The Role Play Of The Solid-Liquid Separation In Manure Storage

The Role Play of Solid Liquid Separation in Manure Storage

The Manure storage system is beneficial for separating the stool into solid and liquid components. In many systems used for manure treatment (composting, anaerobic digestion, etc.), solid-liquid manure separation is also an ideal first step.

Solid waste, especially from cow bedding, can quickly accumulate in waste storage ponds. 

Solids build-up requires longer, more thorough agitation at pump-out time to re-suspend settled solids and special manure solids handling "chopper" pumps for transfer to tank trucks or waste slurry irrigation systems.

Solids can cause pumping problems that can greatly reduce usable reservoir volume over time. Serious consideration is usually given to installing solids separation equipment between animal pens (especially free stall dairy pens) and waste storage tanks.

Mechanical separators are usually rotary screens or stationary screens and typically remove 20% to 30% of solid waste. These separators require little attention, although cold weather operation requires special consideration. The manure solids they produce can be easily recycled as bedding or applied off-farm with a solid manure spreader.

The separated solids can be processed through conventional faecal solids handling equipment. These nutrient-rich solids can be spread over distant fields and pastures as fertilizers and soil amendments, or sold for horticultural use, with or without compost. Removal of nutrient-retaining solids helps reduce the nutrient load on nearby fields, which are often irrigated from cisterns or lagoons during the regular pumping periods required for proper management.