Biological & Agricultural Engineering Grants in progress which have principal invistagators (PI) with Department Faculty and Extension Personnel
2010-2011
124 Projects
2010-1263
Landscaping with Nature in Currituck County
Gloria F. Putnam, Barbara A. Doll, Kristopher L. Bass
NC Department of Environment & Natural Resources (DENR)
$20,000
05/19/10 - 09/30/10
This project creates an environmental education demonstration site that incorporates natural landscape features and native plants at a prominent county-owned location. The primary objectives of the project will be to increase the use of wetland features in stormwater control and treatment systems, and use of native plants in all landscapes throughout the county and the region. To accomplish, this partners involved with the Currituck Goes Green Initiative will work collaboratively to 1) redesign and retrofit the stormwater detention ponds currently serving the Currituck County Cooperative Extension Facility to improve stormwater treatment; 2) install a small wildlife garden adjacent to the ponds using native plants; and 3) use the project design process and demonstration site to educate key target audiences about the methods and value of incorporating natural features and native plants into the developed landscape. The Cooperative Extension Facility is located in Crawford Township on 36 acres just off Highway 158, adjacent to Central Elementary School.
2010-0838
Less Rain Down The Drain: Disconnecting Stormwater Systems To Restore Black Creek
Christy A. Perrin, Patrick Beggs, Kristopher L. Bass, Jon A. Brandt, Jean Spooner, Laura Taylor
NC Department of Environment & Natural Resources (DENR)
$195,985
01/01/10 - 12/31/12
The Black Creek Watershed Association (BCWA), a partnership coordinated by NCSU since 2006, has assessed the causes of Black Creek"s impairment and developed an action plan to improve the stream system"s health. Located in the northern section of the Town of Cary, in the Neuse Basin, the watershed is home to the popular Black Creek Greenway adjacent to much of Black Creek. The assessment has determined that the volume and velocity of stormwater runoff is the likely main source of biological impairment of the creek. Much of the stormflow during rain events arrives from culverts and pipes that drain straight into the creek or its tributaries bypassing the greenway buffer, essentially scouring the stream clean during high rainfall events. High levels of fecal coliform bacteria, high turbidity and nutrients in stormflows were found. This project will implement several of the top priority strategies in the Black Creek Watershed Plan, by engaging the community in identifying and implementing low impact development retrofits through a Disconnection Campaign (tentatively titled Less Rain Down the Drain), and monitoring hydrologic changes. Detailed landcover and stormwater outfall data collected during the assessment will aid in the location of large retrofit projects on public land (Town of Cary recreational facilities), as well as multiple smaller retrofits in residential areas, targeting one or more subwatersheds for increased effectiveness. BCWA provides the link for bringing the campaign into the community.
2010-0869
Deriving Sampling Frequency Guidelines For Water Quality Monitoring In North Carolina
Francois Philippe Birgand
NCSU Water Resources Research Institute
$30,754
07/01/10 - 06/30/11
Hundreds of monitoring stations have been established to provide site-specific, long-term water quality information on rivers, streams and estuaries throughout North Carolina. Flux calculations using the current sampling strategies have revealed that nitrate fluxes in some of the lower Neuse sub-watersheds did not decrease to the percentage value that other estimates had forecasted. This has raised questions " among many other things - about the reliability and the precision of the flux and other water quality indicators estimates using the current sampling strategy schemes. We propose to conduct a study that will provide reference data on the level of uncertainties on water quality indicators following the past and present sampling frequency and schemes used in North Carolina. The method takes advantage of the availability in North Carolina of high temporal resolution data for flow and concentration at known reference stations. From these reference watersheds, sampling frequencies can be numerically simulated to calculate the uncertainties induced by lower frequencies. Following our previous work on nitrate in Europe, we will then correlate the uncertainty levels to indicators of the hydrological reactivity of the reference watersheds. These correlations will be extrapolated to calculate uncertainties to all watersheds. This method will provide for the first time a possibility to evaluate the value of past and existing sampling schemes, and provide means, were it found to be necessary, to adjust sampling frequencies to a desired uncertainty level on a watershed by watershed and nutrient by nutrient basis.
2009-1198
Quantification of In-Stream Water Quality Benefits of a Restored Coastal Marsh
Francois Philippe Birgand, Michael R. Burchell
NC Department of Environment & Natural Resources (DENR)
$166,170
04/01/10 - 03/31/12
Stream and marsh restorations have been ongoing in the state to improve the quality of water and habitat for wildlife. The question of "by how much does water quality benefit from the restoration projects"" is still largely unanswered, especially for restored coastal marshes. The very complex patterns of flow and concentrations in these systems have made very difficult all attempts to close a mass balance. The recent availability of water quality probes able to measure on a continuous basis nitrate, organic carbon and suspended solids has opened for the first time the prospect of being able to accurately measure sensitive nutrient fluxes in these environments. On a restored coastal marsh, we propose to upgrade the existing monitoring by measuring on a continuous basis flow and nutrient concentrations at the in- and outlets of the marsh using the new probes and flow measuring structures. For the first time, an accurate mass balance could be calculated and reliable in-stream nutrient retention rates, treatment efficiencies and water quality benefits of a coastal marsh could be obtained. To provide further reference numbers on retention rates to be expected in these systems, intermittent tracer and nutrient injection experiments will be conducted in the marsh. The improved monitoring will be at the core of the updated recommendations on the desirable geomorphology, water circulation and vegetation management in restored marshes.
2009-1995
Effects of Biochar on Wheat Yield, Nutrient Uptake, and Soil Properties
Jeffrey G. White, Robert D Walters, Michael D. Boyette
NC Small Grain Growers Association, Inc.
Unfunded
10/01/08 - 09/30/10
Biochar is the charcoal remains of incomplete combustion of biomass such as woodchips, brush, crop residues, or green waste. It can also be produced when biomass is heated (torrefied) to extract biofuels. Biochar created via "slash and smolder" is believed to be the source of the high productivity of the terra preta (dark earth) soils of South America. When added to soil, biochar may: slow nutrient leaching, increase nutrient availability, decrease fertilizer requirements, improve water relations, stimulate beneficial soil fungi, and sequester carbon for long periods, thus helping to mitigate global warming. Research elsewhere has indicated that biochar may be particularly effective in improving nitrogen dynamics by fostering uptake and minimizing leaching losses. If carbon crediting to mitigate global warming becomes more widely implemented, adding biochar to soil may provide growers a means to improve soil productivity while sequestering carbon to earn carbon credits and improve profitability. In June 2008, we established a preliminary trial in small "microplots" to determine the effects of biochar on crop yield and soil properties on a Noboco-Goldsboro loamy sand at the Williamsdale Farm Bioenergy Extension and Research Center in Wallace, NC. We incorporated five rates of biochar (0, 4.5, 9, 18, 36 tons/acre) with and without N-P-K fertilizer (131-30-30) with corn as the initial test crop. The higher rates of biochar (18 and 36 tons/acre) increased soil pH; cation exchange capacity (CEC); base saturation; and available potassium, calcium, magnesium, sulfur, and manganese. Fertilizer had little or no effect on corn yield, probably because the field had been limed and fertilized for a prior wheat crop that was plowed down. Corn grain and stover yield were depressed at 4.5 tons biochar per acre but unaffected at other rates. In October 2008, we planted winter wheat in the plots, which were harvested June 10, 2009. Growth was generally good, but some bird damage was evident especially in the perimeter plots. Soil samples were taken June 11, 2009. Wheat is being processed (dry; thresh/winnow; weigh, grind, subsample grain and straw). Funding permitting, soil, grain, straw, and biochar samples will be submitted to the NCDA&CS lab for standard soil and tissue analyses, and grain, straw, and biochar samples will be submitted to the Dept. of Soil Science Analytical Services Laboratory for carbon and nitrogen analyses. NCSGGA grant funds remaining in hand from 2009 will cover approximately two thirds of the soil analyses. Additional funds are requested to complete the soil, tissue, and biochar analyses. We also request funds to cover travel, sampling, and analysis costs to allow determination of soil texture, water infiltration, and soil available water-holding capacity and moisture release characteristics. We will plant soybean in the plots as soon as weather permits, but our request covers only the wheat portion of the trial's corn'wheat'double-crop soybean rotation. This preliminary research will help determine whether biochar has the potential to improve productivity of coarse-textured coastal plain soils. Based on the outcome of this research and research by collaborators in Forestry and the NC Solar Center, we have submitted a preproposal to the USDA-CSREES Southern Region Sustainable Agriculture Research and Extension (SARE) program to extend the research to other soils and crops. An NCSU research group in Forestry has an operational torrifier that can produce substantial quantities of biochar, and Dr. Boyette's group in Biological and Agricultural Engineering is developing a torrifier of different design to produce biofuel and substantial quantities of biochar as a byproduct. This biochar would allow us to expand trials to other soils and further examine biochar"s potential to sequester carbon and improve crop production in North Carolina.
2010-2720
Enhancing Sweetpotato Manufacturer Interest in North Carolina Through Proactive Collaboration and Research to Improve Sweetpotato Production and Storage Capabilities, and Overcome Frying Constraints
Jonathan R. Schultheis, Michael D. Boyette, George C. Yencho
Golden Leaf Foundation
$200,000
09/01/10 - 08/31/11
This proposal addresses roadblocks to expanding sweetpotato [SP] processing in NC with specific focus on storage and fry quality over an extended period of time (12 months). Fries and chips made from sweetpotatoes are 2 large market opportunities but consistently performing raw supply is critical to year round processing. Resolution means establishing processing facilities for fries near NC's growing area is a realistic outcome. In the past 3 years, there has been 20+% sales growth annually for SP fries. Within 5 years the need for field grown processing sweetpotatoes will likely expand by 500 million pounds for fries alone. This translates into nearly 15,000 acres of additional sweetpotato production. NC rightfully seeks a portion of the bounty in this processing opportunity. As an example of the opportunity; a single medium output fry plant would add $100 million in capital and 120 jobs, and require an estimated 100-200 million pounds of sweetpotatoes annually. The key to NC participating in these gains is resolving extended storage quality deficiencies and achieving raw crop cost reductions in growing through innovations and developments as addressed in this proposal.
2010-2170
Survey of 'Covington' Sweetpotatoes in Storage in NC Commercial Facilities; Preliminary Test to Evaluate the Effects of a High Concentration of Ethylene Gas on Internal Break Down of 'Covington' Sweetpotato
Jonathan R. Schultheis, Zvezdana Pesic-Van Esbro, Michael D. Boyette, Allan C. Thornton
NC Sweet Potato Commission
$9,500
03/01/10 - 02/28/11
'Covington' is the sweetpotato variety most grown in NC. It has supplanted 'Beauregard' due to its superior pack out and other improved qualities. One issue of concern with 'Covington' sweetpotato is that there have been incidences of internal break down in various storage houses located in NC. We know that the occurrence of internal break down is sometimes linked with the application of ethylene. However, the occurrence of internal break down in 'Covington' has been found in sweetpotatoes in which no ethylene has been applied. There is some evidence that internal break down may be related to high moisture conditions while in the field and/or unfavorable storage conditions. We propose that ethylene be applied to healthy 'Covington' sweetpotatoes at a high concentration level to determine if ethylene will induce internal break down symptoms a couple of weeks after treatment. We also propose that commercial packing houses with product currently in place from the 2009 production season be surveyed in NC to determine how extensive the internal break down incidence is in NC. Finally, we propose that the storage conditions of the 2010 sweetpotato crop be monitored over time with temperature humidity sensors. We suggest that roots be sampled periodically over time to better determine if internal break down can be detected and associated with storage environment.
2009-0908
Sustaining the Economic Impact from Tobacco Production in North Carolina
William David Smith, Michael D. Boyette, David W. Monks
NC Agricultural Foundation, Inc
$145,000
12/11/08 - 09/30/10
Sustained tobacco production and the $1.1 billion in economic impact it provides are solely dependent upon improved profitability at the farm level. Research to develop alternative energy sources, disease management, varieties, pest control, and agronomic management practices followed by extension educational programs to provide outreach into the community is critically necessary for continued production and the survival of this industry which supports 1,800 farm families and employs over 18,000 farm workers. For North Carolina State University to continue its excellent support of tobacco farmers, it must recruit and retain the World"s best faculty by providing the World"s best infrastructure. Budget limitations at the state level and the unavailability of federal funds have severely restricted investment in research stations, greenhouses, and laboratories. As a result, the university does not have sufficient greenhouse space to support tobacco research; its laboratories lack the analytical capability to fully support variety development and harm reduction research; and research stations need to be modernized to support field research. Therefore, the goal of this project is to sustain the $1.1 billion economic impact from tobacco production at the farm and community. Specific objectives are: To provide the infrastructure necessary to support research and education programs that increase production efficiency and reduce production costs in tobacco production. Reduce curing costs on tobacco research stations by 90%, thereby providing additional operating funds to support research projects supporting tobacco production. Demonstrate and evaluate alternative fuels in tobacco curing and transplant production. To accomplish these objectives the North Carolina Agricultural Foundation is requesting a grant of $498,750 from the NC Tobacco Trust Fund Commission to support infrastructure improvements during 2009. Funds will be utilized to convert curing barns on three tobacco research stations for hot water curing fired by wood chips. The same boiler system would also be used to heat the tobacco transplant greenhouse. Engineers estimate a 90% savings with wood fired hot water compared to LP gas. The savings are so substantial that it only takes two years for a return on the conversion cost. In addition, two research stations do not have suitable transplant production greenhouses.
2008-0821
Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) Riparian Buffer Monitoring
Michael R. Burchell, Deanna L. Osmond, Christopher E. Moorman, Daniel E. Line, Mohamed Youssef, Owen Duckworth, Rodney L. Huffman, Jean Spooner, Dave Penrose, Garry Grabow, Karen Hall
NC Department of Environment & Natural Resources (DENR)
$697,002
04/01/08 - 05/31/11
High priority has been placed on protecting riparian buffers based on prior research that indicate that buffers are generally effective in reducing nutrient and sediment inputs to streams from upland sources, such as agriculture. Because of their effectiveness and sustainability, the N.C. Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) intended to provide landowner incentives to establish these buffers to improve water quality and habitat in four targeted watersheds (Chowan, Neuse, and Tar-Pamlico River Basins, and the Jordan Lake watershed). Much is currently known about treatment of pollutants through buffers, and for the most part, we understand how to implement them to achieve some level of water quality benefit. However, with the economic implications of removing lands from agricultural production or from development in the name of water quality protection, it is of utmost importance that we strive to implement these systems properly with an improved understanding of such elements as width, hydrology, and soils. Within the next three years, the objectives of our multi-disciplinary team are to: 1. Produce a multi-year (5-12 years depending on the site) assessment of the water quality benefits of four distinctive riparian buffers (three enrolled in CREP in the Tar-Pamlico watershed, 1 at CEFS located within the Neuse target watershed) 2. Enhance the field of riparian buffer research by contributing to the understanding of the complex factors (hydrology, geology, soils, topography, etc.) that determine how well these areas transform and remove pollutants (particularly nitrate-nitrogen) in groundwater before discharging into streams or canals. 3. Incorporate data collected from the sites on geology, soils, hydrology, groundwater and surface water chemistry, topography, and vegetation into existing models or models under development to make long term predictions of the effect of these buffers on water quality improvement 4. Conclude 2-yr analysis to determine how buffer size and shape (which is expressed by a perimeter to area ratio value) and landscape context affect bird occupancy of buffers and the productivity of five focal bird species nesting in the buffers. 5. Continue to assist CREP staff in determining appropriate water quality criteria to apply to future enrollments
2009-1014
Long-term Water Quality Performance of a Coastal Infiltration System
Michael R. Burchell, William F. Hunt III, George M. Chescheir, Alexandria K Graves
NC Department of Transportation
$118,775
08/16/09 - 12/31/10
NCSU Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering requests support from NCDOT to evaluate the long term performance of a coastal infiltration system. Two Dune Infiltration Systems were previously designed and implemented by NCSU at Kure Beach, NC to reduce flow from stormwater outfalls, which reduce bacterial loads to coastal waters. A third has been designed and is scheduled for construction in January 2009. These systems serve as a stormwater retrofit for NCDOT in a sensitive environmental area, treating stormwater runoff from US 421, as well as from nearby residential and commercial areas. Runoff from approximately 1800 ft of US 421 is addressed with all three of these systems. Initial results on the first two systems studied indicated that the systems operated efficiently in the short term, and may be a viable option for other ocean outfalls in NC or at other nearby NCDOT projects near sensitive waters. Long-term support of monitoring and research on these systems to understand the fate and transport of bacteria in the groundwater beneath the dune system is critical before similar systems can be recommended at other coastal locations.
2006-2120
Genetically Engineered Switchgrass for Ethanol Production
Jiayang Cheng, Rongda Qu, Laigeng Li
Consortium for Plant Biotechnology Research, Inc.
$180,000
08/01/08 - 12/31/10
Fossil fuels (crude oil and natural gas) are currently the major energy source in the United States and many other countries. However, the reserves of crude oil and natural gas are limited and will be exhausted in the near future if their consumption continues at its current rate. Campbell and Laherrere used several different techniques to estimate the current known crude oil reserves and the reserves as yet undiscovered and concluded that the decline in world-wide crude oil production will begin before 2010. They also predicted that annual global oil production would decline from the current 25 billion barrels to around 5 billion barrels in 2050. Because the economy in the U.S. and many other nations depends on fossil fuels, the consequence of inadequate supply of crude oil and natural gas would be severe. Therefore, there is a great interest in exploring alternative renewable energy sources for sustainable economic development. On the other hand, there are a tremendous amount of biomass and organic wastes such as agricultural and forest residues, grasses, and trees that can be used for renewable energy production. Although extensive research has been conducted on conversion of switchgrass to ethanol, most of the previous efforts have been focused on pretreatment of the biomass. In this proposed project, for the first time we will integrate the genetic technology of lignin reduction that has been successfully demonstrated in several other species into the switchgrass bioconversion for an economical efficacy of lignocellulose-based ethanol production. The goal of this proposed research is to develop a technology that efficiently converts genetically engineered switchgrass with less lignin and more cellulose to bioethanol. Lower costs will be expected for the technology, compared to the current ones. The specific objectives are to: 1. Clone cDNA of a key lignin biosynthesis gene 4CL (4-coumarate:coenzyme A ligase) from switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.); 2. Genetically transform switchgrass for reduced lignin and increased cellulose; and 3. Improve efficiencies of transgenic switchgrass to ethanol through pretreatment, hydrolysis and fermentation. In this multi-disciplinary research team, we have expertise in grass transformation, lignin/cellulose synthesis biochemistry and molecular biology, and fermentation for ethanol production from cellulose. Collaborative experiments will be conducted to achieve the goal and objectives of this project. This proposed project will have significant economic benefits for renewable energy production. Although at the present there is very little switchgrass grown in the US, many states, e.g. North Carolina, are very suitable for its growth. If the price is right the acreage would rapidly grow. An estimate by NCDA at 2004 indicates that switchgrass could be grown on some 4.4 million acres in the state, involving 11,000 farms, and by our calculation, the switchgrass-to-ethanol industry revenue could reach $4 billion/year. Moreover, hundreds of jobs will be created by the switchgrass-to-ethanol plants. At this scale, a reduction of each one percentage unit of lignin and conversion of it to cellulose would increase the revenue by $95 million/year without any more input due to the increased ethanol production.
