Technologically Innovative Organic / Sustainable Farming

1. Technologically Innovative Organic / Sustainable Farming Past and Future Research By Hala Chaoui

2. OUTLINEWaste management research driven by the search for a sustainable form of processed waste, and a paradigm shift • Past research • Master’s in Plant and Soil Sc. Earthworm casts • RA. Disease suppression in earthworm casts • PhD in Agricultural and Biological Engineering. Modeling the effect of electric fields on earthworms • Postdoc projects • Odor setback distance models • Instrumentation and programming (in yield monitors) • Compost biofilters for dairy manure • Effect of mixing on biodigester yield • Ammonia emission modeling • Advising undergraduate thesis • Managing lab • Outreach and innovation

3. OUTLINEWaste management research driven by the search for a sustainable form of processed waste, and a paradigm shift • Planned future research • Goal, develop technologically advanced organic farming • Principles and ideas for future research • Ideas on funding sources • Principles in guiding graduate students • Vision of paradigm shift in organic production • Conclusion

4. Past Research

5. Past Research > Master’s • Master’s thesis, U Maine • comparing earthworms casts, compost and synthetic fertilizer • soil respiration; BOD, biomass-C • plant nutrient uptake, mineralization rate, salinity • slow release, higher yields in earthworm casts • new topic, cited 13 times, 8th in Soil Biol. and Biochem., 2003. • Chaoui et al. 2003. Effects of earthworm casts and compost on soil microbial activity and plant nutrient availability. Soil Biology & Biochemistry 35. 295-302 • Research Assistant, OSU • suppression of damping off diseases in earthworm casts • Chaoui et al. 2002. Suppression of the plant parasitic diseases: Pythium (damping off), Rhizoctonia (root rot) and Verticillium (wilt) by vermicompost. Proceedings Brighton Crop Protection

6. Past Research > PhD • PhD • Shift to engineering • Thesis • goal: more efficient earthworms separation in vermicomposting • design model for effectiveness of electric fields on separating earthworms from organic media • in second review in Biosystems Engineering Journal • Classes on molecularbiology techniques, waste management, FE certificate, Autocad, microchip programming, ArcGIS • Biological and Agricultural Engineers work at the interface of science and engineering • Chaoui et al. 2006. Testing a model of the effectiveness of an electric field at repelling earthworms. ASABE Paper No. 067010 • Chaoui et al. 2005. Modeling the effectiveness of an electric field at repelling earthworms. ASAE Paper No. 054153

7. determined experimentally Past Research > PhD > PhD thesis > Theory Modeling the Effectiveness of an Electric Field at Repelling Earthworms Advisor Dr. Harold Keener • V = f(i, D, R, d, s) = f(current, diameter and resistivity, electrode depth and spacing) • Dimensional analysis: • Length unit; cm, i in amps, R in Ohms • Electric field efficiency is a function of V: • Electric field efficiency is measured as:

8. In the model… Past Research > PhD > PhD thesis > MethodsExperimental design Other treatments: 2, 12, 24, 35 mA, e. foetida, 7.5 cm depth, 2.8 cm spacing

9. An electric field _ _ + +

10. Electric field diffusion Field repels earthworms An electric fieldin the soil _ _ + +

11. Electric field diffusion Field repels earthworms An electric fieldin the soil repels earthworms _ _ + +

12. Past Research > PhD > PhD thesis > Methods E. hortensis E. foetida

13. + 2 x prescribed i _ _ + prescribed i prescribed i Past Research > PhD > PhD thesis > Methods • Develop model for the electric field’s effectiveness • Test model (soil porosity, moisture, salinity) • Find t100% , mortality, test AC vs. DC • Experimental set up: soil slabs made of soil and earthworms • Reproducible systematic method

