Alternative Biological Treatment of Manure

M. E. de Haro Martí , M. Chahine,

and S. St Hilaire

Today’s presentation

Manure treatment using Black Soldier Flies

Black Soldier Fly research in southern Idaho

Worm composting, how it works

Examples of working systems

Future of alternative biological systems in southern Idaho

Black Soldier Fly (BSF) Hermetia Illucens

Naturally occurring in southern USA, Central and South America

Considered non-pest

Larvae are voracious organic matter eaters

As adults they don’t feed on live or decaying organic matter (no working mouth parts)

How Black Soldier Flies work? In nature, adults lay eggs mostly in manure

(preferred), worm composting, decaying corpses, undisturbed garbage (less preferred)

Larvae feed in the organic matter reducing its volume by 40 to 50%

Larvae goes trough six instars

When reaching the pupae stage they migrate from the feeding area looking for a dry and protected place to finalize pupation

BSF research in southern Idaho Three years WSARE grant (UI, ISU)

• Two years lab research (ISU, Pocatello)

• One plus year of research within fish industry application (UI, Hagerman)

• One year on-farm trial (Dairy in Buhl)

Results from research are very promising

More on-farm trials needed to achieve a working systems for dry and cold climates

BSF research in southern Idaho

Research results in southern Idaho showed:

BSF 40% protein and 30% fat content make it an excellent feed source for salmon and trout

Dried or frozen pupae has a long shelf life

BSF fed with fish offal has higher omega 3 fatty acids content

BSF can comprise an important part of the fish feedstock in local hatcheries

No after taste in fish fed with BSF

Research results in southern Idaho showed: BSF larvae can reduce volume of dairy

manure by 50% and DM solids weight by 40%

Important waste nutrient reduction (table)

Takes care of separated solids as well as fish offal (two waste streams become feedstock!)

In ID they need to be fed fish offal to reach pupation stage faster

Cold nights significantly reduce BSF activity

Good results even under adverse environmental and working conditions

ItemPre-processed manure (Kg)

Post-processed by-product (Kg)

Net reduction

(%)

Weight, DM 345.2 212.6 38.4

Total N 10.6 4.8 55.1

Total P 1.97 1.50 23.9

Carbon 156.0 92.5 40.7Ash 69.0 63.8 7.6

Nutrient Reduction in Manure Processed by Black Soldier Fly

Events time line

Fish offal addition

Two days after fish offal addition

Black Soldier Fly Larvae at work two days after fish offal addition

Vermicomposting Composting with worms

Half dozen different species of earthworm are used

Eisenia fetida most common

Naturally occurring around the world

They are scavengers and decaying organic matter eaters (vegetal materials)

Vermicomposting Vermicomposting has been used to process

different types of wastes for many years

Effective but slow process

Reduce volume by 40% to 50%

Castings have excellent properties as fertilizer and soil amendment

Worms can be commercialized in diverse ways

On-farm and municipal scale facilities exist and have diverse grades of success

Using Vermicompost

Turnips: 0%, 10%, 20% vermicompost by volume added to field plots, Biological & Agricultural Engineering, NC State University

Vermicomposting examples

Queensland, AustraliaTarboro, NC

Swine manure

Geneseo, NYDairy manure

UI research and Extension 2010 Pilot project to test a worm composting unit

designed in Gooding, ID

Collaboration with local high school and designer company

Alternative biological systems in southern Idaho - challenges Black Soldier Fly and Vermicomposting

systems have similar challenges in the area

Creating a suitable environment to operate year round is the most challenging technically and economically

They can handle just part of the dairy and fish industry waste streams

By products are of relatively high value

More market assessment needed

Challenges and answers Suitable farm scale systems for BSF and

vermicompost need to be developed more

Producers and market acceptability needs to increase

More funding is necessary to develop research on farm-scale initiatives and adaptation to our geographical area

Capacity to be a sustainable and profitable part of dairy and waste management operations

Questions?