2009-1320
Genetically Engineered Switchgrass for Ethanol Production
Jiayang Cheng, Rongda Qu
Agrivida
$4,000
08/01/08 - 07/31/10
This is the match funding for the second year of the project. In the first year, we developed a high-throughput transformation protocol for switchgrass, and obtained about 200 transgenic plants with many being transformed with an RNAi construct of the 4CL gene. In the second year, we need to characterize the plants and analyze the lignin content of the plants.
2009-1084
Analysis of the Effects of Biofuel Planting, Growth, and Harvesting on the Hydrology and Water Quality of Pine Plantations
George M. Chescheir, Richard W. Skaggs, Mohamed Youssef, Francois Philippe Birgand
Weyerhaeuser NR Company(subsidiary of Weyerhaeuser)
$500,000
12/15/08 - 12/31/10
This project will investigate the hydrologic and water quality effects of the production of energy crops inter-planted in forest plantations in North Carolina and other southeastern states. The proposed project will expand long-term watershed studies on pine plantations in the Coastal Plain of North Carolina. Growing trees and other crops to produce forest and energy products is a promising method of improving local economies and contributing to energy security, with the added potential of sequestering CO2, reducing the effects of climate change. However, introduction of energy crops in the traditional plantation forest may have high impact on hydrology and drainage water quality. No information is available on the hydrologic and water quality effects of inter-planting and harvesting biomass crops for energy between rows of pine trees. We propose to use the well documented and calibrated watersheds in Carteret county, NC to study the environmentally related effects of producing both biomass crops and forestry crops for energy. We will also work with researchers in other southeastern states to collect, process and analyze data from similar pine plantation watersheds with inter-planted biomass crops.
2010-1747
Brian Schuster: Cellulose Production from Sweet Sorghum Bagasse Using Clostridium Thermocellum
George T. Barthalmus, Mari S Chinn
NC Biotechnology Center
$5,000
05/15/10 - 05/14/11
Specific objectives will be to 1) investigate how well C. thermocellum grows on SSB in both submerged and solid state fermentation; 2) to examine how effective the bacteria"s cellulase enzymes hydrolyze SSB cellulose in fermentable sugars under ambient aerobic conditions in the absence of the living microbes, and 3) to compare the effectiveness of C. thermocellum-derived cellulases to commercial enzymes (Novozymes North America) in producing fermentable sugars. The overall goal will be to contribute to research efforts that will allow ethanol production to be more cost-effective and add value to an under-utilized agricultural processing residue, SSB.
2008-1043
Examination of Cellulase Enzyme Production and Efficacy
Mari S Chinn
Cover Technologies, Inc.
$6,775
01/01/08 - 12/31/10
Preliminary enzyme performance studies will be conducted in collaboration with Cover Technologies, Inc. using proprietary materials supported by their company.
2010-1941
Gas Stream COx Adsorption and Ethanol Synthesis using Latex-Film Immobilized Microbes - CBERD Core Project
Michael Carl Flickinger, Steven W. Peretti, Amy M. Grunden, Mari S Chinn
Center for Bioenergy Research and Development (CBERD) - NCSU Research Site
Unfunded
05/01/10 - 12/31/10
This project will investigate the following objectives: 1. Construct and demonstrate the reactivity of a laboratory scale gas-phase coating of Clostridium ljungdhalii on porous media under anaerobic conditions for absorption of CO and CO2 . Demonstrate conversion of COx to acetate and ethanol. 2. Determine optimal coating and COx adsorption/reaction conditions as a function of coating microstructure along with reaction kinetics, overall C2 product yield and carbon mass balance. Analysis of COx uptake will be determined by GC and analysis of products in the liquid phase will be determined by GC or HPLC. 3. Determine the gas-phase COx adsorption active half-life using small scale coatings.
2010-1741
Jason Whitham: Sequential Fermentation of C1 Containing Waste Gas Streams by Clostridia and Methanogens for Ethanol and Methane Production
George T. Barthalmus, Amy M. Grunden, Mari S Chinn
NC Biotechnology Center
$5,000
05/01/10 - 04/30/11
Autotrophic clostidia can convert carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and hydrogen gases to ethanol and acetate. The acetate byproduct can be converted into a second biofuel, methane, by methanogens. The purposed project sponsored by the NCBC Fellowship will be to study the effectiveness of using these two organisms in sequential cultures.
2008-1504
Production of Biofuels from Waste Gas Streams using Textiles Coated with Microbial Catalysts
Mari S Chinn, Michael Carl Flickinger, Amy M. Grunden, Steven W. Peretti, Kelly D. Zering
NC Biotechnology Center
$243,975
07/01/08 - 12/31/10
There are two distinct applications relevant to North Carolina technologies that could benefit significantly from the development of robust microbial catalyst coatings that can convert carbon dioxide-containing gas streams to biofuels. One application is the use of these coatings to convert polluting carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide-containing waste gases that are generated by various industries in North Carolina to biofuels. This conversion process would not only be desirable because economically important products are produced, but additionally and equally important, the carbon footprint of the waste producer would be decreased. A second application is "total biomass utilization", which is the conversion of all carbon in renewable lignocellulosic material to fuels or other valuable chemicals. The North Carolina agriculture industry currently generates over 15 million tons of agriculture biomass for renewable energy production annually (2007 NC Biomass Roadmap). It is thought that the most efficient conversion of total biomass to biofuels would require the combination of gasification of the biomass to generate synthesis gas followed by microbial-catalyzed fermentation of the synthesis gas to produce ethanol, acetate and other fuels/biochemicals. However, at this time, a truly viable synthesis gas fermentation system has not been fully developed, and therefore, a closer look at the metabolic pathways and regulatory mechanisms of key microbial systems will be very important to clearly delineating the capabilities of synthesis gas fermentation for biofuel production. Coating-embedded (immobilized) cultures of autotrophic bacteria and methanogenic archaea are proposed as a means to minimize current difficulties with system stability, substrate use efficiency and low alcohol production relative to other fermentation products such as the acid acetate. Project objectives aim to improve the efficiency of converting synthesis gas into marketable fuels and increase the feasibility of thermochemical fuel production in a biorefinery and focus on: 1) Improving ethanol selectivity of effective autotrophic bacteria using growing and non-growing cultures; 2) Studying the physiology of aceticlastic methanogens for conversion of acetate byproducts to methane; 3) Designing and evaluating combined sequential cultures to enhance conversion process efficiency; 4) Examining the function of coating technology using select microbial catalysts to improve robustness and affect gas diffusion; 5) Developing carbon flux models describing the metabolic behavior of these select biocatalysts for use in future genetic and metabolic manipulation; and 6) Creating models that describe the economic characteristics and efficiency of the proposed conversion processes. It is anticipated that the information gained in this study that focuses on the microbially-catalyzed conversion of synthesis gas streams to biofuels will have broader applicability to the fermentation of other industrially generated waste gas streams and will therefore be of general benefit to the design of many types of gas waste conversion systems. Product selectivity shifts from acetate to ethanol by autotrophic clostridia will be examined in detail with labeling studies and quantification of intracellular and extracellular metabolites. The efficiency of acetate-based methanogenesis operating in the presence of synthesis gas streams and ethanol will be determined. Flux of aceticlastic-based methanogenesis will be evaluated using labeling studies, intracellular enzyme activities, and gas compositions. Results should indicate conditions that will enhance the overall productivity of sequential autotroph and methanogen cultures and non-growing autotroph cultures. Nanostructure adhesive coating technology will be used to develop textile-based matrices to support metabolically active cultures and provide selectivity of gaseous components. Sequential non-coated and coated cultures will be implemented and performance will be investigated in both batch and continuous liquid feed a
2010-2224
Manure Belt Collection System and Energy Recovery System
John J. Classen, Praveen Kolar, John M. Rice, Otto Simmons, Sarah K. Liehr, Kelly D. Zering, Eric VanHeugten
US Dept. of Agriculture (USDA)
$659,655
09/22/10 - 09/21/13
Tim Craig, Craig Family Farms, LLC, is building three new swine housing units at their Harnett County, North Carolina site; the farm will produce gilts for Smithfield Foods. This site is currently permitted for a 624 sow, farrow to feed operation but has been vacant for almost 12 months. The owners plan to construct new houses suitable for gilt production and populate the farm with 2,100 gilts, a steady state live weight that is equivalent to the existing permit. In North Carolina, new swine operations must install technology, other than anaerobic lagoon and spray field, that controls ammonia emissions, odor emissions and can move nitrogen off of the farm. The under floor belt collection system is the basis for various technologies to recover nutrients and energy. This technology is being used in Europe and was previously evaluated in North Carolina and was determined to effectively separate the solid and liquid fractions of the waste stream, partitioning 90% of the phosphorus with the solids fraction and 60% of the nitrogen with the liquid fraction; the system also reduced ammonia and methane emissions from the barns. Craig Family Farms, LLC intends to duplicate the same system on other sites to expand their gilt production operation. Craig Family Farms, LLC will install an under floor belt collection system and covered liquid storage for each of the three new housing units. The liquid accumulated in the storage units will be land applied at agronomic rates on existing fields. The solid manure will be processed for energy recovery in either an anaerobic digester or a gasifier unit. Designs and energy balances for both units are being developed and analyzed at this time; a specific unit will be selected based on the results of this analysis. The residue from either process will be able to be moved off the farm, thus reducing the mass of nitrogen and phosphorus applied to the fields. According to the NC Division of Water Quality, the system must be analyzed for nutrient reduction, ammonia emissions, pathogen reduction, and odor. These analyses will be an important part of the project along with energy production and energy consumption. An economic analysis will include the capital costs, operational cost, the value of the net energy recovered and any impacts on the productivity of the gilts. Documentation will be developed of the project with photos and videos from groundbreaking through belt installation and startup to operation and maintenance. The documentation will be used in extension programming such as a field day and producer meetings, as well as virtual tour and explanation suitable for web delivery.
2011-0249
How to Start a Biofilter
Dennis P. DeLong, Thomas M. Losordo
Southern Regional Aquaculture Center (Mississippi State University)
$2,000
05/01/10 - 04/30/11
This work will involve writing a new publication for the Southern Regional Aquaculture Center (SRAC) which will improve understanding of the operation of recirculating aquaculture systems. 'Starting' a biofilter refers to the process of establishing nitrifying bacteria on the biological filter media so that these bacteria may begin processing the nitrogen-based waste produced by the organisms cultured in the recirculating system. The publication will be available to North Carolina citizens and the general public and will be an educational aid to those who operate recirculating aquaculture systems.
2011-0247
The Economics of Recirculating Tank Systems: A Spreadsheet for Individual Analysis
Dennis P. DeLong, Thomas M. Losordo
Southern Regional Aquaculture Center (Mississippi State University)
$1,000
05/01/10 - 04/30/11
This work will involve re-writing and updating the current Southern Regional Aquaculture Center (SRAC) Fact Sheet Number 456 to reflect current understanding of the economics and operation of recirculating aquaculture systems. In addition, the current spreadsheet will be updated to include additional economic factors and analysis, making it more suitable for use in a business plan. The revised publication and companion spreadsheet will be available to North Carolina citizens and the general public and be suitable as a tool for recirculating aquaculture business planning.
2005-0457
Monitoring Restoration, Urban Stormwater and Best Management Practice (BMP) Projects
Barbara A. Doll, Karen Hall, Daniel R Clinton, William F. Hunt III, Gregory D. Jennings, Daniel E. Line, Kristopher L. Bass, Wendy M. Patoprsty, Jean Spooner, Jon Calabria, Dave Penrose, David A. Bidelspach
Clean Water Management Trust Fund
$517,000
03/10/06 - 12/31/10
GRANT RECIPIENT: North Carolina State University CWMTF PROJECT NO.: 2005A-900 FEDERAL I.D. NO.: 56-6000-756 GRANT RECIPIENT"S FISCAL YEAR END DATE: June 30 PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The purpose of this contract is to establish a monitoring program to be conducted by the North Carolina State University Water Quality Group on a subset of the Clean Water Management Trust Fund"s stream restoration, stormwater and agricultural best management practices (BMP) projects. The program will include a field evaluation of 31 existing projects to provide a snapshot of project compliance and water quality benefits. The North Carolina State University Water Quality Group will conduct a more comprehensive monitoring program on a smaller subset of recently funded projects. The results will provide the Clean Water Management Trust Fund with a better understanding of the status and water quality benefits of these type projects. On May 16, 2005, the Board of Trustees of the Clean Water Management Trust Fund approved a grant of UP TO ONE HUNDRED SEVENTY THOUSAND AND 00/100THS DOLLARS (up to $170,000) to fund the initial phase of the program for the first six months, from February 10, 2006 through August 10, 2006. It is anticipated that the Board of Trustees of the Clean Water Management Trust Fund will approve amendments to the contract to add funds for future installments up to a total contract amount of $517,000 through February 9, 2009.
2009-1160
Catawba River Basin Residential Irrigation Water Conservation Study
Garry Grabow, Rodney L. Huffman, Grady Miller
Catawba-Wateree Water Management Group
$142,227
02/10/09 - 03/31/12
NC State University is proposing to lead a water use study on Duke Energy lakes in the Catawba River Basin. The study will establish an estimate of water withdrawals by homeowners bordering the lake through installation of water meters at 36 properties during phase I of the study. Additional information about water use practices will be obtained through a survey instrument designed by NC State. Long-term estimates of irrigation water requirements will be generated using existing long-term data from local weather stations, and weather stations will be deployed at project lakes to estimate irrigation water requirements over the course of the study. During Phase II, two groups of cooperating homeowners will receive two types of "smart" irrigation control technologies. One type of technology is weather based and the other is soil-moisture sensor based. A third group of homeowners will receive educational material and guidance on programming their existing irrigation controller and a fourth group will receives no intervention other than water use monitoring. Soil moisture will be recorded in all homes that receive the smart technologies. Weekly and seasonal water use of all groups will be compared between all four groups. Water use of the four groups will all be compared against irrigation requirements as estimated from the weather stations deployed at the Duke Energy lakes. Study results will be used to quantify the potential reduction of water withdrawals from the use of smart irrigation technologies, and an educational campaign aimed at property owners along Duke Energy lakes. Typical water withdrawal patterns (both current patterns and patterns associated with efficient irrigation management) will be used to evaluate the potential water savings.
2010-0140
Robeson Creek Water Quality Outreach Initiative
Karen Hall, Jean Spooner, Daniel E. Line, Christy A. Perrin, James D. Blackwell
US Dept. of Agriculture (USDA)
$228,000
09/01/09 - 08/31/12
The Robeson Creek watershed, located in central North Carolina, is one of the most impaired watersheds in the state. As a major water supplier to the also impaired Jordan Lake, this watershed has been the focus of numerous water quality projects over the past eight years and is an EPA and NC Division of Water Quality (DWQ) Restoration Watershed. North Carolina State University (NCSU) has been a leader in initiating water quality improvement projects and garnering stakeholder support through these years in the watershed. The Robson Creek Watershed Council (RCWC) has been an active stakeholder group and with the help of NCSU is actively addressing water impairment issues in the community. These partnerships have developed long term goals for the protection and improvement of the watershed water quality. To meet these long term goals, NCSU proposes under this USDA NIWQP grant to implement several programs to enhance the path to the Robeson Creek watershed community"s self-sustainability of water quality. The following objectives are proposed: Objectives of proposed USDA NIWQP project 1. Strengthen the Town of Pittsboro"s stormwater ordinances. 2. Work with youth in local school system and other programs including 4-H, boy scouts and girl scouts to implement a rain garden and use it as an on-going outdoor laboratory for educational programs on water quality. 3. Work with businesses in the watershed to develop a water quality leadership challenge program. 4. Increase water quality awareness through educational signs and programs developed around existing water quality projects throughout the watershed. 5. Evaluate changes in stakeholder attitudes about improving and protecting water quality as a result of Extension programs funded under this USDA NIWQP project and other projects throughout the watershed. The evaluation will involve a series of surveys and focus group meetings of local stakeholders. These initiatives will serve as a model for other communities in the Jordan Lake watershed as well as other municipalities around the country. Engaging stakeholders like youth and businesses as well as surveying these and other stakeholders to determine outreach impacts will help Extension personnel hone their efforts to help people understand and improve water quality.
2008-0618
Robeson Creek Watershed Restoration Project
Karen Hall, Christy A. Perrin, Daniel E. Line, Jean Spooner, Gregory D. Jennings, Barbara A. Doll, William F. Hunt III, Garry Grabow, Kristopher L. Bass, Dwane Jones, Gloria F. Putnam, James D. Blackwell, Dave Penrose, Laura A. Szpir
NC Department of Environment & Natural Resources (DENR)
$470,000
01/01/08 - 06/30/11
The Robeson Creek Watershed is impaired for Total Phosphorus, Habitat Degradation, and Aquatic Weeds. Through this project, multiple BMPs are proposed for implementation throughout the watershed at targeted locations to address these impairments. Both urban and agricultural BMPs will be implemented throughout the watershed in critical areas determined by the TMDL Implementation Plan. Because this is a rapidly developing watershed, low impact development and stormwater ordinance education of local government and builders as well as an LID demonstration site is proposed to help stakeholders understand and prevent further degradation and actually work to improve stream health. Using the existing TMDL Implementation Plan, a watershed plan for Robeson Creek will be developed to assist stakeholders in making decisions about water quality measures. Monitoring for water quality and aquatic habitat will determine effectiveness of BMPs. Community involvement as well as technical guidance from the RCWC is paramount in removing this watershed from the 303(d) list. Therefore, the current educational campaign will be continued with quarterly stakeholder meetings, tours, workshops, newsletters, and informational signs at each BMP location.
2008-1309
Town Lake Restoration (CWMTF 2008-413; Robeson Creek Restoration)
Karen Hall, Kristopher L. Bass, Daniel E. Line, Jean Spooner, James D. Blackwell, Michael B. Shaffer
Clean Water Management Trust Fund
$476,000
12/10/09 - 03/31/13
Town Lake, located in central Chatham County, is part of the upper Cape Fear River Basin and drains into the 331 square mile lower Haw River Watershed (Cape Fear Subbasin 030604; HUC 03030002050 and 03030002060) in the central Piedmont region of North Carolina. This former water supply lake impounds Robeson Creek and is located within the limits of the Town of Pittsboro. Town Lake is on the NCDENR 303(d) list of impaired waters for aquatic weeds, and is currently not rated for aquatic life according to the 2005 Cape Fear River Basinwide Water Quality Plan. Furthermore, Robeson Creek is also on the 303 (d) list for chlorophyll a violations and biological impairment. On-going water quality studies have indicated that Town Lake is impacted by urban and rural nonpoint source pollution. The lake experiences algal blooms stimulated by excessive nutrient input from the watershed. DWQ sampling in 1993 identified significant macrophyte infestation problems in the lake. A restoration feasibility study funded by the Clean Water Management Trust Fund and prepared and completed in 2007 by the NCSU Water Quality Group suggests six restoration alternatives with the preferred alternative being a passive stream and wetland restoration approach. This approach will involve conversion of the lake to a more natural ecosystem with a channel, associated wetland floodplain, and diverse native vegetative community. The wetland area will also have a built-in storage component for water quality improvement purposes. Town Lake is a municipal park owned entirely by the Town of Pittsboro and on August 13th 2007, the Pittsboro Board of Commissioners approved the preferred alternative recommended in the study. With the support of the town as well as the Robeson Creek Watershed Council, a local stakeholder group that is very active in the improvement of water quality throughout the Robeson Creek Watershed, this proposed project will involve implementation of the preferred restoration plan with the goal of improving water quality and removing the lake from the impaired waters list. The passive stream and wetland restoration approach will involve: (1) lowering the water level of the existing upper lake, (2) stabilizing the failed emergency spillway, (3) installation of a water control/storage structure, (4) removing sediment from the mouth of the upper lake, (5) allowing the stream channel to reform on its own, and (6) creating a diverse habitat including upper marsh areas, deep pools, and forested buffers. This approach will improve water quality, improve wildlife habitat, and restore stream and wetland functions to the lake and Robeson Creek.
2009-0920
Town Lake Weed Control for Wetland Restoration
Karen Hall, Kristopher L. Bass, Jean Spooner
NC Department of Environment & Natural Resources (DENR)
Unfunded
01/01/09 - 11/30/11
Town Lake, located in central Chatham County, NC, is an impoundment of Robeson Creek, a 303(d) listed water body. The lake is impacted by urban and rural nonpoint source pollution resulting in algal blooms stimulated by excessive nutrients. A 2007 feasibility study of Town Lake recommends lowering the upper lake level and creating an emergent wetland to treat pollutants, implement an integrated pest management program for the aquatic, semi-aquatic and terrestrial weeds, and monitor the lake to determine if water quality is improving. Currently, a Clean Water Management Trust Fund proposal has been awarded to NCSU to construct the wetland. The Division of Water Quality will be monitoring the wetland project to determine water quality impacts. This EPA Section 319 proposal aims to address the management program for the aquatic, semi-aquatic and terrestrial weeds that plague the project site. Over three years, an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) plan will be implemented to control the aquatic, semi-aquatic and terrestrial weeds. The IPM will employ appropriate herbicides in the upper lake to control weed growth without adversely impacting aquatic life as well as control semi-aquatic and terrestrial weeds in and around the restoration project. Because of the invasiveness and dominance of the exotic weeds, implementing the IPM to reduce and control weed infestations is necessary to allow native plants to establish in the emergent wetland and the surrounding riparian areas. Initial control and subsequent treatments will allow native vegetation to firmly establish and effectively out-compete residual invasive exotic vegetation at the site. Educational workshops, tours, and interpretive sign installation around the lake will contribute to citizen knowledge and support of this project.
2008-1430
Multi-scale Analysis of Mechanisms and Impact of Phosphorus Mobilization in Wetland Soils Created from Drained Agricultural Fields
Michael J. Vepraskas, Jeffrey G. White, Dean L. Hesterberg, Rodney L. Huffman, Stephen W. Broome
US Dept. of Agriculture (USDA)
$399,043
09/01/09 - 08/31/12
The goal of this research is to determine the cause and extent of phosphorus dissolution from restored wetland soils, particularly organic soils, and to make a regional assessment of whether wetland restoration activities will actually impair water quality (through P release) rather than improve it. By studying a large restored site, we will determine: 1) the magnitude of P released to surface waters, 2) the mechanisms by which it is released, and 3) the areal extent of surface waters that may be impacted by P released from similar restored wetlands. Work will be conducted in a Carolina Bay wetland that was previously drained for agriculture, but has now been restored into a wetland. The interdisciplinary research team has studied the soils, hydrology, and plants at this wetland for 5 years prior to its restoration. This research will build on that done earlier to evaluate the impacts of the restoration. Knowledge of the chemical processes controlling P dissolution in soils will be applied toward developing a way to predict reductive dissolution of P from a given soil. This will increase the probability of success for other wetland restoration efforts throughout the southeastern U.S through judicious selection of land for wetland restoration.
2009-2073
Agreement for Floating Wetland Islands Project Between the City of Durham and NC State Univeristy for Two Wet Ponds Located at Hillandale Golf Course and NC Museum of Life and Sciences
William F. Hunt III
Durham, NC
$49,500
07/09/09 - 09/30/11
The cities of the Jordan Lake Watershed are anticipating the need for extensive stormwater retrofitting to be in compliance with forthcoming requirements. In developed areas of these cities, which includes Durham, space is very limited and retrofitting deemed to be extremely expensive. Many of these developed areas are already served by wet ponds, but previous studies in North Carolina (Hathaway et al., 2007a and b) show pond removal abilities to be marginal to moderate for pollutants such as nitrogen (approximately 25% TN reduction). Additional phosphorus removal by wet ponds is also desired. In Durham and Greensboro alone, there are approximately 400 wet ponds installed. These ponds do serve some valuable purposes such as peak flow mitigation (flood control), but are dependent upon a water storage reservoir to function properly. It has been proposed previously " and attempted twice - to convert these existing wet ponds to wetland-like ponds that incorporate aquatic (or vegetated shelves) to improve TN and TP removal. Doing this however, necessitates that either (1) portions of the wet pond be filled in, therefore sacrificing original flow mitigation and sediment storage benefits or (2) that the ponds be expanded, which is highly unlikely with these "landlocked" ponds. There is, however, a technology that appears to address both of these concerns: floating wetland islands. Floating wetlands, made partly of recycled plastic, have been shown in trials in the western United States to improve waste water concentrations of nitrate and phosphate. So, they hold promise for stormwater nutrient removal. They, however, have yet to be tested for stormwater applications and have not been used in the Eastern United States. An obvious benefit of the islands is that they do not require earthwork to be conducted in the wet pond and they do not require additional space to be created for them to float. Floating Islands International, Inc. has reduced the cost of their product by 25% for this project. A grant was obtained from NC DENR " Division of Water Quality to study the impact of the floating wetland islands in ponds. Since October 2008, NC State, in conjunction with the City of Durham, has been monitoring two unaltered ponds to establish a baseline performance. The ponds are located at the Hillandale Golf Course (pond maintained by the City) and at the NC Museum of Life and Science (pond maintained by the state). In September 2009, floating wetland islands will be installed at both facilities and monitoring will continue for another year. NC DENR provided $35,000 for floating wetland island purchase, with the presumption that the City of Durham would purchase the other $45,000 of floating wetland islands. The purpose of this proposal is to solicit $45,000 plus NCSU overhead to transfer funds from the City of Durham to NC State so that $80,000 of floating wetland islands can be purchased.
2010-1867
Casey & Casey Permeable Pavement Design and Research Project
William F. Hunt III, Ryan Joseph Winston
National Committee for the New River (NCNR)
Unfunded
04/01/10 - 08/31/12
NCNR is overseeing a Clean Water Management Trust Fund project at the Casey and Casey Law Offices in Boone, NC (officially titled: Kraut Creek Urban Stormwater Demonstration Project). The project includes an approximately 2500 sf permeable pavement parking lot. The North Carolina State University Biological and Engineering Department (NCSU BAE) will design the permeable pavement lot. NCSU BAE will provide construction administration for the lot and then monitor the lot for various stormwater metrics (described in the proposal). Appalachian State University Chemistry Department will analyze the water quality samples.
2009-1741
Demonstrating Water Conservation in the Community: Fire Station Rainwater Harvesting, WRRI Urban Water Consortium Enhancement Project
William F. Hunt III
NCSU Water Resources Research Institute
Unfunded
06/01/09 - 01/31/12
The purpose of this project is to install rainwater harvesting systems at twelve different locations throughout Wake County and within the City of Raleigh. These rainwater harvesting systems will serve as demonstration learning projects. The goals for the project are listed below. 1. Reduce stormwater flow volume and resulting stream degradation during rain events. 2. Reduce nutrient loads entering the stormwater drainage system. 3. Improve water quality of runoff created when using harvested rainwater. Harvested rainwater is intended for washing equipment outdoors. 4. Reduce potable water demand through use of cisterns. The objectives for each goal are listed below. 1. Measure water volume within the cisterns to document the water use and in turn, water volume prevented from entering the stormwater system during rain events. 2. Measure nutrient concentrations from the rainwater harvesting systems to document the nutrient load removed from the storm drainage network. 3. Document that wash water either drains to a vegetated area, or a Best Management Practice (BMP), thus improving water quality of that runoff. 4. Document the potable water use before and after implementation of the rainwater harvesting systems to demonstrate any reduced water use.
2008-2410
Demonstration and Evaluation of Floating Wetland Islands
William F. Hunt III
NC Department of Environment & Natural Resources (DENR)
Unfunded
10/01/08 - 09/30/11
Two ponds in Durham, NC, will be retrofitted with floating wetland islands. These ponds currently have no vegetation growing inside them, like most ponds in North Carolina. Due to tremendous retrofitting pressure that is likely to accompany watershed rules associated with the Jordan Lake reservoir, it is imperative for cities like Durham, Burlington and Greensboro to identify cost effective retrofits. Floating wetland islands do not require any earth moving, nor will they detract from the required storage volume required for wet ponds, because they float. The systems are expected to reduce quantities of nitrogen and phosphorus, but the exact amounts will be determined by field monitoring. Inflows and outflows from both ponds will be monitored for one year at the grant"s outset. Following the baseline monitoring period, floating wetland islands will be installed and monitored for an additional year. Inflows and outflows will be collected at the same locations during both stages of the study to verify the impacts of the floating wetland islands. The ponds will be visited via field tours and highlighted at educational events to disseminate knowledge gained to the design community. If successful, ponds with floating wetland islands could become the most commonly retrofitted BMP type in North Carolina.
2010-2230
Develop Underpinnings of Carbon Sequestration Calculation for Stormwater Management
William F. Hunt III
Carbon Storm, Inc.
$10,265
06/01/10 - 01/31/11
Stormwater Management and Landscape maintenance have the potential to be both carbon sources and carbon sinks. With the recent Executive Order of the president, 135184, requiring sustainability of all federal facilities, a greater focus is being placed on how landscapes can become "carbon neutral." There has been little to no research on how stormwater management systems and allied fields factor into the carbon footprint equation. This proposal will devote ½ of one semester of a PhD candidate (Ms. Trisha Moore) to conduct a literature review for a private entity (Carbon Storm, Inc.). Ms. Moore will utilize federal reports, university theses, some of her own data collection, and journal articles to estimate carbon the carbon footprint for each. She will work with W.F. Hunt (the P-I) to formulate carbon-prediction equations.
2010-1110
Developing an Airport BMP Selection Matrix
William F. Hunt III, Ryan Joseph Winston
WK Dickson
$16,497
12/01/09 - 10/31/10
Airports, particularly airport expansions, are subject to NPDES stormwater requirements, namely installation and adoption of best management practices (BMPs). W.K. Dickson was recently awarded a contract to develop an NPDES stormwater compliance document for airports in North Carolina, and has asked NCSU-BAE to assist WK Dickson in preparation of an airport BMP selection matrix ("Toolbox"). Stormwater management is required for most airport construction projects, including hangar expansion. The types of surfaces that need to be treated are both landside (e.g., car parking lots, access points, landscaping) and airside (e.g., hangar roof, apron, taxiways, and runway). Different pollutants are associated with different surfaces, some of which would be considered "boutique," such as AvGas or de-icing agents. The BMP Selection Matrix would match land use with potential BMPs and would provide "addendum" design guidance for said practices if necessary. An example matrix BMP would be rainwater harvesting for a hangar roof. Allied land use outflow such as hangar wash water, that which is associated with airplane maintenance, while not being runoff will also be included as part of the BMP Selection Matrix. Probable BMPs include, but are not limited to, bioretention, permeable pavements, swales, filter strips, sand filters, and rainwater harvesting. Specific care will be taken to recommend BMPs that are (1) not prone to wildlife (waterfowl) attraction and (2) readily "approved" by NC DENR, and (3) are aligned with typical airport maintenance capabilities.
2009-0799
Evaluating Pathogen Removal in Stormwater BMPs
William F. Hunt III
NCSU Water Resources Research Institute
Unfunded
11/01/08 - 12/31/10
Although BMPs have been studied in detail for many pollutants, little peer-reviewed literature is available which documents their ability to remove or inactivate pathogens. The majority of the BMP data associated with pathogen removal is available in a database format through the International Stormwater BMP Database (ISBD). Based primarily on data entered into the ISBD, the USEPA concluded that pathogen removal is less understood than removal of other pollutants in stormwater BMPs. Further, the report highlights the variable performance that initial studies have shown with respect to BMP pathogen removal. Due to the limited amount of literature pertaining to pathogen removal by stormwater BMPs, more research is needed to aid communities throughout the United States in reaching their target pathogen TMDL. Determining which BMPs are capable of efficient pathogen reduction will result in more effective watershed restoration programs. This research is intended to examine and evaluate multiple types of BMPs for pathogenic indicator bacteria removal in Wilmington and Raleigh, NC. The goal of this study is to provide more definitive guidance on BMP selection for watersheds impacted by pathogenic bacteria.
2008-2348
Evaluating the Existence of the First Flush Phenomenon for Pathogens
William F. Hunt III
NC Department of Environment & Natural Resources (DENR)
$31,568
07/15/08 - 09/30/10
This research project will involve monitoring 1 urban watershed in either Raleigh or Durham to evaluate the first flush phenomenon for pathogens. These two municipalities have been selected due, in part, to their proximity to N.C. State. This will reduce travel costs and increase quality control. Specifically, E. coli will be evaluated, as it is suggested by the EPA as the best indicator bacteria for pathogenic pollution in fresh waters and is being adopted in many places as such. Multiple flow weighted samples (8 " 12, depending on storm size) will be taken throughout the course of a storm event and deposited into separate sample bottles. These samples will be analyzed and evaluated to determine if, in fact, the majority of the pathogenic pollution that was generated from the storm occurred within the first flush depth of 1 inch (as established in these municipalities by the State of North Carolina). Ten storm events will be targeted for this study to provide an adequate data set for statistical analysis. Analysis will also be performed to determine if grab samples of each storm event would have resulted in similar results regarding pollutant loadings generated from the target watershed. These data will also be evaluated to determine what portion of the pathogens generated from the watershed would be captured using the first flush as the design criteria for a hypothetical stormwater BMP.
2009-0545
Implementing NCNEMO: Protecting Water Quality Through Land Use Education and Capacity Building
Patrick Beggs, Christy A. Perrin, Laura Taylor, William F. Hunt III, Gregory D. Jennings, Wendi Shanell Hartup, Mitchel D. Woodward, Kofi Malik Boone, Leonard S. Smutko
NC Division of Water Quality (DENR)
Unfunded
11/01/08 - 10/31/10
NEMO, Nonpoint Education for Municipal Officials is a nationally recognized outreach program directed at local land use decision makers and addressing the relationship of land use to natural resource protection through a focus on natural resource based planning and using GIS as a tool to of education. The NC NEMO team is a multi-agency, multi-university team consisting of the various layers of expertise needed to develop and implement NEMO in NC. Much data are available on water quality and land use in NC. The NCNEMO model is the vehicle needed to bring this information to the public decision makers in a simple, easy to understand format. The project team will develop a Community Resource Inventory (an atlas and corresponding information) along with the curriculum required to not only understand the data but understand what to do with it and how to make land use decisions based on it, resulting in natural resource based planning. The project will also increase the capacity of a community to better cope with growth and development. The project will result in a curriculum and training opportunity for natural resource professionals which will allow them to help communities who wish to understand and embark on natural resource based planning. The web-based Community Resource Inventory will be a source of instruction as well as information, and will tie into NC"s already robust GIS resources on the internet.
2010-0790
Level Spreader - Vegetated Filter Strip Demonstration and Evaluation in Chatham Co.
William F. Hunt III, Ryan Joseph Winston
NC Department of Environment & Natural Resources (DENR)
$70,919
01/01/10 - 06/30/12
Several stormwater practices are frequently used across North Carolina, among them bioretention,, stormwater wetlands, and wet ponds. Bioretention has gained popularity, but requires a seasonally high water table several feet (5-6 ft typically) below the ground surface. In some locations this SHWT is too restrictive, and a property owner then must choose a BMP like a pond or wetland. In locations where there is limited space available, the implementation of ponds and wetlands is difficult. A BMP is needed that can be sited with limited property, but is not restricted by SHWT. A study being completed in Apex and Louisburg, funded by 319(h), on level spreader (LS) riparian buffer systems indicates that this technology with a twist " a designed vegetative filter strip (VFS) - holds promise. Four different LS-VFS configurations will be installed and evaluated at Northeast District Park in Chatham County. The level spreader - filter strip systems will vary by two factors: (1) the steepness of the slopes and (2) VFS soil amendment. The sites will be installed at the park, which will receive high public visitation, and be monitored for 1 year. From this project a new design standard for LS-VFS systems will be created, written in factsheet form, communicated to NC DENR, and several trainings across North Carolina will be offered to designers and regulators on LS-VFS use. This local project will have state-wide application.
2009-1432
Level Spreader-Engineered Vegetated Filter Strip Demonstration and Evaluation
William F. Hunt III, Ryan Joseph Winston
Clean Water Management Trust Fund
$190,000
11/25/09 - 01/31/13
The City of Wilson, Wilson Public Schools, and NC Cooperative Extension are partnering on a project to evaluate a little-used, but quite simple stormwater practice: the level spreader-vegetated filter strip. While level spreaders have been installed in North Carolina, they are almost always used upslope of a riparian buffer. A vegetated filter strip allows an engineer to design the vegetated system (unlike a riparian buffer which is, understandably, made difficult to disturb). So while riparian buffers usually cause water to re-concentrate to some extent, vegetated filter strips could retain sheet flow, thus allowing for infiltration and pollutant reduction. Limited study nationally has been conducted on level spreader-vegetated filter strips for urban stormwater treatment. What has been conducted has been of one isolated level spreader-vegetated filter strip and was unable to be compared to anything. However, both of the studies conducted in North Carolina both show a lot of promise for these systems. What is proposed herein is an extensive evaluation of four different configurations of level spreader-vegetated filter strip systems in close proximity in the Upper Coastal Plain (Wilson, NC). The exact location for the level spreader-vegetated filter strips is on the grounds of the Vinson-Bynum Elementary School which receives runoff from the Wilson Medical Center rooftop and parking lot. The upper coastal plain is considered one of the most likely places for potential widespread adoption of LS-VFS systems due to the variable water table conditions present. Four LS-VFS systems will be examined for at least one year and data from these studies will be used to validate an existing vegetated filter strip model (VFSMOD). If the model is found to successfully predict LS-VFS performance, it can be used as a design tool for the design and regulatory community. NCSU faculty and staff will train users on the model and other design, construction, and maintenance matters so that LS-VFS systems are installed and maintained well across the state. The ultimate outcome of this proposal will be to dramatically increase the successful use of a simple, inexpensive, stormwater practice and have the installations work well.
2010-0873
Long-term Modeling of Bioretention Hydrology with DRAINMOD
William F. Hunt III, Richard W. Skaggs
NCSU Water Resources Research Institute
Unfunded
06/01/10 - 05/31/11
It has been documented that bioretention is an effective low impact development stormwater practice to remove nitrogen, phosphorus, and other pollutants at high rates, as well as to restore a site"s pre-developed hydrology. However, hydrologic performance has varied greatly in past field studies because of the impact of underlying soils, physiographic regions, drainage configuration, and media depth. Current bioretention design guidance in NC uses a "one size fits all" approach for designing and awarding credit. This ties the hands of designers to be able to undersize or oversize a bioretention cell, depending on site constraints. Development of a long-term hydrologic model that generates an annual water balance is needed to more accurately describe hydrologic performance to predict pollutant loads and to help to establish a "sliding scale" credit system. The objectives are to take DRAINMOD, a widely accepted long-term agricultural drainage model, and use it to predict bioretention hydrology. The concepts of water movement in bioretention cells are very similar to agricultural fields with drainage pipes, so many bioretention design specifications correspond directly to DRAINMOD inputs. As a result, calibration of DRAINMOD to model bioretention hydrology is the next step. The data required to calibrate DRAINMOD have been collected from past monitoring projects. Detailed hydrologic data have been specifically collected from two field sites over the past 24 months to calibrate the model. To validate the model, hydrology data are available from 10 other bioretention cells across NC. Once validated, DRAINMOD will simplify the process of awarding pollutant removal credits to bioretention cells and determining if a site meets LID criteria. This model will serve as another tool to assist designers in improving efficiency of designs, and performance curves (design nomographs) for a variety of designs will be generated through model simulations to assist those unable to run the model.
2010-0685
Louisburg High School Bioretention Cell Design and Construction Oversight
William F. Hunt III, Ryan Joseph Winston
NC Department of Environment & Natural Resources (DENR)
$16,716
01/01/10 - 09/30/11
A bioretention cell is going to be constructed in Louisburg High School in Franklin County. The construction documents for the bioretention cell will be revised, and construction overseen. The cell is approximately 0.2 acres in size and must be constructed during school breaks (anticipated during the early June to late July time window). The bioretention cell will serve to remove nutrients from stormwater runoff at the school and also be a demonstration site for students and faculty at LHS, as it will be located adjacent to the football field.
2010-1220
Monitoring of Prospective Bridge Deck Runoff BMPs: Bioretention and Bioswale at Mango Creek/I-540
William F. Hunt III, Ryan Joseph Winston
NC Department of Transportation
$56,237
08/16/10 - 08/15/11
NC DOT is required by the NPDES stormwater program to mitigate stormwater runoff from its facilities. NC Senate Bill 2008-107 further mandates runoff from bridge decks be evaluated and treated using best methods. Bioretention and bioswales show promise for stormwater treatment in the linear highway environment. Two bioretention cells and a bioswale were constructed in a DOT maintained right-of-way underneath a bridge deck at the intersection of Mango Creek and I-540. One bioretention cell was sized correctly per NC DENR requirements, while the other has half the bowl storage and surface area that is required for its drainage area. The bioretention cells and bioswale were constructed using advanced practices, including internal water storage, engineered fill media, and specialized vegetation. Undersized bioretention cells have a high potential to be used as retrofits. However, little is known about their relative performance when compared to full-sized bioretention cells. This grant may allow NC DOT and NC DENR to award undersized bioretention cells a portion of the credit that full-sized cells receive. Also, this research will evaluate bioswale hydrologic and water quality performance. No research has been completed on bioswales in North Carolina. Monitoring of these practices began in November 2009 under NC DOT grant HWY-2009-29, but is forced to be completed by June 30, 2010. This grant proposal will allow continued monitoring of the bridge deck runoff quality, the undersized bioretention cells, and bioswale beyond FY 2010, essentially for a full year. Completing the data collection will allow the researchers to make appropriate conclusions about performance of each system. Also, it would provide NC DOT with greater resources to make decisions for future bridge deck runoff BMP retrofits. The proposed cost for this year-long project is $56,237.
2010-0438
NCSU- Provided Technical Assistance for the Community Conservation Assistance Program (CCAP)
William F. Hunt III, Kathy Marie DeBusk, Jason M Zink, Ryan Joseph Winston
NC Department of Environment & Natural Resources (DENR)
$31,658
09/15/09 - 01/31/11
In Spring 2007, NCSU BAE began delivering BMP design workshops to employees of the Division of Soil and Water Conservation and the Soil & Water Conservation Districts. These workshops were delivered to help prepare DSWC and SWCD district personnel for the implementation of the CCAP program. As a follow up to the workshops it was decided that NCSU BAE would provide some hands-on design assistance to include visiting prospective BMP sites, reviewing location and selection of BMPs, assisting with the design of these BMPs (essentially providing a review of the designs or even conducting a design "walk through" initially). This service was provided from Fall 2007 through Winter 2009. DSWC has requested additional, and similar, support from NCSU- BAE for approximately a 1-year term beginning September 15, 2009. NCSU BAE faculty will conduct the following tasks: 1. Review of draft BMP designs and visits to potential CCAP BMP sites with districts. 2. Travel to participating counties from either Raleigh or Asheville. 3. Sending one representative to CCAP Job Approval Authority Workgroup meetings (they meet once every 4-6 months) 4. Participating in an annual training. A total of 600 hours (0.30 FTE) will be dedicated by Extension Faculty to this project. The time will be divided among the above described tasks. Because of the quantity of counties to be served (65), NCSU can not commit that every county would receive a site visit; however, most counties are expected to be visited. Counties choose the degree and kinds of help to be received and when to receive it.
2009-1691
Peace College Rainwater Harvesting System
William F. Hunt III
Clean Water Management Trust Fund
$750,000
12/10/09 - 03/31/13
The Peace College Stormwater Rain Harvest System (RHS) is a unique and innovative strategy to capture approximately 61% of the stormwater runoff from the campus of Peace College through a collaborative effort with the applicant, North Carolina State University (NCSU). The Peace College RHS provides an excellent opportunity for both research and public education. The faculty members at Peace College are particularly excited about the opportunities this project provides to study the economic and social aspects of sustainability as well as the scientific studies that might be incorporated into the class room. And, Peace College currently has on-going research of the biological integrity of Pigeon House Branch. The entire concept of the project is germinated from significant experience and application of the NCSU BAE Rain Harvest Model (www.bae.ncsu.edu/topic/waterharvest). The City of Raleigh"s current challenges with the record drought certainly raised interest, awareness and willingness for consideration of the project. When completed the project will provide for significant water quality improvements to a contributing sub watershed of Pigeon House Branch; an impaired stream on the States 303d list by reducing the volume of stormwater runoff from the Campus of Peace College by 50%. In addition the project will reduce nitrogen loading to the Neuse River Basin currently listed as nutrient sensitive water (NSW).
2010-0086
Revising the Tar-Pamlico BMP Selection Worksheets for Jordan Lake and Conducting Field Surveys to Assess Bioretention Design, Construction, and Maintenance
William F. Hunt III, Kathy Marie DeBusk
NC Department of Environment & Natural Resources (DENR)
$55,010
10/01/09 - 06/30/11
This is a two-part proposal. In the first part, NC State University, partnering with the Center for Watershed Protection, will develop 2 models. One will be an update of the existing Tar-Pamlico BMP Selection Worksheet and the 2nd will be similar model based upon different evaluation metrics: effluent concentration and runoff volumetric reduction. To do this NC State personnel will conduct a literature review on the following topics: (1) appropriate EMC's for land surfaces, (2) incorporate the revised Simple Method, (3) break out impervious type for assignment of EMC's, (4) enrich the dataset for residential calculator, (5) determine BMP effluent concentrations for regions of NC, and (6) determine volumetric reduction of BMPs for regions of NC. In part two of the proposal, an NC State graduate student " undergrad team will survey 30-40 bioretention facilities across NC to ascertain whether (1) their above-ground volumetric storage and (2) fill media infiltration rates match those associated with their design.
2008-1512
Simmons Street (New Bern, NC) Stormwater Wetland Design, Construction Supervision, and Monitoring
William F. Hunt III, Kristopher L. Bass, Charles Humphrey
NC Department of Environment & Natural Resources (DENR)
$355,344
05/01/08 - 12/31/11
A large stormwater wetland is to be designed and monitored for two years in New Bern, NC. In the submitters combined 20 years of experience, this is an outstanding project that would have a tremendous impact at a relatively low unit construction cost ($1.7M treating over 700 acres of urbanized New Bern). This wetland, which would be the largest stormwater wetland in North Carolina, would have a surface area of approximately 27 acres. The wetland would be located within 1 mile of the Neuse River and would be expected to have a direct impact on the estuary"s health. It is a unique project that NCSU strongly believes should be constructed. One important point is that the construction costs of the wetland would be expected to be much less than the $28 per lb of N per year per acre removed. Perhaps as low as $10 per lb less than the $28 limit.3 It is one of the very few urban projects where this is case. NCSU proposes to design, supervise the construction of and monitor this stormwater wetland.
2008-0205
Watershed Impact of Stormwater Bioretention and Bioinfiltration BMPs: Field Testing in North Carolina
William F. Hunt III
Villanova University
$150,660
09/01/07 - 08/31/10
The proposed research focuses on making science based recommendations for the design and performance of LID Bioretention and Bioinfiltration best management practices (BMPs) to both understand and optimize their use as a stormwater control measure at the watershed scale. The NCSU project investigator (Dr. William F. Hunt) is part of a research team headed by Villanova University Professor Dr. Robert G. Traver Stormwater Best Management Practice (BMP) concepts of Bioretention and Bioinfiltration concentrate on the removal of volume from the runoff to reduce negative stormwater impacts from development and changing land use. These control measures directly address recharge, water quality, increased volume, peak delay and peak flow issues. These control measures are unique in that they are most effective when spread over the landscape in an LID setting, contrasting to past practices of larger control technologies at the bottom of the watershed. There are a wide range of design issues for these BMPs that have slowed their implementation, and inhibits their use. Some of these issues stem from the fact that the bioretention / bioinfiltration concept is a new breed of BMP that integrates knowledge from a number of disciplines. Concerns over performance, groundwater contamination, longevity, and over infiltration have limited their size. Past practices and guidelines were directed at smaller volumes and did not include peak rate reduction or large volumes as a performance criterion. Specifically, this proposal is to: " review current and past research, to both better understand the science and to select preferred design criteria"s. " establish a standard monitoring protocol for the three universities to facilitate performance comparison (QA/QC). " perform field and laboratory experiments to confirm the hypothesis. o NC State " Select and monitor four existing bioretention BMPs for water quality, quantity, and peak flow performance. Measure post-construction in-situ soil infiltration rates. " examine the performance from a LID perspective. Specifically, how close does a site properly fitted with bioretention facilities approach that of an undeveloped site from a hydrologic and water quality perspective"
2008-1288
Watershed Retrofit and Management Evaluation for Urban Stormwater Management Systems in North Carolina, Including Projected Costs and Benefits
William F. Hunt III, Kathy Marie DeBusk
NCSU-WRRI Urban Water Consortium
Unfunded
09/01/08 - 03/31/11
Flow-through money from US EPA"s Non-point source grant program (319-h) that is administered by NC DENR " Division of Water Quality is being used to supplement this project. This money has a 10% overhead associated with it. The 319(h) grant was awarded to UNC-WRRI, who in turn is relaying the funds to NCSU-BAE. The funds will pay for GIS services provided by an undergraduate and a graduate student and extend Ms. DeBusk"s involvement with this project until March 31, 2011. UNC-WRRI is fully aware and supportive of this request. Eight target watersheds among 21 possible from a pre-determined list developed by WRRI Stormwater Consortium Members were identified. Among the 8 watersheds selected, a variety of land uses were evaluated including ultra-urban commercial and institutional, high density, residential, suburban commercial and residential, and urbanizing agricultural/woodland. Additionally, a larger watershed in which the smaller one is nested, 8 to 15 mi2 will be examined for potential placement of large off-line stream BMPs.
2008-2406
Watershed Retrofit and Management Evaluation for Urban Stormwater Management Systems in North Carolina, Including Projected Costs and Benefits
Michael P Voiland, William F. Hunt III, Luther Hatch
NC Department of Environment & Natural Resources (DENR)
$82,070
09/01/08 - 03/31/11
This project will evaluate the feasibility and cost-effectiveness of alternative approaches to stormwater management in cities in North Carolina where urban development has already occurred. Unlike previous policies that focused on new development, currently proposed regulations require municipalities to control stormwater from previously developed areas. Feasibility and cost-effectiveness of these policies are not well understood. Members of the Urban Water Consortium-Stormwater Group- Raleigh, Durham, Greensboro, Fayetteville, Winston-Salem, High Point, Wilmington and Charlotte " are proposing to share the cost of a study to further evaluate alternative strategies for accomplishing the goals stated in the regulatory policies. Alternatives will include onsite best management practices applied to small watersheds of various types of land use, off-stream treatment for larger watersheds, and options for preservation and restoration of stream corridors.
2010-0672
ARRA - Dupont State Forest Lake Julia Outfall Stream Restoration
Gregory D. Jennings
NC Department of Environment & Natural Resources (DENR)
$150,000
02/15/10 - 03/31/11
Faculty, staff, and students associated with the North Carolina State University (NCSU) Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering will work with the North Carolina Division of Forest Resources (DFR) to complete a stream restoration demonstration/education project on the Unnamed Tributary to Little River located immediately downstream of the Lake Julia Outfall at Dupont State Forest in Transylvania County. Funding for this project was obtained by DFR from the USDA-Forest Service, via a grant awarded through the ARRA.
2008-1229
Beaverdam Creek Watershed Monitoring
Gregory D. Jennings, Jason M Zink, George Price
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Storm Water Services
$236,705
01/01/08 - 12/31/12
Faculty, staff, and students associated with the North Carolina State University (NCSU) Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering will work with the City of Charlotte Stormwater Services to monitor stream conditions within the Beaverdam Creek watershed in Charlotte, North Carolina. The monitoring will entail annual assessments of stream channel stability and benthic macroinvertebrate communities.
2009-1356
Bolin Creek Watershed Restoration
Gregory D. Jennings, William F. Hunt III
Chapel Hill, NC
$350,000
02/01/09 - 09/30/11
The Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering (BAE) of the North Carolina State University will work with the Town of Chapel Hill to provide laboratory services in conjunction with the ongoing project to implement watershed restoration practices and water quality monitoring as a component of an EPA 319 project in the Bolin Creek Watershed. The purpose is to improve ecosystem health and water quality by restoring natural stream functions and treating stormwater runoff in degraded areas in the watershed.
2010-1721
Bolin Creek Watershed Restoration Phase 2
Gregory D. Jennings, William F. Hunt III, Daniel E. Line, George Price
Carrboro, NC
$200,000
03/01/10 - 06/30/12
The Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering (BAE) of the North Carolina State University will work with the Town of Chapel Hill to implement watershed restoration practices and water quality monitoring as a component of an EPA 319 project in the Bolin Creek Watershed. The purpose is to improve ecosystem health and water quality by restoring natural stream functions and treating stormwater runoff in degraded areas in the watershed.
2009-2620
Claridge Nursery Stream Restoration Monitoring
Gregory D. Jennings
NC Department of Transportation
$15,000
07/01/09 - 06/30/11
The proposed research will evaluate water quality changes associated with 15,000 linear feet of stream restoration at the Claridge Nursery in Wayne County, North Carolina. Long-term upstream/downstream monitoring will be established to collect data on stream flow and water quality before and after restoration implementation. Monitoring results will be used to determine changes in hydrology and sediment and nutrient loading from the watershed draining into the Little River.
2009-0480
Collaborative Restoration and Protection of High Quality Resources in Tick Creek and Rocky River Watersheds
Christy A. Perrin, Stacy A. Nelson, Gregory D. Jennings, Daniel E. Line, Patrick Beggs, John C. Fountain, Mary L. Addor, Jon A. Brandt, Leonard S. Smutko
NC Department of Environment & Natural Resources (DENR)
$198,154
11/01/08 - 10/31/11
The Rocky River subbasin of the Cape Fear River Basin originates in the small towns of Liberty and Staley, and small parts of Alamance and Randolph Counties, with most of it located in Chatham County, and some tributaries in Siler City. The NC Natural Heritage Program has designated several significant natural heritage areas and natural heritage element occurrences within the subbasin. These include aquatic habitat for the federally Endangered Cape Fear Shiner, and the federal candidate, the Septima"s Clubtrail dragonfly. Two stream segments are included on the 2006 303(d) list; Love"s Creek and Tick Creek. The NC Ecosystem Enhancement Program completed a local watershed assessment and targeting of restoration plan in 2005 for this subbasin, but they are not currently pursuing implementation of any projects. Some separate watershed protection and restoration efforts are underway by various parties. The County supports a coordinated effort to revisit the NCEEP plan, invite all affected parties to share efforts and data, review EEP report"s methodology, prioritize projects, and identify information gaps, monitoring needs, and funding. We propose a two prong approach- to convene and coordinate a Rocky River watershed effort, and to focus immediate restoration efforts on Tick Creek, a rural watershed dominated by agricultural land use. The effort will include compiling a geodatabase to update land use data and indicators for the watershed, and to evaluate Tick Creek past and projected land use changes.
2008-0873
NCSU Support For the Appalachia/Southeastern Regional Water Quality Assistance Network
Gregory D. Jennings, William F. Hunt III
UNC - UNC Chapel Hill
Unfunded
10/01/07 - 09/30/10
North Carolina State University faculty in the Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering (BAE) will work with EPA, the Environmental Finance Center for EPA Region 4 (EFC), Southeast Watershed Forum (SEWF), and Auburn University to build a Regional Water Quality Assistance Network to help local watershed organizations and communities protect, maintain and restore water quality in a 10-state region (Region 4 states plus neighboring states of West Virginia and Virginia). The principal coordinating partners are each nationally recognized in their fields and have years of experience in providing assistance to organizations and communities. The team offers a unique blend of expertise in innovative financing, training, facilitation, outreach/education, and applied research. Local and state partners will include academic institutions, county and municipal governments, regional planning and development councils, the Appalachian Regional Commission, Sea Grant, NEMO (Nonpoint Education for Municipal Officials), Growth Readiness trainers and other best-practice resources. Other organizations, such as the Smart Growth Leadership Institute, other Environmental Finance Centers, and the Southeast Stormwater Association will provide specialized assistance on an as-needed basis. The primary functions of this Network will include providing watershed organizations and local governments with practical tools (such as model ordinances and public process facilitation) and equipping these groups with sustainable finance mechanisms to support watershed protection efforts.
2010-0924
Nitrogen Retention in Urban Streams: Implications for Ecological Based Stream Restoration
Gregory D. Jennings
UNC - UNC Charlotte
$10,000
06/01/10 - 05/31/11
Urban stream degradation is occurring throughout North Carolina as areas once dedicated to agriculture are rapidly being converted to suburban uses. Stream restoration efforts are underway throughout North Carolina and elsewhere to reverse some of these trends and create geomorphically stable streams. This project will expand the suite of options available to water resource managers and regulatory agencies when developing restoration strategies. Integration of current practices with techniques that maximize biologically mediated nitrogen removal will improve water quality throughout the watershed and protect downstream and coastal ecosystems.
2009-2676
Selected Production of Stream and Wetland Restoration Related Work, and Maintenance of Sites Identified and Managed Under the EEP
Gregory D. Jennings, Michael R. Burchell
NC Department of Environment & Natural Resources (DENR)
$300,000
07/22/09 - 06/30/12
The Ecosystem Enhancement Program (EEP) requires the services of the North Carolina State University (NCSU) for selected production of stream and wetland restoration related work, and maintenance of sites identified and managed under the EEP. The Dept of Biological and Agricultural Engineering (BAE) of the North Carolina State University (NCSU) will work with EEP to monitor, maintain, repair or advise as necessary on the efficient and effective restoration and enhancement of wetlands, streams, riparian buffers, and best management practices. The services will include Mitigation Monitoring for the Purlear I and Purlear II stream/wetland restoration sites; and services as needed which may include Physical, Chemical and Biological Monitoring; Technical Services/Support; Watershed Enhancement/Restoration Inventory/Planning; and Maintenance and Repair. Additional sites are under evaluation by EEP and may be added to this scope of work at a later date. There is no guarantee that sites currently under evaluation will be added. Any changes in the scope of the contract which increases or decreases NCSU"s compensation shall not be effective until approved through written amendments signed by authorized representatives of both NCSU and the Dept of Environment and Natural Resources" Division of Purchase and Services.
2008-1852
Southern Regional Water Program
Gregory D. Jennings, Lucy K Bradley, Barbara Fair, Wendi Shanell Hartup, Deanna L. Osmond
Texas A&M
$552,000
09/01/08 - 08/31/11
As populations increase throughout the Southern Region, the rural/urban interface becomes more important as forest and farm give way to suburbs and malls. It is both a challenge and a priority to reach populations in the rural/urban interface with water conservation messages. This expanding population has access to finite water supplies throughout the South. This project will support ongoing educational programs and addresses drinking water and rural/urban interface issues. It can be effectively used by educators in schools, government officials, landscape contractors, architects, developers and farmers. The project will result in multistate collaboration and generate information on water savings. It will provide landowners the knowledge needed to minimize water use and protect their water resources. This project is designed to encourage people to take "The 40 Gallon Challenge" by completing a home water audit. The audit is outlined on a "Challenge Card" (Appendix A). This card can be adjusted as need. For example, it could be called "The 30 Gallon Challenge" and audit practices can be adjusted for local conditions. The self-audit checklist on the Challenge card will provide an estimate of water savings resulting from implementation of water-saving practices, thus providing a total daily savings for the pledge cards. The program is very flexible. Each participating state will develop an incentive for completing the pledge card. Some state teams will use the pledge card as entry into a drawing to win a free rain barrel. Other states will develop online pledge cards which will encourage inter-county water savings competitions. This program will be utilized as a "teaching tool" in conjunction with educational seminars developed to address water issues. It will be as effective in rural areas as in the rural/urban interface. The pledge card is an effective complement to on-going educational programs and can be used in adult education programs and 4-H programs. The pledge card can be effectively used by teachers, Master Gardener volunteers, and Extension educators. This program can be sustained by seeking additional door prize donations from local businesses in future years, and implementation of this program to a broader audience. Other government agencies, local water providers and others can easily adapt this program.
2007-1982
Synthesizing and Extending Lessons Learned from the 13 CREES-CEAP Watersheds
Deanna L. Osmond, Gregory D. Jennings, Daniel E. Line, Jean Spooner
US Dept. of Agriculture (USDA)
Unfunded
09/01/07 - 08/31/11
The project, to evaluate and assess 13 CSREES Conservation Effects Assessment Projects (CEAP), will be conducted by a diverse, interdisciplinary, and experienced team of investigators with a proven record of assessment of the effects of conservation practices on water quality. Project personnel for this proposal were carefully selected to include geographic distribution, diverse subject matter expertise, watershed assessment capability and experience, and impartiality, with over 150 years of combined experience. The methodology developed for this assessment relies on a series of nested, science-based strategies to evaluate the effects of the conservation practices used in the 13 CREES-CEAP projects. We will first develop a consistent framework for collection and organization of assessment information by reviewing approaches and structures used to collect and organize assessment information in previous national watershed-scale conservation effects assessments for four pilot watersheds. Following assembly and preliminary evaluation of information from publications and interviews, three to four team members will visit each site. The visiting team will be multi-disciplinary with expertise in water quality modeling, water quality assessment and design, economics or sociology, and extension; specific team members will be selected based on the particular characteristics of the project. On-the-ground information gathered through these visits will add to both data reliability and validity, while providing context for much of the previously collected information. We will then summarize this information. During the second and third year of this project, we will summarize lessons learned from all 13 CSREES-CEAP watershed projects and begin outreach and education of the results. In Year 4, we will prepare a multiple-project synthesis of the findings from the 13 CSREES-CEAP watersheds and from other CEAP and watershed-scale water quality programs. Extension and outreach of these findings will occur through reports, fact sheets, distributed power point presentations, newsletters, promotional brochures, journal articles, conferences and presentations to targeted groups (National Integrated Water Quality Project Committee for Shared Leadership " Water Quality, USDA, EPA, agricultural commodity and environmental organizations, scientific groups, as well as other organizations.
2011-0090
Topographic Survey of the Landscape and a Design of the Stream Rehabilitation at the Tributary to the Hiawassee River Stream Rehabilitation Project Site
Gregory D. Jennings, Jason M Zink, George Price
US Forest Service
$5,000
04/08/10 - 09/30/10
The Forest Service shall benefit from this agreement with BAE by completing a topographic survey and design of the Tributary to the Hiawassee River, required by State and Federal permitting agencies. BAE shall benefit from this agreement by using the collected survey data for future stream rehabilitation design and for educational purposes.
2010-1227
Using RUSLE2 to Determine Sediment Basin Size
Richard A. McLaughlin, Gregory D. Jennings, Daniel E. Line
NC Department of Transportation
$198,736
08/16/10 - 08/15/12
Current regulations in North Carolina require sediment basins to be designed based on watershed size, regardless of watershed characteristics. For each disturbed acre, the basin needs to have 1,800 cubic feet of sediment storage and a surface area of 325 square feet if a surface outlet is used. Another approach to designing a basin would be to determine the expected runoff and sediment loads based on watershed characteristics, including soil type and slopes. By using local soil and weather data, the basin size would be adjusted to account for expected sediment loads. To determine if this is a valid approach, we will collect soil and topography data in at two basin watersheds on DOT projects and monitor sediment and flow over the landscape and into and out of the basins. This will be done during four critical phases of the site: preconstruction, mass grading, final grade, and post-construction.
2010-2575
Water Quality & Biota Monitoring and Assessment of NC DFR Projects in Wayne, Durham, and Granville Counties
Gregory D. Jennings, Francois Philippe Birgand
NC Department of Environment & Natural Resources (DENR)
$17,000
07/01/10 - 06/30/11
Faculty, staff, and students associated with the North Carolina State University (NCSU) Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering will work with the North Carolina Division of Forest Resources (DFR) to conduct water quality monitoring associated with DFR watershed projects in Wayne, Durham, and Granville Counties.
2010-0205
Water Quality Evaluation of Long-Term Organic and Conventional Vegetable Production Under Conservation and Conventional Tillage
Deanna L. Osmond, Julie Marie Grossman, Gregory D. Jennings, Greg D. Hoyt, Daniel E. Line
US Dept. of Agriculture (USDA)
$658,769
09/01/09 - 08/31/12
The goal of this project, Water Quality Evaluation of Long-Term Organic and Conventional Vegetable Production under Conservation and Conventional Tillage, is measure and model nonpoint source pollution (nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and sediment) associated with organic and conventional vegetable farming systems under different tillage practices in the Appalachian mountains of North Carolina. The objectives are six fold: 1) evaluate nutrient and sediment concentrations and loads in surface runoff, and groundwater nutrient concentrations from long-term conventional and organic systems, 2) evaluate nutrient and sediment concentrations and loads from surface runoff and groundwater nutrient concentrations from long-term tillage (conservation and conventional) under conventional and organic systems, 3) evaluate soil organic matter (total and particulate), cover crop biomass and N in order to relate changes in soil properties to nutrient and sediment runoff, 4) demonstrate changes in water availability through SWAT modeling in organic and conventional systems with conventional and conservation tillage, 5) transmit study results to organic and conventional producers, state agency personnel, regional and national audiences (extension), and 6) transmit study results undergraduate students and interns (students), and the agricultural community as a whole (education).
2011-0427
Western North Carolina Erosion, Sediment, and Turbidity Control Demonstration Site
Richard A. McLaughlin, Gregory D. Jennings
NC Department of Environment & Natural Resources (DENR)
$19,550
10/01/10 - 04/30/11
We propose to initiate construction of an erosion, sediment, and turbidity control (ESTC) demonstration center at the NC State University Mountain Horticultural Crops and Extension Center in Mills River, just south of Asheville. This will be modeled after the highly successful Sediment and Erosion Control Research and Demonstration Facility developed a decade ago at the Lake Wheeler Road Field Laboratory in Raleigh.
2009-2146
Catalytic Conversion of Animal Manure into Biochar and Liquid Oils
Praveen Kolar
US Dept. of Agriculture (USDA)
Unfunded
04/01/09 - 09/30/12
The objective of this work is to investigate the effects of metal-based catalysts on carbonization and liquefaction of animal manures to produce biochar and liquid oils. Various metals and metal oxides such as iron, nickel, cobalt, etc will be synthesized on activated carbon using traditional impregnation and electrochemical deposition. Commercially available and in-house synthesized activated carbon will be used as catalysts supports. The catalysts will be characterized to determine the physical properties such as surface area, porosity, and pore volume distribution. Additionally scanning electron microscopy will be used to determine the elemental composition and surface properties of the catalysts. The effects of metal loading, surface area, and porosity on the catalytic activity will be investigated.
2010-1508
Small Scale Fuel Production From Algal Feedstocks
William L. Roberts, Praveen Kolar
Diversified Energy Corporation
$286,100
04/01/10 - 05/31/11
Utilize existing 50 mL, 600 mL, and 5 liter reactor vessels at NCSU to take small samples of algal oils and produce both renewable diesel and aromatics. On the order of six different feedstock samples will be provided to NCSU by the consortium members for testing. These feedstocks will have been previously pre-treated for the removal of contaminants including sulfur and phospholipids. These lipids will be run through all the Centia" process steps in batch mode to produce a renewable diesel (and assessed for compliance to ASTM specifications), as well as the remaining process steps for aromatics production (a key risk reduction activity for the production of biogasoline and biojet fuel). The team will conduct R&D focused on a key technical risk " catalyst lifetime for the decarboxylation reaction. The team will also create a conceptual design for a 10 L/hr, fully integrated, continuous architecture.
2010-1240
Assessment of Thermal Pollution Associated with Riparian Canopy Clearing RP 2011-14
Daniel E. Line, Jean Spooner
NC Department of Transportation
$88,000
08/16/10 - 08/15/13
Water temperature is an important component of habitat for many aquatic organisms. The temperature of stream discharge has been shown to increase significantly in some cases when the riparian tree canopy is removed. The magnitude of the temperature increase is a function of many factors including length of reach with no canopy, discharge, stream width/depth ratio, and stream gradient/velocity. This project is designed to monitor stream temperatures at 10 sites (5 intensive monitoring and 5 less intensive) that will include several combinations of the factors listed above. The intensive monitoring will include continuous measurement of stream temperature, stage, air temperature, and solar radiation and frequent measurements of discharge and stream velocity. Less intensive monitoring at 5 sites will include continuous measurement of temperature along with occasional measurement of velocity and discharge. Other relevant measurements will be made at all sites include documenting the stream profile and pattern, tree canopy, and other conditions. Analysis of monitoring data will be conducted to determine if significant differences in upstream and downstream temperatures have occurred. A spreadsheet model will be developed based on the information and monitoring data collected that will be designed to assess the potential for thermal pollution.
2009-0218
Effects of Highway Construction on Two YStreams in Yancey County
Daniel E. Line, Jean Spooner
NC Department of Transportation
$51,500
08/16/08 - 08/15/11
Highway construction in close proximity to trout streams is a concern in the mountains of North Carolina. This project is designed to monitor several water quality parameters upstream and downstream of highway construction on 2 mountain streams located in Yancey County. The monitoring will begin prior to the start of construction and continue for about three years until the highway project (NC 19) is complete.
2007-2041
Lake Jordan Paired Watershed Study
Deanna L. Osmond, Daniel E. Line
NC Department of Environment & Natural Resources (DENR)
Unfunded
09/01/07 - 08/31/10
Agriculture is an important land use in the Upper Cape Fear River Basin. Like many river basins regulated for nutrients in North Carolina, proposed rules will track nutrient changes from agriculture using tools such as NLEW. The question has often been asked as to whether there is a true water quality change occurring through agricultural training and best management practice implementation that occurs in these basins. This project, using a paired watershed design, will track 4 watersheds (2 pairs) for nutrients and sediments before- and after-rule implementation. Two of the watersheds will be located in the Cape Fear (one primarily pasture and the other primarily row crop). Two matched watersheds will be located in the Cape Fear and Yadkin Basins in the same major soil group. Monitoring will occur for total phosphorus, orthophosphate, total kjeldahl nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen, ammonium nitrogen, total suspended solids and fecal coliform. Both stormwater sampling using automated samplers, as well as monthly grab sampling will occur. The data will be paired for land use and an analysis done to determine 1) if land use affects nutrient or sediment loading rate, and 2) if rule implementation changes water quality data. To conduct this type of work, at least two years of pre-implementation data is required and 3 years of post-implementation. Due to the Department"s 3-year limitation on grants, we will conduct pre-implementation monitoring and only begin to obtain data on the post-rule implementation phase under this grant. We would plan to seek additional funding toward the end of this grant to complete the project.
2007-2204
The New American House: A Low Impact Development Demonstration & Evaluation Project For Raleigh, NC
Daniel E. Line, Jean Spooner, James D. Blackwell, Laura A. Szpir
NC Department of Environment & Natural Resources (DENR)
Unfunded
10/01/07 - 09/30/10
This project partners with the developer, New Southern Land Company, LLC / Szostak Design Inc., to build a 12 unit residential housing subdivision on Trailwood Drive, Raleigh, NC, using Low Impact Development (LID) principles and practices, and green building methods as outlined in The New American House Green Builder Program. The project will serve as a research and demonstration site for designing, constructing, building, maintaining, and evaluating LID. A paired watershed design will be employed to monitor stormwater runoff from the LID subdivision and from a nearby traditionally-built subdivision for comparison of runoff quantity (peak flow and volume) and quality (nutrients and sediment). Cost information will be collected from the LID subdivision. As part of The New American House Green Builder Program, the project will be one of the first private developments in the Triangle to adopt rigorous sustainable building guidelines. The houses will be resource and energy efficient, healthy to live in, and have lower maintenance requirements. Also, the houses will be built in a manner that protects the natural habitat, streams and other environmental features, and ensures proper disposal or recycling of waste during and after construction. Site tours will be given during the construction and post-construction phase of the project to educate building professionals, government staff and the general public on the research results of implementing and evaluating LID.
2011-0713
An Evaluation of a No Fish Meal Diet for the Nursery Culture of Tilapia
Thomas M. Losordo, Dennis P. DeLong, Marc Turano
Astor Farms, Inc
$4,133
09/15/10 - 12/31/10
Specialized diets for fish are the single largest cost of production in most commercial finfish aquaculture operations. These diets, in the past, have contained large quantities of fish meal as a source of protein. Recently, environmental groups worldwide have raised concerns that fish stocks are being depleted due to the harvesting of the oceans for the production of fish meal. In response, aquaculture researchers have and continue to develop feeds with low or no fish meal as a protein source. Dr. Marc Turano, Sea Grant Aquaculture Specialist has developed one such diet. He has just completed testing the diet with Hybrid Striped Bass at the new Marine Aquaculture Research Center in Marshallberg, NC. The diet had completely replace fish meal as a source of protein with soybean meal and a small amount of animal bi-products protein. We believe that, based upon Dr. Turano"s studies with Hybrid Striped Bass, his no-fish meal diet offers promise for Tilapia nursery culture. We propose to conduct an evaluation of the "Turano Diet" at the NC State Fish Barn. More specifically we propose to have Astor Farms, Inc. deliver to the Fish Barn 20,000 fingerling tilapia from the supplier used in past studies at the Fish Barn and currently being used by the Fresh Keepers Cooperative of which Astor Farms, Inc. is the latest member. We will stock and grow the fingerlings on a commercial diet until they are large enough (approximately 5 grams) to be fed the experimental diet. Once on the experimental diet, the fish will be grown to an average individual weight of between 80 and 100 grams. We predict the total trial to take 12 weeks. The trial will be terminated at 12 weeks regardless of the average weight of the fish. NC State personnel will be responsible for conducting this experiment at the Lake Wheeler Road Fish Barn. A sample of 10% of the population will be collected every two weeks to assess the average weight of the population. Water quality and feed conversion data will also be tracked.
2010-2430
Development of a Holding System for the Sale of Live black Sea Bass.
Thomas M. Losordo
NCSU Sea Grant Program
Unfunded
06/01/10 - 06/30/11
With NOAA fisheries promoting the use of catch shares to manage our fisheries in this country there will be big changes ahead for the commercial sector. Individual transferable quotas (ITQ"s) are a form of catch share program. Fishermen are given a percentage of the total allowable catch (TAC) to harvest through the year as they see fit. It is widely known that percentage awarded to each fisherman will be less and maybe much less than their historical yearly average. Fisherman will have to get a higher price per pound to maintain a viable business. For the black sea bass market, live fish is one potential option. In order to hold live fish, systems similar to those used in aquaculture must be designed and managed to ensure the health of the fish after catch. Previous FRG projects using black sea bass in aquaculture systems concentrated on developing diets to grow legal wild caught black sea bass to a larger size for a premium price (98-AM-09, 03-AM-07), and explored various salinity and density regimes for culture of wild fish (00-AM-05). While effective, fish culture, rather than simply holding fish, requires additional filtration, system management, the addition of feed, and higher start-up costs. Hence, although a premium price could be obtained from a larger fish, production costs are also higher and must be considered in an operation. Fish holding systems are simpler in design, as fish are not fed during the holding period. Wastes (ammonia) generated in these systems originate only during the first three days after stocking fish, during which time fish are purged. Hence, the difference in managing a holding system compared to that of a true culture system is the timing and amount of ammonia produced. In culture systems, fish feed is typically added to the system twice daily, generating ammonia on a consistent basis. In contrast, holding systems experience a pulse of ammonia during the first 3 days after stocking, minimizing thereafter. Therefore, in order to successfully design and manage a holding system for fish (in this case the black sea bass), it is necessary to identify the timing and amount of ammonia production after stocking. Purposes (objectives) of the project: 1) To determine the amount of ammonia produced (mg ammonia per Kg of fish) and timing of production by black sea bass after stocking into a holding system. 2) Establish guidelines for biological filtration management during periods of stocking and removing fish from the system.
2007-0843
Effects of Different Water Conservation Practices on Effluent Reduction and Economics of Hybrid Striped Bass Production
Harry V. Daniels, Thomas M. Losordo, Grada A. Wossink
NCSU Sea Grant Program
Unfunded
04/01/07 - 09/30/10
Hybrid striped bass (HSB) production in ponds is a highly water-intensive operation. Current production practices require annual pond draining to harvest and move fish and avoid infestations by the parasitic yellow grub (Daniels 2005). These practices create large volumes of effluent at certain times of the year and have led to complaints by local residents about stream eutrophication and habitat degradation. Effluents released from the North Carolina HSB farms are slow-moving and drain into wide and shallow estuarine coastal creeks that empty into the Pamlico Sound " part of the nutrient sensitive Tar-Pamlico River Basin (sub basin No. 7). Based on our monitoring of the water quality of the HSB effluents, the only means to satisfy these complaints and to bring the producers into compliance with effluent standards
2009-0936
Enabling Marine Recirculating Aquaculture Effluent for Reuse Using Constructed Wetlands
Thomas M. Losordo
NCSU Sea Grant Program
Unfunded
05/01/09 - 06/30/11
Marine aquaculture facilities are constrained by thier saline effluents as they are not land applicable. Untreated saline wastewaters cannot be discharged into nearby creeks and streams as they would typically contain elevated concentrations of nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus as major components) as compared to the natural receiving waters. The disposal of untreated, nutrient rich wastewater into local waterways would pose a significant environmental threat. Using constructed wetlands to treat marine RAS effluent can potentially reduce and even eliminate the impact on the surrounding environs. By removing a significant amount of the nutrients contained within the wastewater and possibly enabling reuse within the culture system, constructed wetlands have the potential to offer cost savings to the farmer. The objective of this project is to design a constructed wetland suitable for treating the wastewater from a marine RAS facility utilizing natural biological processes rather than traditional chemical treatment methods. The goal of such a design is to eliminate the impact on the local waterways and make the water treated by the constructed wetland suitable for reuse back in the marine RAS facility.
2008-0169
Flounder Farming in North Carolina: Developing Improved Strains and Enhancing Marketability For Economic Success
Harry V. Daniels, Russell J. Borski, John R. Godwin, MaryAnne Drake, Thomas M. Losordo
Golden Leaf Foundation
$75,000
06/05/08 - 12/31/10
Our goal in this project is to leverage the considerable investment from Golden LEAF Foundation and others into an extension/demonstration project designed to jumpstart the first southern flounder farms in the U.S. and indeed the world. These funds will allow us to establish a limited microsatellite (gene) library for southern flounder and conduct the preliminary side-by-side growth evaluations that are needed to achieve certification of this improved strain.Our work on purging or polishing protocols will establish a practical means of achieving consistent sushi-grade product that will fetch the highest price in the marketplace. These protocols will have been developed with the highest degree of sophistication in sensory discrimination and consumer preference analysis.
2009-2495
Genomics and Biotechnology to Promote Environmentally Sustainable and Globally Competitive Aquaculture in North Carolina
Harry V. Daniels, Russell J. Borski, Thomas M. Losordo, Craig V. Sullivan
US Dept. of Agriculture (USDA)
$211,629
07/15/09 - 07/14/11
Our goal is to develop new technologies for enhancing sustainable production of warmwater fish culture. An array of detailed studies in the areas of reproduction, growth regulation and water reuse will be conducted. Specifically, these studies will be focused on 1) discovering the root causes of poor egg quality in striped bass, 2) understanding the mechanisms of feed intake and growth in hybrid striped bass, 3) management of specific ion deficiencies in recirculating systems used for the culture of flounder, and 4) optimizing production technology for hybrid striped bass culture in closed recirculating systems. The results of this work will play an important role in contributing to the sustainable development of aquaculture in North Carolina
2008-2047
Improved Technology for Enhancing Production Efficiency and Environmental Sustainability of Warmwater Fish Culture
Harry V. Daniels, Russell J. Borski, Thomas M. Losordo, Craig V. Sullivan
US Dept. of Agriculture (USDA)
$225,941
07/15/08 - 07/14/11
Growth of warmwater fish culture in North Carolina has slowed over the last several years. This is due in part to the relatively high production costs, which limits sale of fish to higher-value white tablecloth restaurants and ethnic markets. Hybrid Striped Bass (HSB) in particular have high production costs, use high volumes of water, and also have notoriously lower feed efficiency relative to other established cultivars. Additionally, effluents from HSB farms are a cause of concern among the citizenry and environmental regulators. Our goal is improve the production efficiency of the North Carolina warmwater fish culture industry through a better understanding of the fundamental mechanisms controlling growth and feed intake, and to establish methods to improve production efficiency and environmental sustainability of HSB and recirculating systems. Preovulatory atresia, the breakdown and resorption of ovarian follicles and oocytes, is a major factor limiting production of high quality eggs in striped bass and other farmed fishes. We recently discovered that, at the onset of atresia, striped bass ovary produces a hatching enzyme (choriolysin) that degrades the zona radiata, which gives rise to the egg envelope or chorion, allowing the granulosa cells to enter the ooplasm and phagocytize its contents. We aim to develop procedures whereby expression of the gene encoding choriolysin or morphological correlates thereof can be detected in females so that they can be reproduced before significant damage to their follicles and oocytes occurs. We will evaluate the role neuropeptide Y, an appetite stimulating hormone, plays in regulating the hyperphagic response observed during states of accelerated or compensatory growth (CG) in HSB. NPY expression will be assessed in animals exhibiting low, normal and elevated (compensatory) growth and feed consumption. We will also assess NPY regulation by other hormones putatively involved in appetite and energy balance as well as the potential actions of NPY in regulating the endocrine (growth hormone/insulin-like growth factor) growth axis. Different water conservation practices and post-harvest treatments of HSB ponds will be evaluated to determine the effects on Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) and chlorophyll-á levels in the effluents. Three different EPA-approved chemicals will be evaluated along with a non-chemical control (2-4 week waiting period) to reduce BOD below 10 mg/L and chlorophyll-á below 40 µg/L to meet effluent water quality standards. The development of these practices would improve the environmental sustainability of HSB pond production in accordance with State water quality standards. A geotextile bag will be evaluated as part of a seawater recirculating system that is designed to completely eliminate discharge from these systems. The development of this technology would effectively allow the culture of seawater animals in inland areas and drastically reduce the potential environmental impact of seawater recirculating systems.
2010-1590
Innovative Biotechnologies for Environmentally Sustainable and Economically Competitive Aquaculture across North Carolina
Craig V. Sullivan, Russell J. Borski, Harry V. Daniels, Jeffrey M. Hinshaw, Thomas M. Losordo
US Dept. of Agriculture (USDA)
$211,262
06/15/10 - 06/14/12
Our goal is to enhance the economic competitiveness and environmental sustainability of farming established and emerging finfish cultivars in North Carolina (NC), including the striped bass and its hybrids and the Atlantic sturgeon. We aim to deliver new biotechnologies for improving gamete quality and early identification of gender, stress management and enhancement of growth, and the reuse, treatment and disposal of fish farm water and effluents. Our specific objectives are to: 1) reveal how the major system for uptake of yolk precursors by the ovary functions and to discover how this system is disrupted in female striped bass producing poor quality eggs; 2) develop a minimally invasive and practical method for identifying the gender of Atlantic sturgeon farmed for caviar so that males can be culled early in the production cycle; 3) discover how cortisol, a stress hormone, may influence the endocrine system regulating normal growth in hybrid striped bass (HSB) and accelerated growth induced in this species; 4) develop a disposal and treatment system for HSB pond effluents via their application onto land planted with various tree species; and 5) improve recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) technology and identify system requirements and costs for production of market-sized HSB in a RAS. Objectives 1-3 will be met via investigation of reproductive and growth physiology emphasizing specific genes, proteins and hormones, and objectives 4-5 will be achieved through aquaculture engineering and economic modeling efforts. Findings of the research will be widely disseminated to stakeholders in the NC and national aquaculture industries.
2009-2431
Improvement of Sensory Quality and Composition of Virginia-Type Peanuts
Harold E. Pattee, Thomas G. Isleib, Timothy H. Sanders, Matthew W Veal
NC Peanut Growers Association., Inc.
$33,409
01/01/09 - 12/31/11
Market quality is becoming more important in peanut variety release decisions. The USDA-ARS has an established program to monitor aspects of market quality in advanced breeding lines tested in the Uniform Peanut Performance Test. The USDA facility for measuring seed composition and flavor quality is located at Raleigh, NC. This is a request for funding to permit market quality evaluation of NCSU early breeding lines prior to their entry in the UPPT. This includes sensory and composition data. The request includes funds to contribute to a study of near infrared reflectance as a physical method to predict sensory quality of roasted peanuts without the cost and time required for actual sensory evaluation.
2009-1586
Improving Flavor and Nutritional Quality of Virginia-Type Peanuts
Harold E. Pattee, Thomas G. Isleib
Peanut Foundation
$20,800
05/01/09 - 02/28/11
Flavor, texture and nutritional value are important aspects of quality of peanut products. SMK samples collected as part of yield trials conducted at two or three locations as part of the NCSU peanut breeding program will be monitored for flavor profile, kernel hardness, and folate content. Sensory data from these samples will be incorporated into an existing database, and lines with superior flavor profiles across years and locations will be identified. Studies of kernel texture will use a penetrometer housed in the USDA-ARS-MQHRU lab. We will investigate several aspects of kernel hardness including (1) the relationship between texture (kernel hardness) of kernels before and after roasting, (2) the relationship between roast color and hardness, (3) the relationship between oil content and texture. By monitoring texture over three years, we will obtain estimates of the relative amounts of variation in texture due to genotypic, environmental, and genotype-by-environment interaction. We grew out the peanut minicore in North Carolina in 2008 to provide replicate data on that already collected by Dr. Lisa Oehrl Dean in case there are significant environmental and/or GxE influences on folate. We will assay folate content of released cultivars grown at several locations to get a baseline for the virginia market type. There exist breeding populations initiated using as parents high extremes identified in preliminary work crossed with elite high-oleic, disease-resistant lines. F2 plants will be planted at the Peanut Belt Research Station at Lewiston, NC in 2009. Individual plants will be harvested and folate determinations made on F2:3 families to determine if high folate content exhibits Mendelian inheritance.
2010-1634
Improving Flavor and Nutritional Quality of Virginia-Type Peanuts
Harold E. Pattee, Thomas G. Isleib
Peanut Foundation
$4,167
06/01/10 - 05/31/11
Flavor, texture and nutritional value are important aspects of quality of peanut products. SMK samples collected as part of yield trials conducted at two or three locations as part of the NCSU peanut breeding program will be monitored for flavor profile, kernel hardness, and folate content. Sensory data from these samples will be incorporated into an existing database, and lines with superior flavor profiles across years and locations will be identified. Studies of kernel texture will use a penetrometer housed in the USDA-ARS-MQHRU lab. We will investigate several aspects of kernel hardness including (1) the relationship between texture (kernel hardness) of kernels before and after roasting, (2) the relationship between roast color and hardness, (3) the relationship between oil content and texture. By monitoring texture over three years, we will obtain estimates of the relative amounts of variation in texture due to genotypic, environmental, and genotype-by-environment interaction. We grew out the peanut minicore in North Carolina in 2008 to provide replicate data on that already collected by Dr. Lisa Oehrl Dean in case there are significant environmental and/or GxE influences on folate. We will assay folate content of released cultivars grown at several locations to get a baseline for the virginia market type. There exist breeding populations initiated using as parents high extremes identified in preliminary work crossed with elite high-oleic, disease-resistant lines. F2 plants will be planted at the Peanut Belt Research Station at Lewiston, NC in 2010. Individual plants will be harvested and folate determinations made on F2:3 families to determine if high folate content exhibits Mendelian inheritance. This project can benefit the peanut industry by delivering virginia-type cultivars with superior flavor. A sufficient increase in folate level should allow processors to make a health claim in advertising.
2008-0059
Comprehensive Environmental Assessments and Nutrient Management Plans for Livestock Operations
John M. Rice, Leonard S. Bull
RTI International (aka Research Triangle Institute)
$591,840
10/01/07 - 09/30/11
This project will serve to provide environmental assessments on livestock production facilities on a voluntary basis in the 27 states located east of the Mississippi River. The lead agency is Research Triangle Institute International and NCState serves as a subrecipient. The project is of 4 years duration.
2009-0092
Nitrogen Dynamics in Covered Swine Lagoons
Sarah K. Liehr, Leonard S. Bull, John M. Rice
NC Pork Council
$57,314
07/01/08 - 09/30/10
The concept of placing impermeable covers on existing swine lagoons in North Carolina is rapidly gaining attention as an incremental process for addressing new environmental standards for swine farms. Potential benefits of lagoon covers include substantial reduction in emissions of odor, ammonia, fine particulate matter precursors, and greenhouse gases. At the same time, revenue could be generated by selling carbon credits resulting from reduction in methane emissions, and/or by generating electricity from the methane collected. Data are not currently available to determine what effects a cover might have on an existing lagoon. Such covers will present a barrier to volatilization and to wind mixing that are typical of traditional open lagoons. Possible effects include increased nitrogen concentrations in the lagoon liquid and altered build-up rate or distribution of sludge solids in the lagoon. Demonstration projects that are currently planned for swine lagoons in North Carolina present an opportunity to learn what effects lagoon covers will have on lagoon characteristics. Objectives of this project include monitoring of covered lagoons for various water quality parameters, with a focus on quantity and forms of nitrogen. Changes in nitrogen dynamics will be documented along with various control measures to determine the extent of changes that result from the cover. Sludge surveys will also be conducted prior to cover installations for use in future analysis of sludge distribution changes. Since nitrogen concentrations have increased substantially during the first year of the study, an expanded scope for this second year will include evaluating possible options for nitrogen recovery, such as ammonia stripping, biodiesel production from algae, and membrane separation technology. Guidelines will be developed for any modification in nutrient management that might be warranted based on the collected data. The effect of nitrogen recovery associated with lagoon covers on the carbon footprint of swine production in North Carolina will also be analyzed. Lagoon covers are a simple technology that have the potential to substantially eliminate emissions from lagoons while generating revenue to offset costs. Development of this technology could be a substantial benefit to swine producers in North Carolina. Collection of the data proposed is an important step to obtaining approval for this technology.
2009-0565
Technical Evaluation of Vermiculture Composting as a Cost Share Element of the Conservation Innovation Grant
John M. Rice, Charles M. Williams
NatureWorks Organics
$52,000
11/03/08 - 07/31/11
The worm composting process consists of a relatively small waste handling system comprised of one worm house to be placed near the swine houses. A series of trenches will be built in which to place the worms, onto which waste solids from the Closed Loop technology will be applied. The waste solids will be collected in a modified manure spreader that will be used to feed the captured solids to the worms at a controlled rate. The worms eat their way up through the solids to the surface, leaving castings beneath. Because Environmental Technologies was evaluated by the NC Attorney General"s Agreement process, the production of solids will not require further environmental analysis. However, because vermiculture composting has not been independently analyzed as part of the NC Attorney General"s Agreement process, the CIG project will assess its technical performance. Vermiculture composting"s technical characteristics will also be assessed to confirm that the product meets technical performance standards developed pursuant to the NC Attorney General"s Agreement. Methods used will be comparable to those used on other EST evaluations. These include measurement of emissions of odor and ammonia, reduction in pathogens, a nitrogen, phosphorus, copper and zinc mass balance analysis, and standards of quality established by the respective industries such as whether the products meet organic standards and Class A bio-solids standards. Where possible, analysis completed by other entities will be sought out in lieu of redundant analysis. An economic analysis of the cost of vermiculture composting will be performed. This analysis will take into account the cost of construction, operation and maintenance costs, and projections of the amount of worm casting compost that could be produced at the pilot site and if adopted industry-wide.
2008-1531
Precision Agriculture for Cotton Production in North Carolina
Gary T. Roberson, William L. Roberts, Praveen Kolar
Cotton, Inc.
$23,000
01/01/08 - 12/31/11
Precision agriculture is being adopted to optimize crop yields, minimize their associated costs and reduce environmental impacts of excessive crop inputs. Precision agriculture management is provided through variable-rate application of lime, fertilizers, pesticides, seeds and tillage. It is based on determining soil variability by georeferenced soil sampling/mapping, determining yield potential by georeferenced yield monitoring, and using agronomic recommendations for variable-rate application of inputs. Among the latest developments in precision agriculture is the use of real time sensors to measure crop and/or soil characteristics to develop georeferenced maps and make on-the-go crop management decisions. USe of precision agriculture technolgoy in cotton production can improve management and efficiency of resources.
2009-1891
Real Time Sensors to Determine Nitrogen Requirements for Corn
Gary T. Roberson, Scott A. Hale, Ronnie W. Heiniger
Corn Growers Association of NC, Inc.
$13,000
02/01/09 - 01/31/11
Precision agriculture is being adopted to optimize crop yields, minimize their associated costs and reduce environmental impacts of excessive crop inputs. Precision agriculture management is provided through variable-rate application of lime, fertilizers, pesticides, seeds and tillage. It is based on determining soil variability by georeferenced soil sampling/mapping, determining yield potential by georeferenced yield monitoring, and using agronomic recommendations for variable-rate application of inputs. Among the latest developments in precision agriculture is the use of real time sensors to measure crop and/or soil characteristics and make on-the-go crop management decisions. This project investigates the use of these sensors for nitrogen management in corn production.
2010-2226
RTK GPS and Automatic Steering for Peanut Digging
Gary T. Roberson
NC Peanut Growers Association., Inc.
Unfunded
04/01/10 - 03/31/11
RTK GPS offers accurate and repeatable positioning in the field throughout the growing season. Coupled with automatic steering, precise swaths through the field can be achieved from land preparation, planting, chemical application, cultivation, and harvesting. The use of automatic steering during harvesting insures the digger is properly positioned over the row when the vines make it difficult to determine where the row middles are located. Improved steering leads to reduced harvest losses.
2010-2124
Verification of Granular Spreader Distribution Patterns
Carl R. Crozier, Gary T. Roberson
NC Soybean Producers Association, Inc.
$6,000
04/01/10 - 03/31/11
This project will verify spreader pattern uniformity of both spinner and air-boom spreaders at a range of application rates (25-200 lb material/ac) often prescribed with detailed grid soil sampling. Our proposal is to utilize a series of 6 spreader rodeos to generate data permitting assessment of distribution patterns associated with different rates of granular fertilizer application by spinner and air-boom spreaders. Participants that achieve results in compliance with published industry guidelines will receive a certificate of documentation. Distribution pattern data will initially be prepared for each machine, and then will be pooled across sites, with separate mean pattern analyses presented for spinner and air-boom spreaders at each material rate. Initial results with granular fertilizers will be used to develop further hypotheses regarding different granule sizes, pulverized lime distribution patterns, and the blending efficiency of different ingredients of multi-bin spreaders. Testing of such hypotheses will initially involve use of a single research station spreader with greater flexibility to switch among smaller batches of individual ingredients. Potential outcomes include: 1) correcting possible low rate distribution patterns by modifying prescription maps for variable rate nutrient applications to specifiy the lowest non-zero application rate, by selecting lower analysis fertilizer ingredients, or through a switch to fluid products to apply problematic materials; 2) correcting possible high rate distribution patterns by double application of a lower rate or selecting a higher analysis fertilizer ingredient; 3) encouraging greater attention by the industry to machine maintenance and operating parameters; and 4) increasing participation by the industry in periodic spreader rodeo programs.
2005-1985
Litter Amendment and Improved Diet Impacts on Broiler Ammonia Emissions and Productivity
Sanjay B. Shah, Jesse L. Grimes, Philip W. Westerman, Wayne P. Robarge, Daniel C. Campeau, Edgar O. Oviedo
US Dept. of Agriculture (USDA)
$499,757
01/01/06 - 12/31/10
As part of EPA's effort to regulate emissions of aerial pollutants (e.g., ammonia) from confined animal agriculture, it plans to oversee monitoring of aerial emissions from two broiler farms (houses and litter stockpiles), one in the southeast US. However, data from two broiler farms and from other past and current studies will be inadequate for developing representative emissions factors (e.g., kg/year-animal unit). Most of the available data are short-term (cannot account for age of litter impacts on ammonia emissions) and intermittent (do not capture the day-to-day variability); also, they do not account for the impact of remediation measures on reducing aerial emissions. Further, there are no US data on emissions from litter stockpiles. This research will substantially add to the: (i) knowledge required to develop emission factors from broiler houses receiving different treatments (remediation measures), (ii) information on benefit/cost of different treatments, and (iii) knowledge required to develop emission factors from stockpiled litter stored using different methods. This study will monitor ammonia emissions, in-house ammonia concentrations, bird performance (multiple variables), litter nitrogen concentration, and energy use from four treatments applied to commercial broiler houses, namely, control, alum treatment, improved diet, and a combination of alum and improved diet over 2 years. Benefit/cost for the alum and improved diet treatments can be used by producers in making productivity and air quality decisions. Four houses will be instrumented to measure ammonia concentrations, and eight will be monitored for bird performance. Ammonia concentrations inside the house and outside each exhaust fan will be monitored continuously with individual gas scrubbers; ventilation rate will be monitored for each fan. Hence, reliable in-house ammonia concentrations and emission factors (including layout periods) will be obtained on 10 flocks (5 flocks/year and litter cleaned out annually). Further, ammonia emissions from seven broiler litter stockpiles will be monitored with each one being continuously monitored with passive tube denuders for 3 months (summer and winter). The stockpiles monitored will include treatments with the highest and lowest litter nitrogen analyses for both caked and cleaned out litter. Emission factors will be developed for stockpiles that are uncovered, covered with tarpaulin, and placed in sheds.
2010-0410
Long-term Monitoring of a Transpired Solar Wall on a Pig Nursery for its Ability to Reduce Heat Energy Use and Improve Pig Performance
Sanjay B. Shah
NC Pork Council
$16,632
07/01/09 - 07/31/10
During 2008-2009, the NCPC funded a transpired solar wall installation in a pig nursery to if it could save energy and improve pig performance. The solar wall is currently undergoing monitoring. However, to obtain results that are valid and robust, there is need to monitor the performance of the solar wall through 2010. Funding is requested mainly for graduate student support to complete monitoring.
2010-2523
Poultry Litter BMP Extension & Subsurface Application Technology Evaluation
Carl R. Crozier, David A. Crouse, Thomas J. Smyth, Sanjay B. Shah, Koralalage Sunil Upali Jayaratne, David Hardy, Eve Honeycutt, James T. Parsons, Richard Goforth, Richard Rhodes
US Dept. of Agriculture (USDA)
$50,588
09/08/10 - 12/31/12
Poultry production is a large and still expanding NC agricultural industry. Transportation logistics have resulted in a few regions with relatively concentrated farms and the associated litter, nutrients, pathogens, and odors. Offsite environmental impacts can be reduced with BMPs, but adoption of three available BMPs has been minimal. Our project represents an approach to enhance adoption of two BMPs related to nutrient management planning (litter characterization via appropriate sampling and laboratory analysis, spreader calibration), as well as demonstrates a BMP technology (subsurface placement) that has been proven effective in other states, but not yet commercially adopted in NC. We will develop an extension program that involves collaboration among several NCSU departments (Soil Science, Biological & Agricultural Engineering, Agriculture & Extension Education), NCDA&CS Agronomic Division, NC DENR Division of Soil & Water Conservation, and several Cooperative Extension Service agricultural agents. Four production regions will be targeted by this project 1) southeastern Coastal Plain (Sampson/ Duplin/ Wayne/ Lenoir/ Pitt Counties), 2) northeast (Bertie/ Hertford Counties), 3) southern Piedmont (Chatham/ Moore/ Montgomery/ Anson/ Union Counties), and 4) western Piedmont (Wilkes/ Alexander Counties). This extension program will complement ongoing research trials which are verifying nutrient availability coefficients from chicken manures applied to both summer and winter crops. The research trials are of limited scope (no turkey wastes, focus on northeastern NC) and provide no funding for extension programs. NCSU faculty have already developed and periodically utilized a protocol for improving spreader rate and pattern accuracy based on field measurements collected during public calibration clinics. In addition, prototype subsurface litter applicators have been utilized in Arkansas and in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Demonstration of this equipment in North Carolina Coastal Plain & Piedmont scenarios is expected to lead to its adoption by practitioners of conservation tillage, with the advantage of less poultry litter being directly lost as overland flow with surface runoff waters, reduced ammonia losses and odors, and more efficient N use in an era of increasing fertilizer prices. Pre- and post-surveys will allow quantification of project effectiveness, as well as documenting topics of greatest interest to program participants.
2010-2518
Solar Ducts for Reducing Propane and Improving Air Quality in Pig Nursery and Turkey Brooder House
Sanjay B. Shah, Jesse L. Grimes, James T. Parsons
US Dept. of Agriculture (USDA)
$75,000
08/30/10 - 03/31/13
Raising piglets, turkey poults, and broiler chicks is very energy intensive since they require supplemental heating. High propane prices and the highly volatile energy market has greatly affected the profit margins of livestock producers. Converting solar energy into heat energy using the transpired solar (TS) wall reduces energy use and can improve air quality in barns using supplemental heat. The TS wall consists of an unglazed, dark colored metal sheet with perforations installed on the side of the house with solar exposure. When air is drawn through the wall, most of the solar heat is transferred to the air, raising the air temperature by up to 70¢XF. The TS wall is most efficient solar collector and is widely used in commercial buildings in the US and on livestock farms in Canada. A TS wall at a pig nursery near Clinton, NC, reduced propane use by 20%. We are unaware of any other TS wall-heated US livestock barn. We propose to heat the fresh air going into a turkey brooder barn and pig nursery using the transpired solar duct, a modified TS wall. One side of the TS duct exposed to solar radiation is made of TS wall sheet; this improved system will be less expensive and save more propane than the TS wall. Propane and electricity use, barn environmental conditions, and animal performance will be compared with an identical control barn for both species. The TS duct is expected to reduce propane use ("d30%), indoor CO2, and water vapor levels due to reduced propane combustion. Improved air quality with unvented heaters may improve animal performance. Emission of the greenhouse gas CO2 will also be reduced. Based on data collected over two heating seasons, the benefit-cost ratio of the TS duct will be determined. This information will be disseminated to producers and other clients using field days (2), meetings (6-8), and two fact sheets. Thus, producers will be encouraged to apply to the USDA Rural Energy for America Program for funding to use TS duct in their barns to improve productivity and the environment.
2010-0327
Borlaug Fellowship Program Philippines
Ratna R. Sharma
US Dept. of Agriculture (USDA)
$24,969
08/24/09 - 09/30/10
Bioconversion of lignocellulosic feedstocks to fuel ethanol can benefit both the environment and economy of corn deficient states in the United States by utilizing regional resources. Feedstocks like agricultural residues and energy crops can supplement the energy demand of ethanol plants with non food based resources at reduced transportation costs. However, unlike corn, conversion of lignocellulosic materials offers several challenges during their pretreatment to reduce lignin and increase carbohydrate (cellulose and hemicelluloses) accessibility for hydrolysis to convert carbohydrates to sugars and fermentation of sugars to ethanol. Pretreatment constitutes 1/3rd of the total ethanol production cost and novel effective methods beyond conventional dilute acid pretreatment need to be investigated based on feedstock composition. Oxidative techniques like catalytic ozonolysis and ultrasonication offer advantages such as limited need for corrosion resistant equipment, low environmental impact, and simple processes. Optimization of the treatment parameters for pretreatments most suited to a feedstock can help in reducing cost of scaled up operations and provide new avenues for ethanol producers/investors who are open to the several possible alternatives since the cellulosic ethanol industry is in its infancy. During her visit to NC State University, the Borlaug Fellow will have the opportunity for hands-on direct experiences to get involved in on going research studies to convert energy crops like miscanthus and switchgrass to bioethanol in Dr. Sharma-Shivappa"s lab. She will be able to design and conduct lab scale experiments: 1) To determine delignification and hemicellulose solublization efficiencies of novel oxidative pretreatments such as alkaline, ozonation and ultrasonication on miscanthus grown in North Carolina, 2) To investigate efficiency of the pretreatment methods by determining the reducing sugar yields through subsequent enzymatic hydrolysis, and 3) To investigate ethanol production potential of miscanthus by fermenting the sugar rich hydrolyzates.
2010-1883
Development of Novel Oxidative Pretreatment Technologies for Llignocellulosic Ethanol Production - CBERD Core Project
Ratna R. Sharma, Praveen Kolar, Steven W. Peretti, Thomas G. Ranney
Center for Bioenergy Research and Development (CBERD) - NCSU Research Site
Unfunded
05/01/10 - 12/31/10
Bioconversion of lignocellulosic feedstocks to fuel ethanol can benefit both the environment and economy of North Carolina by utilizing regional resources and supplementing the energy demand of ethanol plants with non food based resources. Since the cellulosic ethanol industry is in its infancy, ethanol producers and investors are open to several possible alternatives. Pretreatments constitute 1/3rd the total ethanol production cost1 but those like ultrasonication, alkali and ozonolysis offer advantages such as energy-saving, environmental friendliness, simple processes and equipment, or lower operating cost by reducing the intensity of operating conditions. Optimization of treatment parameters for the pretreatment most suited to a feedstock can help in reducing cost of scaled up operations and future economic analyses. Therefore the goal of this project is to add value to energy crops such as miscanthus and switchgrass capable of growth on marginal lands, through conversion to bio-ethanol. Specific objectives are to 1) compare delignification and hemicellulose solublization efficiencies of oxidative pretreatments including alkaline and ozonation on feedstock(s) grown at various location in North Carolina 2) To investigate efficiency of the pretreatment methods by determining the reducing sugar yields through subsequent hydrolysis 3) Determine optimal hydrolysis conditions relative to enzyme loading and enzyme combinations.
2009-1218
Energy Canes: Ideal Fuelstocks For North Carolina's Diverse Energy Needs
Thomas G. Ranney, Darren Harvey Touchell, Ronald J Gehl, Ratna R. Sharma
Biofuels Center of North Carolina
$171,293
04/30/09 - 02/29/12
Energy canes represent grasses in the "sugarcane complex" and include sugarcanes, miscanthus, and their hybrids. The perennial, cold-hardy species in this complex have considerable potential as biomass crops in North Carolina. These crops can be used as fuel for heat and power generation, production of fiber composite products, forage for livestock, and ultimately as a fuelstock for cellulosic ethanol production. These energy canes are characterized as having broad adaptability, high water and nitrogen use efficiencies, excellent pest resistance, and tremendous biomass production. Research at NC State University is underway to evaluate performance of these crops across North Carolina, develop production practices and recommendations, breed and develop improved varieties, and improve efficiency of bioprocessing and cellulosic ethanol conversion. These activities will support new economic development and a new sustainable bioenergy industry in North Carolina.
2007-0167
Pilot Plant to Enhance Sustainable Conversion of Biomass to Ethanol Fuels in NC
Steven W. Peretti, Alexander O. Hobbs, Stephen S Kelley, Ratna R. Sharma, George C. Yencho, Kurt S. Creamer, Mari S Chinn, Hasan Jameel, Kenneth R. Swartzel
Golden Leaf Foundation
$1,500,000
04/09/07 - 12/31/10
There is a strong interest at the national level in the conversion of cellulosic biomass to ethanol, and other fuels and chemicals. While the technology to convert corn to ethanol is well established, using agricultural crop residue and woody biomass is less well developed. NC State proposes to design, construct and commission a small pilot plant that will be used to evaluate the conversion biomass resources already present within the state into ethanol. The facility will be capable of processing ten pounds per hour. Its commissioning will include successful conversion of sweet potatoes, switchgrass, and loblolly pine. The overall objective is to reduce North Carolina"s dependence on foreign oil, boost the state economy, enhance economic opportunity and quality of life in rural communities, and foster and support a new biomass based energy infrastructure.
2008-1206
Sustainable Livestock Production Practices through Stakeholder Partnerships: Lessons with India
Vivek Fellner, Isabel Gimeno, Maria T. Correa, Ratna R. Sharma, Prema Arasu
US Dept. of Agriculture (USDA)
$100,000
07/01/08 - 06/30/12
The U.S. faces many challenges in production practices in the livestock industry including pollution of the environment from methane emissions and animal waste that affect our environment and public health. Given our needs in various sectors including energy and global competence, we propose a multi-disciplinary approach through lessons with India to firstly address issues faced by the dairy and poultry industries and to then develop cost-effective technologies that optimize production practices. By engaging representative stakeholders in North Carolina and India, the objectives are to explore and identify new avenues of research in these sectors, educate our students and faculty through comparison, collaboration and assimilation of best practices, and facilitate information transfer through North Carolina State University. To accomplish these objectives, we propose developing a website for information transfer, student and faculty study tours, a workshop in North Carolina involving cooperator Indian experts and NC stakeholders in various sectors ranging from academia to private sector and extension, and dissemination of information to the public and university community through a range of channels. The project will further internationalize the curriculum, research and extension activities of the university, build global competence and understanding, and bridge the activities of academia, the government and non-governmental sectors.
2010-1780
Implementing Risk Management Tools in On-Farm Food Safety Programs
Diane Ducharme, Benjamin Chapman, Christopher Gunter, Penelope Perkins-Veazie, Trevor Gardner Phister, James L. Oblinger, Otto Simmons
NC Rural Economic Development Center
$35,000
06/01/10 - 06/30/11
The objectives of this project are to: 1. Assess the current risk management tools available for microbial testing and postharvest handling that can be utilized by growers in their fresh produce safety programs. 2. Design customized risk assessment and management implementation guidance materials that provide the framework for implementation tools, monitoring procedures, data collection, management decision options, and validation techniques necessary to measure effectiveness of fresh produce safety programs. 3. Conduct experiential training workshop on the specified risk implementation materials through collaborative partnerships with the NC Fresh Produce Safety Task Force, that include NCDA & CS, NCSU, NC A&T, NC Farm Bureau, Commodity Associations, industry and growers. 4. Evaluate and communicate the change in knowledge and implementation of risk assessment and management tools.
2007-0479
Calibration and Validation of DRAINMOD-N II as a Tool for Subsurface Drainage System Design in Newly reclaimed Land In Egypt
Richard W. Skaggs, Mohamed Youssef
US Dept. of Agriculture (USDA)
$24,000
09/01/07 - 12/31/10
Agricultural drainage is essential for crop production in many parts of the world, including U.S. and Egypt, but it has detrimental impacts on ground and surface water quality. Nitrogen losses from drained lands have been identified as one of the major sources of N leading to hypoxic conditions in several major water bodies of the world including the Gulf of Mexico. Computer simulation models such as DRAINMOD can be effective tools for the design of crop production systems on drained lands that minimize N losses to environmentally sensitive surface waters. The main goal of this joint proposal is to transfer and promote the use of DRAINMOD suite of models as a tool for the design of agricultural drainage systems in Egypt. The models will be calibrated and validated using two years of field measured data from a newly reclaimed, artificially-drained, experimental site located in South El Husseinia Plain. Calibrated models will be applied to design drainage systems for the newly reclaimed areas of South El Hussenia Plain that meet crop production needs, control soil salinity, and minimize the offsite delivery of nitrogen to Lake El-Manzalah. As part of this joint project, a DRAINMOD workshop will be held to train researchers from the Drainage Research Institute (DRI) and possibly Engineers from the Egyptian Public Authority for Drainage Projects (EPADP) on how to use the model to design and evaluate the performance of drainage systems. The proposed collaboration should benefit EPADP, drainage contractors, and land owners. This is in addition to the overall benefit of conserving the water and land resources of Egypt."
2009-1503
Effects of Silvicultural Practices on Hydrology and Water Quality of Drained Forested Lands
Richard W. Skaggs
Weyerhaeuser NR Company(subsidiary of Weyerhaeuser)
$55,000
10/01/08 - 03/31/11
Long-term watershed studies were conducted at two locations in North Carolina. In Carteret County, a forest hydrology and water management study was initiated at three experimental loblolly pine forests in early 1988 to quantify the potential impacts of both silvicultural and water management practices on hydrology and water quality. Loblolly pine planted in 1974 was 14 years old when the watersheds were instrumented in 1988. Continuous hydrologic monitoring on these watersheds has provided a database for quantifying the water and nutrient budgets and evaluating impacts of management practices using a paired watershed approach. Continuous studies were conducted over a 20-year period on this site to quantify the hydrology and drainage water quality during the production cycle for loblolly pine. The studies included determining the effects of effects of controlled drainage, harvesting, thinning, and fertilization. Another watershed study was conducted in Washington County, NC near Plymouth where a 25000 acre mixed use (forest and agriculture) watershed was instrumented to determine effects of land use and management practices on hydrology, water quality, and pollutant loads. Data were collected at both field and watershed scales, including studies of water quality changes in the drainage canals and ditches, from 1994 to 2006. While most of the data collected in these studies have been analyzed and published, we are still working on several important papers involving the synthesis of the results. Funds requested herein will be used to complete this work, present the papers at professional meetings and get the results published. This includes analysis and publication of a set of data on the hydrology of forested wetlands and work on the fate on nitrogen in the drainage canals in both organic and mineral soils.
2010-2298
Enhancement of DRAINMOD for Predicting Nitrogen Losses from Drained Lands in Midwest U.S.
Richard W. Skaggs, Mohamed Youssef, George M. Chescheir
US Dept. of Agriculture (USDA)
$30,000
09/01/10 - 08/31/11
This project will develop and enhance the application of a tool to predict effects of drainage design and drainage water management (DWM) on nitrogen losses to surface waters in Midwest U.S. We will cooperate with university researchers and extension workers in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, and Ohio, and with ARS and NRCS to further enhance the application of DRAINMOD/DRAINMOD-NII for application to soils and conditions in the Midwest. Project outputs will include results of studies of the reliability of an approximate, DRAINMOD based, method to quantify annual impacts of DWM, a published paper on that application, a web site to guide the application of the models, additional input data sets for Midwest soils, and training on the application of the approximate method.
2010-2210
Feedback Controlled-Drainage Subroutine Incorporated in DRAINMOD-N2 Model to Predict Nitrate Loss in Drainage Water Management System
Richard W. Skaggs, Mohamed Youssef
US Dept. of Agriculture (USDA)
$25,000
04/01/10 - 03/31/15
Agricultural drainage is necessary for efficient crop production on about 25% of the nation's cropland. Research has shown that water can be conserved and nitrogen pollution in drainage waters reduced by operating weir or other structures on drainage outlets to reduce drainage rates after the crop is planted in the growing season and during the winter months. The effectiveness of the practice depends on mangement of the control structures in a timely fashion, and often, in response to rainfall events. This work will modify existing models (methods) for predicting impacts of drainage management (controlled drainage or subirrigation) to include senarios for automatically controlling weir outlet elevations based on feedback from field water table measurements, rainfall, or both. The algorithms for automatic feedback control were developed by ARS scientist J. Fouss. the models for predicting effects of drainage water management on hydrology and nitrogen loss in drainage water were developed at N.C. State University. This cooperative project will result in a model that will allow assessment of various control scenarios for improving the performance of drainage water management in the South, Southeast, and Midwest.
2007-1229
Innovative Drainage Water Management in North Carolina
Richard W. Skaggs, Mohamed Youssef, Carl R. Crozier, Deanna L. Osmond
US Dept. of Agriculture (USDA)
$190,887
09/24/07 - 09/24/11
The effectiveness of Drainage Water Management or Controlled Drainage in conserving water, increasing crop yields and reducing the loss of nitrogen, phosphorus and sediment to coastal streams and estuaries was demonstrated in North Carolina in the 1980s and 1990s. The practice was cost-shared as a BMP and it is estimated that structures were installed to facilitate over 400,000 acres of controlled drainage on cropland. When these systems are properly operated, it is conservatively estimated that their use will reduce N loads to streams and estuaries by about 4,000,000 lbs annually. However the original contracts for management have expired and the systems are, in most cases, no longer functioning as designed. This project will develop and implement a web-based system for encouraging and assisting users in the proper application of drainage water management in the North Carolina Coastal Plain. A web-based system will be developed and implemented on a pilot scale with 12 farmers in at 6 Coastal Plain counties. The system will provide crop, soil and location sensitive advice and reminders on management of the control structures. DRAINMOD simulations to evaluate soil water status and provide guidance on managing the structures based on weather conditions will be conducted and updated monthly through the year and more frequently during the growing season. Three sites will be developed to demonstrate the proper application of drainage water management and to assess its effectiveness in terms of crop yield, water conservation and nitrogen and phosphorus loads to surface waters.
2010-2721
Sediments Newsletter
Jean Spooner, Richard A. McLaughlin, Melanie Markusic McCaleb, Daniel E. Line, Catherine Scache Smith
NC Department of Environment & Natural Resources (DENR)
$17,020
08/01/10 - 05/01/11
Request funds to continue the publication and distribution of the Sediments newsletter in order to provide information to the regulated community and to facilitate communication among local erosion and sediment control programs.
2008-0388
Technical Support for the National Watershed Protection Program
Jean Spooner, Laura A. Szpir, Daniel E. Line, Catherine Scache Smith
Tetra Tech, Inc.
$1
03/12/08 - 03/11/13
NCSU is participating as a subcontractor and team member to Tetra Tech, Inc. to support US EPA's National Watershed Protection Program. NCSU's role will primarily be to support: - EPA"s National Monitoring Program projects (long-term watershed projects nationwide) - Evaluate Best Management Practices (BMPs) to control nonpoint source pollution (NPS) - Offer guidance to USEPA on NPS control stategies, including low impact development (LID) This proposal serves to position the team to be eligible to bid on individual Task Orders. These future Task Orders proposals (not included with this request) will include funding level requests; amount requested will be entered for each Task Order as a Budget Amendment. Hence the reason for $0.00 requested for this proposal.
2009-1010
EFRI-HyBi Preliminary Proposal: Algal Oils to 'Drop-in' Replacements For Petroleum Transportation Fuels
William L. Roberts, JoAnn M. Burkholder, Heike W. Sederoff, Larry F. Stikeleather, Henry Lamb
National Science Foundation
$1,999,172
08/01/09 - 07/31/13
This NSF EFRI HyBi will develop the technical feasibility and demonstrate scalability of a unique, multi-step catalytic process to convert a wide range of fats/oils/lipids into replacement transportation fuels that are chemically and physically similar to their petroleum counterparts, thus dramatically reducing infrastructure complications. Algal oils are an ideal feedstock for biofuels production, offering very high production density and the ability to use marginal water (municipal waste, brackish water, etc) and reuse CO2 emitted from coal-fired power plants. However, there are a number of technical challenges associated with efficiently exploiting algae"s inherent advantages as a feedstock. Using a tightly coupled synergistic approach employing both engineering and biology faculty, the team will: a) optimize a marine microalgae species (Dunaliella) to produce the most desirable feedstocks for conversion to transportation fuels, b) develop innovative and transformative approaches to extracting these lipids and fatty acids from the algae, c) optimize the decarboxylation catalyst, and d) optimize the entire biorefinery process including maximizing thermal efficiency and utilization of co-products and by-products. New technologies to transform non-food, renewable feedstock into high quality hydrocarbon biofuels for the transportation sector will broaden scientific discovery and create the framework, synergy and momentum for biologists and engineers to further explore potential alternative fuels. Genetic enhancement and environmental controls will be used to maximize the production of the most beneficial lipids, including synthetic biology approaches to enhance fatty acid synthesis. Exploration of innovative and very efficient means for lipid extraction, including transformative continuous extraction of produced fatty acids, will transform the scientific development of algae as a biofuel feedstock. Key advantages of our proposed biofuels process are its feedstock flexibility, output flexibility/control, and very limited hydrogen requirement. Biorefinery architecture optimization and investigation of multiple strategies to use byproducts (glycerol) efficiently will advance knowledge in the alternative fuels industry, creating more efficient mechanisms to exploit co-products (nutraceuticals, animal feed, etc). The prospect of hydrocarbon biofuels that are fully compatible with all existing infrastructure, coupled with finally being able to fully exploit the promise of algae as a biofuels feedstock, offers tremendous economic and environmental impact by reducing the transportation sector"s reliance on fossil fuels. Innovative and transformative enabling technologies that will permit the conversion of algal oils into high-value transportation fuels in an economically viable process will bring significant environmental and economic benefits to the nation through the development of an efficient, high-yield alternative energy source. This interdisciplinary research between chemical, mechanical and bio/agricultural engineers, phycologists, molecular biologists, and plant physiologists provides unique training opportunities for undergraduate, graduate and postdoctoral scholars to bridge disciplines and become the new generation of scientists and engineers to develop renewable energy for future generations.
2010-0442
System to Administer Inhaled Gases for Mass Depopulation of Swine in a National Emergency
W. Morgan Morrow, Larry F. Stikeleather
US Dept. of Agriculture (USDA)
$350,000
09/30/09 - 09/29/11
In the event of a foreign animal disease outbreak in the United States, a rapid and humane method for on-farm swine depopulation will be required. Given the extraordinary number of animals involved and the design of currently used swine confinement buildings, methods relying on the handling and restraint of individual animals will likely prove much too slow to stem the spread of disease. Depopulation of commercial swine operations would likely take place on-site to reduce disease spread. One suggestion made by the swine industry for humanely killing large numbers of swine is to utilize enclosed dump-bed trucks or trailers as on-farm carbon dioxide (CO2) depopulation chambers. Potential advantages to this method over captive bolt, gunshot, or lethal injection of individual animals include the ability to rapidly move animals out of buildings using existing walkways and chutes, the ability to deposit the carcasses at the disposal site, and lower manpower requirements. Implementation of this method will require proactive establishment of protocols ensuring humane conditions while conserving resources and protecting personnel. Although we have demonstrated feasibility of CO2 for on-farm depopulation of adult pigs in a pilot study, the method needs standardization and refinement for all types of swine facilities prior to widespread adaptation in the event of a disease outbreak. The proposed project will result in a defined system for large-scale gas-based depopulation that can be applied to commercial farrowing, nursery, and finishing swine operations in the event of a foreign animal disease outbreak and in a manner at least as humane as currently accepted practices. The system will include loading methods, container identification and optimization, identification of gas delivery methods and performance targets, and time and motion performance specifications.
2009-1868
Evaluation of Replacement of Fish Meal With Soybean Meal in Hybrid Striped Bass Diets
Marc Turano, Thomas M. Losordo
NC Soybean Producers Association, Inc.
$36,704
04/01/09 - 03/31/11
Soybean meal (SBM) is the number one world-wide source of protein in animal diets, accounting for over 75% of plant proteins fed (Rumsey et al., 1994). Its relatively high yield, high crude protein content, stable supply and cost are reasons for its significant used in fish diets (Drew et al., 2007). Further, SBM is becoming a more important component in feeds as fishmeal originates from the wild harvest of ocean fish, which has been viewed by some environmental groups as unsustainable, when considering worldwide expansion of aquaculture. In North Carolina, SBM is used at varying levels in diets for all commercially cultured species including hybrid striped bass (HSB), catfish, rainbow trout, flounder, tilapia, and freshwater prawns. Dietary levels depend on the feeding strategy for the species, with lower levels being fed to carnivorous fish, and higher levels fed to omnivorous fish. Since feed costs represent 40-70% of production costs for aquaculture operations, the use of high quality, lower cost ingredients such SBM can assist in reducing feed costs. Further, identifying methods to increase SBM usage in carnivorous species such as HSB could further reduce costs for fish producers while simultaneously providing greater marketing potential for soybean products, supporting the goals of the NC Soybean Producers Association.
2009-1295
Assessment of Bioenergy Crop Production Along North Carolina Highway Right-of-Ways
Matthew W Veal
NC Department of Transportation
$105,750
03/01/09 - 05/31/11
As fuel costs and right-of-way maintenance fees continue to rise, the use of interstate and highway right-of-ways for cultivation of energy crops is receiving attention. The Utah Department of Transportation has recently initiated a project (freeways to fuel) to explore the production of canola and soybeans in right-of-ways as a source of vegetable oil that can be converted to biodiesel. Canola is an annual variety of rapeseed, containing up to 50% vegetable oil. Canola is also an attractive right-of-way crop because of the aesthetic value of the yellow flowers produced by the plant in the months leading to harvest. Canola has the potential to produce over 150 gallons of biodiesel per mile of right-of-way planted for each 10 ft strip cultivated. In the case of soybean, the biodiesel yield for each 10 foot cultivated strip would be around 60 gallons per mile. Assuming 100 miles of the right-of-way land on Interstate 40 was cultivated with a single 10 ft strip on the left, middle, and right medians (for a total cultivated strip of 30 ft); over 65,000 gallons of biodiesel could be produced annually with a canola/soybean rotation. There would also be considerable tonnage of high protein meal that could be sold to feed meals to support local livestock and poultry production. The meal represents the portion the seed left following the extrusion of oil. As an economic comparison using 10ft implements, mowing currently costs approximately $17/ac and the cost to cultivate canola is approximately $200/ac. Based on current commodity prices and estimated regional grain yields, the approximate net return on the canola sold to a grain elevator would be $75/ac and the approximate net return if the vegetable (canola) oil is used for biodiesel production is $125/ac plus the value of the protein meal. While the economics support this activity there are many factors that must be addressed. Studies to determine the amount of right-of-way that is available for row crop production are needed. Soil type and condition, ground slope, traffic, and moisture conditions are factors that will determine what areas are acceptable for right-of-way crop production. Secondly, right-of-ways are generally heavily compacted as a result of road building operations. The proper cultivation and tillage procedures need to be developed to insure a seed bed capable of supporting row crop production can be established. Finally, the safety of agricultural equipment operators in these areas as well as the motorists on the road needs to be investigated. The Bioprocess Extension Program in the Biological and Agricultural Engineering Department at NC State has proposed a project to investigate the feasibility of initiating a Freeways to Fuel project in North Carolina. The following research objectives have been developed to support this activity. 1) Develop assessment criteria to identify right-of-way areas that are suitable for energy crop production and produce a computerized-map (i.e. GIS) project to indicate these areas. 2) Assess the production, economic, and logistical parameters impacting oilseed production in right-of-ways to determine the optimal crop cultivation system. 3) Perform a series of plot trials to assess the yield potential of canola and soybeans in right-of-ways for various cultural practices.
2010-2062
Assessment of Cotton Production and Gin Residues for Thermal Energy Production
Matthew W Veal
Cotton, Inc.
$2,400
01/01/10 - 12/31/10
Recently there has been an increasing interest from NC agricultural stakeholders to find alternative fuels to offset rising heating fuel costs. Primarily greenhouse producers and tobacco farmers have been seeking biomass solutions as an alternative to LP gas and heating oil costs. The NCSU BAE department has several funded projects that are evaluating biomass as a means to at the very least displace nonrenewable fuel usage for heating applications. However, these projects are tied to specific forms of biomass including wood chips, grass pellets, and animal waste. This project would look to add the evaluation of cotton residues to these existing projects. Funding is requested to help support travel and labor to field sites to collect, process and evaluate cotton residues and gin trash a thermal energy resource. Currently, BAE is fueling a greenhouse furnace, operating an industrial boiler to cure tobacco, and operating a 30 kW generator all from biomass resources. The goal of this project would assess the feasibility of using cotton residues as an energy feedstock and providing immediate markets for use of the material. Also, BAE is in the process of constructing a 4 ton/hr pellet mill which would provide for further evaluation of cotton stalks as a renewable energy resource.
2011-0062
Biomass Briquette Systems Equipment Usage and Demonstration
Matthew W Veal
Cotton, Inc.
$23,530
01/01/10 - 12/31/10
OBJECTIVES: 1) Evaluate the feasibility of using the Biomass Briquette Systems, LLC equipment to densify cotton gin waste SIGNIFICANCE: The biggest limitation to cotton biomass utilization in a solid fuel system is densification. This system has the potential to cost-effectively densify cotton gin waste. PLAN OF WORK: The equipment will be purchased by NC State University, from Biomass Briquette Systems, LLC and installed at a facility near Kinston , NC where NC State personnel will conduct biomass research. The cotton gin waste briquettes will be evaluated for production and utilization suitability. This project will provide funding for "equipment usage fee" to further support a research project (on this subject) funded by the NC SSP committee. IP potential: low. 2010 expected results are expected to show that this system is suitable for densifying cotton gin waste - results will be published in appropriate trade publications.
2010-1516
Cultural Management of Cotton to Minimize the Impact of Herbicide Resistant Palmer Amaranth
Matthew W Veal
Cotton, