Feasibility Study of Swine Manure Management On Reclaimed Surface Mine Lands

摘要

Initial resutls are presented of a decision model that addresses issues associated with the siting of swine production facilities on Kentucky's reclaimed surface mine lands. Issues relating to swine manure management have received much attention from state governmetnal and environmetnal regulatory authorities. Specifically, the state is concerned about nutrient and fecal cotnamination of surface and ground water while the public is concerned primarily with odor control. Mine reclaimed lands represent remote areas where swine production facilities can be located without the concern about odor nuisance. Furthermroe, reclaimed soils can substantially benefit from manure nutrients. The purpose of this research is to evaluate swine manure management strategies to determien what strategy or set of strategies jointly minimize groundwater contamination and production cost. To achieve the objectives of this research, the ocmputer simulation model (OPUS) was used to estimate the rate of soil water flow as well as the eventual fate and concentration of nitrate-nitrogen and other nutrients in soil water. These nutrient concentrations will be used to assess the environmental impact of alternative swine manure systems. Environmetnal, economic, and social impacts associated with various waste management options are described that help to achieve a better waste management strategy. A quick demonstration of the OPUS model is presented. Initial results suggests that nitrate-nitrogen uptake and sediment flow rates can be closely estiamted on reclaimed surface mine land soils that are characterized by a single soil profile.