Assessing performances of ecotechnologies for the treatment of feedlot run-off
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2004
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Abstract
Run-off from livestock holding pens has the potential to degrade surface water quality with suspended solids, nutrients, oxygen demand and coliforms. Expansion of the Alberta livestock industry may exacerbate this problem unless steps are taken to improve water quality through prudent management practices, including run-off control and treatment. Ecotechnologies offer an alternative means for treating feedlot run-off Two treatment cells; a constructed wetland and a floodable meadow, were established at Little Red Feeders, Innisfail, Alberta. A series of experiments were conducted to evaluate treatment cell efficacy in agricultural contaminant removal. Analysis revealed that ecotechnology cell performance was highly variable in treating lagoon effluent derived from the run-off of a 4000-head beef cattle feedlot. At the very least, treatment cells of this size and design can aid in the attenuation of concentrated runoff from medium-sized Central Albertan feedlots during and immediately following storm events.
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Bibliography: p. 106-111
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Citation
Rowell, J. A. (2004). Assessing performances of ecotechnologies for the treatment of feedlot run-off (Master's thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca. doi:10.11575/PRISM/12751