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Water Resources Institute

WRI Research

Algae pull nutrients from swine facility manure, air

Swine manure is a rich source of nutrients, but its high phosphorus content in comparison to the other nutrients the crop needs means only so much can be spread on a field.

Doctoral student Augustina Osabutey pulls sample of the algae-swine manure mixture from the photobioreactor.
Doctoral student Augustina Osabutey pulls a sample of the algae-swine manure mixture from the photobioreactor.

PI's:

Gary Anderson, Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering

Xufei Yang, Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering

Kyungnan Min, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering

Students:

Doctoral student Augustina Osabutey

Read the Algae pull nutrients from swine facility manure, air news story

SDSU study examines woodchip quality in bioreactors

Draining excess water from fields is good for agricultural production, but the nutrient-laden water flowing through the drainage tile can pollute nearby water bodies. Diverting the water through an underground chamber filled with wood chips, known as a woodchip bioreactor, can help remove nitrates and thereby reduce the environmental impact on creeks, streams and lakes.

Doctoral student Abdoul Aziz Kouanda of SDSU’s Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering pulls water samples from a column reactor to determine the nitrate removal rates of fresh woodchips and those subjected to three different types of weathering—sunlight alone, soil and water/moisture and natural outdoor conditions.
Doctoral student Abdoul Aziz Kouanda of SDSU’s Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering pulls water samples from a column reactor to determine the nitrate removal rates of fresh woodchips and those subjected to three different types of weathering—sunlight alone, soil and water/moisture and natural outdoor conditions.

PI's:

Guanghui Hua, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering

Chris Schmit, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering

Kyungnan Min, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering

Students:

Doctoral student Abdoul Aziz Kouanda

Read the SDSU study examines woodchip quality in bioreactors news story

Nonprofit joins battle to mitigate Lake Mitchell algal blooms

Lake Mitchell has a long history of algal blooms. The reservoir, built in 1928, was once a source of drinking water for the city of Mitchell and recreation for the community. However, by the 1990s, algal blooms increased due to nutrients accumulating in the lake. By 2003, the city stopped using the lake as its sole source for drinking water.

Algal blooms have plagued Lake Mitchell due to high nutrient levels in the lake, but new mitigation efforts include creating wetlands upstream to capture nutrients and building a low-head dam to prevent sediment and phosphorus from entering the lake. (Photo courtesy of Kyle Croce, Public Works Director for the City of Mitchell)
Algal blooms have plagued Lake Mitchell due to high nutrient levels in the lake, but new mitigation efforts include creating wetlands upstream to capture nutrients and building a low-head dam to prevent sediment and phosphorus from entering the lake. (Photo courtesy of Kyle Croce, Public Works Director for the City of Mitchell)

PI's:

John McMaine, Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering,

Bruce Bleakley, Department of Biology and Microbiology

Student:

Master’s student Sumit Kumar Ghosh

Read the Nonprofit joins battle to mitigate Lake Mitchell algal blooms news story