The Bioreactor
Bioreactors are a novel edge-of-field practice being developed to reduce the flow of water contaminants from agricultural lands. They harness natural biodegradation processes to create an environment where soil microorganisms can thrive and effectively break down water contaminants.
A woodchip bioreactor utilises naturally existing soil-denitrifying bacteria to break down water-soluble nitrate (a critical water contaminant) into gaseous forms of nitrogen released into the atmosphere. Woodchips provide a carbon substrate for soil bacteria to denitrify nitrate in drainage water passing through the bioreactor. They are easy to build, require low maintenance, and last 10-15 years before the woodchips need to be replaced to maintain their effectiveness.
Overview of woodchip bioreactors
Interested in learning more about the woodchip bioreactor and its potential application for treating drainage waters from your farm? Watch this video in which Dr. Ranvir Singh (from the School of Agriculture and Environment at Massey University) presents the results of their farm-scale trial on a woodchip bioreactor at Massey Dairy No. 4, on a dairy farm in Upper Manawatu and a mixed farming system in Coastal Rangitikei Sand Country landscape. [Video is 10 mins]
Construction of a woodchip bioreactor
If you would like to learn more about how to build a woodchip bioreactor, watch the video to see the main steps and construction process of a woodchip bioreactor at Massey Dairy No. 4 farm. [13 mins]
If you would like some help finding out if a bioreactor is something you might want to build, please get in contact with the Catchment Solutions team at info@Catchmentsolutions.co.nz
Visit the pilot demonstration of woodchip bioreactor trials
Take a virtual tour of the pilot demonstrations of woodchip bioreactors designed and constructed on farms in the Manawatu and Central Hawkes Bay regions. The virtual tours explain the site selection, design, and construction of an appropriate-size woodchip bioreactor to treat farm drainage waters. Google Earth software is recommended for best viewing results.
Explore our virtual tour of a bioreactor built at Dairy Farm 4 Massey University
Explore our bioreactor built on Dairy Farm 4 to mitigate the loss of nitrate into waterways.
Google Earth software is required for viewing.
Watch our virtual tour of a bioreactor built in the Haynes Creek Catchment
Explore our bioreactor built on a farm in the Haynes Creek Catchment to mitigate the loss of nitrate into waterways.
The Google Earth App is required for viewing.