Practice Description
A bioreactor is a buried trench on the edge of a farm field that is traditionally filled with woodchips. Agricultural drainage tiles outlet into the woodchips where bacteria convert tile water nitrate-nitrogen into nitrogen gas.
Bioreactors are an edge of field practice, meaning that they do not impact in-field management. Tile lines connect to a control structure, which allows water to flow into the woodchips. A second control structure assures that bacteria have enough time to remove nitrate-nitrogen, before water flows out of the bioreactor into a water body.
According to the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy, a bioreactor, on average, removes 43% of nitrate-nitrogen from water diverted through it.
Practice Benefits
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Bioreactor installation in Polk County, Iowa. |
Practice Economics
- The average cost of installation, equipment, woodchips and labor for a bioreactor is $15,000. However, it can vary greatly depending on the size of the bioreactor.
- Compatible with existing federal and state cost-share programs so farmers who implement saturated buffers can recoup some of their costs.
Other Resources
- https://www.flickr.com/photos/151012306@N08/albums/72157696778831671: A step by step visual guide to saturated buffer implementation. These photos were taken on real farms across Iowa and are part of the Conservation Media Library.
- https://www.cleanwateriowa.org/bioreactor: Several resources, including videos, from the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship’s Water Quality Initiative.
- https://engineering.purdue.edu/watersheds/conservationdrainage/bioreactors.html: A storing house of resources from Purdue University
- https://store.extension.iastate.edu/product/14530: Two-page factsheet on bioreactors from Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.
- https://www.iaagwater.org/bioreactors: Various technical and communication resources from the Iowa Ag Water Alliance.
- https://store.extension.iastate.edu/product/15823: A whole farm conservation best management practices manual from Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. It includes a decision tree to help decide which edge of field practice is right for you.
This project is part of the Conservation Media Library.
The Conservation Media Library was supported by a grant from the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, and an Iowa NRCS funded Conservation Innovation Grant to the Soil and Water Conservation Society. To learn more about the Library and access other resources, go to www.swcs.org.