"Pillow" Captures Nitrates From Manure Runoff

"Pillow" Captures Nitrates From Manure Runoff MANURE HANDLING Equipment 29-1-33 Manure nitrates in runoff can contaminate surface water. Robert Sharpless of Devon, Pennsylvania, has invented a "filtration pillow" that's been shown in tests to capture and contain 52 to 55 percent of the nitrogen from hog urine. He says the absorbent brown "roll" is designed to intercept surface runoff of liquid manure, and remove the nitrogen before it gets into the environment. "It's 6 inches in diameter and can be made to any length. It's made from a biodegradable, woven material that's commonly used in erosion control applications," Sharpless says. "It's filled with an absorbent material that has the ability to capture and contain nitrogen." This "filtration pillow" can be used anywhere that excess nitrogen may be a problem, such as around outdoor livestock pens, and manure stockpiling areas. Golf courses are another location where high nitrogen levels are often found. "It lets farmers take a proactive approach to minimizing environmental effects and possibly helping to avoid government regulatory intervention, including fines," he says. The life of the absorbent rolls depends on the particular application and weather conditions. His company, Robert's Design, also sells storm drain filtration devices. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Robert's Design, Robert Sharpless, 333 Beaumont Rd., Devon, Penn. 19333 (ph 877 687-7473; email: robert@stormdrains.com; website: www.stormdrains.com).

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