| This thesis presents a study on the treatment of high-strength liquid swine manure using a soil filter system, which was a part of the swine manure treatment research carried out at the University of Alberta. The manure used in this research was pre-treated through a physical/chemical treatment process and stored in an in-ground tank for half a year. Preliminary experiment of the soil systems took place outside in three manure application rates of 12, 25, and 50 mm d-1 every day to find an optimal application rate. Then 17 mm d-1 manure application rate was chosen with the application frequency of twice a week inside which was operated inside. Detailed analyses were carried out for (1) the carbonaceous contents and nutrients in the manure and leachate, including five day biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5), chemical oxygen demand (COD), total Kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN), ammonia nitrogen (NH4+-N), nitrate plus nitrite nitrogen (NO3--N+NO2--N), total phosphorus (TP), and total dissolved solid (TDS); (2) the variation and movement of key nutrients in the soil profiles, including TKN, NH 4+-N, NO3--N+NO2 --N, and TP, as well as other parameters such as electrical conductivity (EC), pH, and sodium adsorption ratio (SAR). The results showed that the soil systems have a good ability for the removal of organic matter and inorganic nutrients. Within the two month operation period, the average reductions in BOD5, TKN, and TP were 94, 97, and 92%, respectively. A certain amount of nitrogen loss was unaccounted for in the soil system, suggesting that some gaseous states of nitrogen were generated during and after the manure application periods. The leachate quality became worse over the course of the application periods, but was suitable for bermudagrass development. |
