Location: Food Animal Environmental Systems Research
Project Number: 5040-12630-007-030-S
Project Type: Non-Assistance Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Jun 1, 2021
End Date: May 31, 2025
Objective:
The overall goal of this research project is to develop cost effective solutions to problems in animal manure management and utilization. The research will evaluate new management practices and treatment strategies that protect water quality, reduce atmospheric emissions, and control pathogens from utilization of animal manure particularly for the unique karst topography in this region.
Objective 1: Enhance the benefits of using animal manure as means of improving soil productivity for long-term production systems.
Objective 2: Develop strategies for managing the survival and transport of antibiotics, pathogens and indicator species through agroecosystems.
Objective 3: Assess gaseous and particulate matter emissions resulting from animal production facilities and manure application sites.
Objectives 4: Improve production efficiency and emissions management of renewable bioenergy production systems using technologies such as anaerobic digesters.
Approach:
Research projects in areas of agronomic systems, soil science, atmospheric emissions, microbiology, cattle evaluation facility, alternative uses of manures, soil amendments, and biotechnology will be conducted using scientific expertise capabilities, laboratories and field experimental plots, and specialized equipment and other facilities and resources available at Cooperator's facility. This will be in conjunction with the specialized equipment and expertise of ARS scientists and their cooperators for the purpose of industry application and improved economic value within agriculture. Cooperator may on occasion work in the ARS laboratories in order to access the specialized, state-of-the-art equipment of ARS. Emphasis is also placed on graduate level students training at Cooperator's.
