Does Manure Treated With Bactzyme Have Any Value In Crop Production?

Absolutely. As a result of the digestion process, much of the nitrogen in the manure is bound up in the bodies or cells of the bacteria that have been thriving in the lagoon. This is an organic form of nitrogen that will be released slowly to a growing crop as the bacteria degrade in the soil. Untreated manure can easily burn crops if over applied because the levels of ammonia and other fast acting nitrogen are so high. This is what we are referring to when we say BactZyme stabilizes waste nutrients. This is also the principle reason why odors are prevented from forming.

Wait A Minute, Isn't Most Bacteria Bad?

Contrary to what most people think, the complete opposite is true. Although a very small percentage do cause disease in humans and animals, the vast majority is enormously beneficial. These "friendly" types of bacteria are used to make dairy products, like yogurt and cheese, as well as pharmaceutical antibiotics like streptomycin. In agriculture, natural bacteria are responsible for decomposing crop residue in the soil, fixing nitrogen in the roots of alfalfa and allowing cattle to digest cellulose in its rumen.

Why Are Bacteria Ideally Suited For Waste Treatment?

Bacteria are nature's recycles. Since the beginning of time, microscopic bacteria have been quietly recycling all organic material here on earth. Without them, we'd literally be swimming in the wastes and remains of all plant and animal life that came before us. As our society becomes more urbanized and the animals on farms more concentrated, the natural bacteria present are having a more difficult time maintaining the efficient biological breakdown of this waste.

How Do Bacteria Degrade Waste?

Bacteria are microscopic living organisms. Although often confused with yeast, bacteria are quite different and much more complex. Bacteria breakdown or degrade waste through simple digestion. The basic byproducts of this process are water and harmless carbon dioxide gas. Bacteria also produce their own enzymes, which act as a catalyst to speed digestion. The bacteria attach themselves to solid particles, secrete these enzymes and start to eat. Bacteria replicate at an enormously fast rate when they are well fed, doubling in number every 10 to 15 minutes. The bacteria will multiply as long as organic waste is present to feed the population.

What's The Point Of Adding More Bacteria If Natural Bacteria Are Already Present?

The bacteria in nature are kept in check by organisms in the food chain that eat them and are not always suited to the kind of wastes in which they find themselves. In the case of some waste, the natural bacteria may not be accustomed to using it as a food source. By flooding the system with a carefully selected and enhanced combination of organisms, the added bacteria have an enormous competitive advantage.

If The Additional Bacteria Reproduce In The Field, Why Isn't One Dose Sufficient?

Every succeeding generation of the introduced bacteria (after the first 10) reverts more and more toward a "wild" state. In other words, after "breeding" in the waste for 10 or more generations, the descendants of this bacteria becomes more and more indistinguishable from the wild or natural population.

 

What's The Theory Behind Using Introduced Bacteria In The Treatment Of Wastewater?

Generally this concept is called bacterial seeding. In municipal wastewater treatment, the technical term used is bacterial bio augmentation. The objective is to supplement (augment) the naturally occurring bacteria with superior strains that will help to accelerate and improve the efficiency of the wastewater treatment process. The idea is not to replace the existing bacteria but to facilitate a gradual shift in the microbial population. An ongoing program of reseeding, based on incoming flow, maintains the proper level beneficial bacteria.

What Does Any Of This Have To Do With Manure Lagoons?

Most modern, western dairy operations have lagoons that are constructed in a similar manner to those found in small cities or towns. In municipal wastewater treatment, these structures are known as facultative or aerobic lagoons. They are typically constructed in a multi-stage format so that liquids will flow naturally from one lagoon to the next. In a series of three lagoons, for example, the liquids in the third will be progressively cleaner than the second and first. As such, the primary purpose is to settle out solids and prevent them from reaching the next lagoon. Beyond this point, the similarity between the two lagoon systems is quite different. Without the design features and operational equipment to treat the settled solids further, a dairy lagoon is really nothing more than a storage system to contain the manure until it's convenient to pump out and irrigate into cropland for final disposal. Solids accumulation can take the form of either a buildup on the bottom or a crust on the surface. It can be extremely difficult to agitate, pump and irrigate. Odors can be intense and foul. If nothing is done to remedy this situation, the loss of liquid holding capacity over the years can only be corrected through expensive excavation of the solids. This is where BactZyme can assist. BactZyme will help turn a lagoon storage system into a lagoon treatment system. It is effective and affordable.

Specifically, What Will BactZyme Do?

Through accelerated digestion, BactZyme will liquefy solid material so that it's easier to agitate, pump and irrigate. Treated lagoon can be pumped lower than ever before with fewer plugging problems. Once transferred to cropland and because it's already predigested, this manure will soak into the soil faster with less chance of caking on the field surface. BactZyme treated manure will also be less offensive to the nose and neighbors. By increasing the level of bacterial activity in the lagoon, BactZyme actually prevents bad odors from forming in the first place.

Is BactZyme Safe?

Yes. The bacteria in BactZyme are all naturally occurring. Specifically, Bio safety Class 1. This means they are non-pathogenic (to humans, animals, wildlife or plants) and free of any strains of Salmonella, E. coli or anthrax. BactZyme causes no short or long-term detrimental environmental effects.

So We Don't Need To Be Concerned With The Size Of Lagoon?

Correct. Although determining the application rate based on acre-feet or capacity can be done, this is a poor method that is confusing to the dairyman and dealer alike. First of all, few dairymen actually know the true dimensions of their lagoons in length, width and depth. Even if they did, determining the REAL volume of manure in their lagoons would be nothing more than a guess. However, the main problem in viewing lagoons in this manner is that the volume is always changing. Lagoons start out empty and fill up over time. Periodic irrigation of manure liquids also causes the volume to change throughout the year. HOWEVER, the one constant that changes very little (although easily identified if it does) is the number of cows present. The application rate of BactZyme is related to the manure production and associated volume of wash water used per cow. Treatment can begin anytime. Whether the lagoon is empty or full, irrigating or not, the application amount is based solely on the waste produced per cow.

How Often Do I Apply The BactZyme Packs?

Every week - without fail. To apply it any other way can easily lead to disappointing results. Establish a schedule and stick to it. When a week is missed, it is easy to forget the next and completely lose track after that. Many dealers want to sell the product by the pack and apply it to lagoon themselves as weekly service to their customers. This allows them to monitor the lagoon on a weekly basis and assures them that the packs are being used weekly.

Where Do I Apply The Packs?

Application can vary depending on the lagoon system. This will need to be determined prior to 1st application. Most of the time the BactZyme are put in the settling lagoon; however, it depends on how many lagoons the dairy has and whether they are using the water to flush alleyways or through a sprinkler system. The bacteria spreads from one lagoon to another as fine solids are transferred through the overflow system.

Frequently Asked Questions about LPB200:

Wait A Minute, Isn't Most Bacteria Bad?

Contrary to what most people think, the complete opposite is true. Although a very small percent do cause disease in humans and animals, the vast majority is enormously beneficial. 

Reduce Sludge! ~ Have Cleaner Water

 

 

Why Are Bacteria Ideally Suited For Aquaculture Treatment?

Bacteria are nature's recyclers. Since the beginning of time. Microscopic bacteria have been quietly recycling all organic material here on Earth. Without them we’d be literally swimming in the wastes and remains of all plant and animal life. 

Specifically, What Will LPB 200 Do?

LPB 200 will significantly reduce Sludge while suppressing algae and duckweed that can over grow your pond or lake.