A Practice-oriented Review of Woodchip Bioreactors for Subsurface Agricultural Drainage
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Since 1905, the Department of Agricultural Engineering, now the Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering (ABE), has been a leader in providing engineering solutions to agricultural problems in the United States and the world. The department’s original mission was to mechanize agriculture. That mission has evolved to encompass a global view of the entire food production system–the wise management of natural resources in the production, processing, storage, handling, and use of food fiber and other biological products.
History
In 1905 Agricultural Engineering was recognized as a subdivision of the Department of Agronomy, and in 1907 it was recognized as a unique department. It was renamed the Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering in 1990. The department merged with the Department of Industrial Education and Technology in 2004.
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1905–present
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- Department of Agricultural Engineering (1907–1990)
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- College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (parent college)
- College of Engineering (parent college)
- Department of Industrial Education and Technology, (merged, 2004)
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Abstract
Woodchip or denitrification bioreactors are an innovative, engineering-based technology to reduce the amount of nitrate in agricultural drainage. Increased interest in improving water quality in areas impacted by agricultural drainage has given bioreactors a boost of publicity over the past several years. While bioreactors continue to be an area of active research and are not a silver bullet to address drainage water quality concerns, the growing number of bioreactor installations by practitioners not involved in research demonstrates a need for a practice-oriented review of important aspects of these systems. This article provides context for enhanced-denitrification treatment of agricultural drainage, discusses the design and installation of bioreactors, and presents factors affecting their nitrate removal performance. Additionally, this review offers ideas for management and monitoring of agricultural drainage bioreactors. Bioreactors are a promising technology for improving drainage water quality, but much work remains to understand and optimize their performance. With additional evaluation and improved monitoring of bioreactors, a more complete picture of the potential contribution of these systems will be developed.
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This article is from Applied Engineering in Agriculture 28, no. 6 (2012): 861–874.