14. Past Research > PhD > PhD thesis > Results

15. Past Research > PhD > PhD thesis > Results Verifying treatment effect (of inputs in model)

16. Past Research > PhD > PhD thesis > Results Experimental model

17. Past Research > PhD > PhD thesis > ResultsRelevance of soil properties (test the model)

18. Past Research > Postdocs > Penn State > cost / benefit analysis template

19. Past Research > Postdocs • OSU, on air quality (3 months) • Models for setback distance from animal facilities, review and sensitivity analysis. • Study published in ASABE air quality symposium, Colorado Sept 2007 • Chaoui & Brugger. 2007. A review and sensitivity analysis of odor setback distance models. International Symposium on Air Quality and Waste Management for Agriculture. September 15-19, 2007 in Broomfield, Colorado • Univ. of Florida (3 months) • Algorithm to process GPS and load cells data from a citrus yield monitor • Derive spatial yield map from GPS data, using arc GIS • Ehsani , R., Chaoui,H., Grejner-Brzezinska, D and Sullivan, M. A method of evaluating the performance of RTK GPS receivers used in Agriculture. 2006. Proceedings of the World Congress on Agricultural Engineering, 2006 and Proceedings of the Automation Technology for Off Road Equipment Conference.

20. Past Research > Postdocs > Penn State • Postdoc at Penn State University • Evaluating compost biofilters to mitigate ammonia and greenhouse gases • ASABE AIM proceedings, June 2007 • Exploratory experiment on the effect of mixing on biogas yield in biodigesters • ‘Progress in Biogas’ conference in Stuttgart, September 2007 • Evaluating models for ammonia emissions from animal waste • In progress – planned, Transactions of ASABE • Managed bio-processing lab • Co-developed wiki website online • Co-advisor in undergraduate thesis • Effect of biofilters on manure stack temperatures • Mentored in data collection, processing • Data analysis, organized writing

21. Past Research > Postdocs > Penn State • Pooling ideas for technologically advanced organic farming • organized a conference session on ‘Innovative Technologies for Organic Farming’, 2005 to 2007, ASABE • vice-president of ecological engineering committee at ASABE, officer for past 2 years • Bio Ag Engineering.net website Adrian Bowyer Bath University, UK Claus Sorensen Research Centre Bygholm, Denmark

22. Past Research > Postdocs > Penn State • Outreach through professional website and lab wiki site • Lit review on vermicomposting • Excel programs for optimized feed mix composition • Excel program for separation of means in statistics • Template for cost / benefit analysis • Excel macro and programs for filtering and processing sensors data

23. Past Research > Postdocs > Penn State > Biofilters • Postdoc at Penn State University • Evaluating compost biofilters to mitigate ammonia and greenhouse gases • ASABE AIM proceedings, June 2007 • Exploratory experiment on the effect of mixing on biogas yield in biodigesters • ‘Progress in Biogas’ conference in Stuttgart, September 2007 • Evaluating models for ammonia emissions from animal waste • In progress – planned, Transactions of ASABE • Managed bio-processing lab • Co-developed wiki website online • Co-advisor in undergraduate thesis • Effect of biofilters on manure stack temperatures • Mentored in efficient data processing • data analysis, organized writing

24. Past Research > Postdocs > Penn State > Biofilters • Rationale for evaluating the effect of biofilters of gaseous emissions from stacked dairy manure • Stacked manure emits NH3 , N2O , CO2, and CH4, H2O • GWP: methane = 23, nitrous oxide = 296. • NH3 causes acidification and eutrophication • Chaoui et al. 2007. The effect of compost and earthworms casts biofilters on dairy manure stack emissions. ASABE Annual International Meeting. Minneapolis, Minnesota.

