2003 journal article
Evaluation of a permeable, 5 cm thick, polyethylene foam lagoon cover
Transactions of the ASAE, 46(5), 1421–1426.
Anaerobic lagoons and liquid manure storage basins are widely used for the treatment and storage of livestockand poultry manure. Although relatively inexpensive to construct, these devices have been widely criticized based upon theirodor and ammonia release. A floating, permeable, composite cover manufactured from recycled polyethylene chips toppedwith a geotextile layer containing zeolite particles was evaluated under both laboratory and field conditions. Underlaboratory conditions, the cover was found essentially to eliminate odor release and to reduce ammonia emissions byapproximately 80%.<br><br>When installed on a 0.4 ha swine manure lagoon in eastern North Carolina, the cover survived severe storms and allowedeven intense rainfall to pass through without causing cover inundation. Under these field conditions, the cover was foundto reduce ammonia emissions approximately 80%. Odor emissions measured twice during one month of the study wereconsistently low in concentration and near neutral relative to quality, as determined by an analysis by a trained odor panel.Microbiological examination of the cover after four months of use showed an active population of aerobic bacteria andprotozoa; analysis showed that nitrifying, sulfide oxidizing, and methanotrophic bacteria were likely trophic components ofthe microbial populations observed. The surface of the cover became covered with an algal population within two weeks ofinstallation. This and other vegetative growth had no discernable impact on the performance of the cover.