CFU kg ha-1yr -1).