25. Past Research > Postdocs > Penn State > Biofilters > Methods

26. Past Research > Postdocs > Penn State > Biofilters > Experimental design Are emission rates of NH3 , N2O , CO2, and CH4, H2O affected by: Biofilters? Biofilter filling, thickness, moisture content, respiration levels? By time, ambient and manure temperatures? Random Complete Blocked Design - Pseudo-replication in time (weekly) 3 seasons

27. Past Research > Postdocs > Penn State > Biofilters > Experimental design

28. Past Research > Postdocs > Penn State > Biofilters > Experimental design Weekly NH3, N2O, CH4, CO2, water vapor Temperature at 3 depths Data recorded and logged hourly Biofilter respiration levels, BOD assay Moisture content of biofilter

29. Past Research > Postdocs > Penn State > Biofilters > Methods

30. Past Research > Postdocs > Penn State > Biofilters > Methods Photoacoustic sensor / Flux Chamber Excel program to extract relevant data continuous data emissions Pedersen (2001) equation: to derive gas flux rates from gas build up rate

31. Past Research > Postdocs > Penn State > Biofilters > Results No significant effect of time, a significant effect of treatment (p=0.00) and a treatment x time effect (p=0.04)

32. Past Research > Postdocs > Penn State > Biofilters > Results NH3 emissions differed significantly due to filler type, p = 0.03 N2O, CH4, CO2, H2O: filler type had no significant effect

33. Past Research > Postdocs > Penn State > Biofilters > Results Only N2O (p=0.02) and NH3 (p=0.01) emission rates were significantly affected by biofilter thickness

34. Past Research > Postdocs > Penn State > Biodigestion • Postdoc at Penn State University • Evaluating compost biofilters to mitigate ammonia and greenhouse gases • ASABE AIM proceedings, June 2007 • Exploratory experiment on the effect of mixing on biogas yield in biodigesters • ‘Progress in Biogas’ conference in Stuttgart, September 2007 • Evaluating models for ammonia emissions from animal waste • In progress – planned, Transactions of ASABE • Managed bio-processing lab • Co-developed wiki website online • Co-advisor in undergraduate thesis • Effect of biofilters on manure stack temperatures • Mentored in data collection, processing • Data analysis, organized writing

35. Past Research > Postdocs > Penn State > Biodigestion • Rationale for evaluating the effect of mixing on biodigesters • Less frequent mixing to prevent de-anchoring anaerobic bacteria (Aldrich, 1993) • Less operational costs • Mixing: distribute microorganisms and heat, reduces particle size, help release biogas • Is it optimal at intermediate (Smith et al, 1996) or minimal levels (Stroot et al., 2001) • Does it have no effect (Karim et al., 2005) • A positive effect (model by Banister (1998)) • A negative one (Stroot et al. (2001)

36. Past Research > Postdocs > Penn State > Biodigestion > Methods • Experiment for evaluating the effect of mixing on biodigesters • 3 replicates mixed for 1, 2, 3 minutes / day, 17 days, at 30oC • Stir bar, peripheral stirring plate, 1.04 m/s velocity • Pressure sensors measure gas build up • Gas composition (GC) • Stabilization: volatile solids and BOD

37. Past Research > Postdocs > Penn State > Biodigestion > Results

38. Past Research > Postdocs > Penn State > Biodigestion > Results Chaoui & Richard. 2007. Effect of mixing frequency on biogas yield in biodigesters. International conference on progress in biogas. September 19, 2007 in Stuttgart, Germany.

39. Past Research > Postdocs > Penn State • Postdoc at Penn State University • Evaluating compost biofilters to mitigate ammonia and greenhouse gases • ASABE AIM proceedings, June 2007 • Exploratory experiment on the effect of mixing on biogas yield in biodigesters • ‘Progress in Biogas’ conference in Stuttgart, September 2007 • Evaluating models for ammonia emissions from animal waste • In progress – planned, Transactions of ASABE • Managed bio-processing lab • Co-developed wiki website online • Co-advisor in undergraduate thesis • Effect of biofilters on manure stack temperatures • Mentored in data collection processing • Data analysis, organized writing

40. Past Research > Postdocs > Penn State > Evaluating ammonia emission models • Models predict ammonia speciation and volatilization • Estimating pollution form animal facilities • Rationale: empirically evaluate models, verify missing inputs • Models for dissociation fraction of ammonia(l) from ammonium(l) • Elzing and Monteny, 1997, Hashimoto, 1972. • Henry’s law predict ammonia(g) based on ammonia(l) • Henry’s constant = P(ammonia gas) / [ammonia(l)] [ammonia(g)]/ [ammonia(l)]

41. Past Research > Postdocs > Penn State > Evaluating ammonia emission models • f x H = [ammonia(l) / ammonium(l)] x [ammonia(g) / ammonia(l)] = [ammonia(g)] / [ammonium(l)] Incubate samples at prescribed temperature for 1 hour, measure for 10 minutes

42. Past Research > Postdocs > Penn State > Evaluating ammonia emission models • Evaluating mass transfer models, with wind velocity as an input

43. Future Research

44. Future Research > Develop technologically advanced organic / sustainable farming • Background: • Trained in precision ag • Teaching assistant for precision ag class • ArcGIS work as a graduate assistant, analyzing spatial data • Developing program to filter data from citrus yield monitor data logger • Literature review on Zigbee routers for wireless signals • Workshop on using sensors in the Zigbee system • Develop online networking tool (2005) for innovative technologyie on organic farming • Using background for future research: • Draw on network to co-author proposal for wireless sensing / precision ag use in organic animal production • Develop online database for exchange of weeding robots protocols

45. Future Research > Principles and ideas • Build on existing advances in precision ag and wireless sensing • Wireless animal guidance in free range pastures • Creativity • “ The best way to never have a good idea, is to never have a bad idea” • Incremental innovations to transformative ideas • Sustainability: ecological, social and economic • cost / benefit analysis ･creative design can reduce cost of technology • Teams • Research specialists, students, faculty, for diverse perspectives • Focus-groups to better select research • Communication • put results in accessible terms, stakeholder • combine producers with academic inputs (ASABE session)

46. Future Research > Principles and ideas • Combine biological and agricultural engineering • Strong collaborations • Grow into that area • Training: protein and enzymatic assays, SDS-Page method • Engineering design • Designing a system, not single process • vermicomposting system • Optimize a combination existing processes • co-processes • multi-waste streams • excel program for optimized feedstock • result: complex but easy to operate system • Organization in experiments • Experimental design, hypothesis • Streamlining data collection and processing • Industry-like efficiency in labs • Enhances career of graduates, increases credibility of lab

47. Future Research > Principles and ideas > designing systems

48. Vision of what’s next: free range fitted with technology Tools: waste bioprocessing techniques, instrumentation, electrical engineering, precision ag and programming A free-range fitted with engineering designs to process waste Goal: - social acceptability, no odor - pro-pig environment - ecologically sound, lucrative - not at the expense of increased labor

49. Vision of what’s next: free range fitted with technology Tools: waste bioprocessing techniques, instrumentation, electrical engineering, precision ag and programming GPS or LPS receivers, RF modules and and Remote controlled-locomotion will be used to input / ouput locations Control station: computerized, feedback loops based on wireless communication, prevents long work hours Wireless soil sensors indicate when soil reaches its capacity in P nitrate Mobile barn, guided by wireless input from control station Porous soil inoculated with earthworms processes some of the pre-decomposed waste Solar powered Feeder Ant - An autonomous mobile unit feeding outdoor pigs (Jorgensen et al. 2007). Position output by control station Automated mobile “lids” detect gaseous emissions from, and cover waste. They’re fitted with waste degrading technologies, and powered by renewable energy. They collect waste as well, into a central waste processing station. GPS and RF module - fitted pig collars.

50. Paradigm shift in animal husbandry Article by L. Hamilton in The New Farm, Jan 2003 on organic dairy milk. A mobile milking parlor follows the cows as they rotate in the pasture. Organic Pastures Dairy Company, Fresno CA Eggmobile, such as used in Perry Winkle Farms - Debbie Roos, North Carolina Cooperative extension, Chatham county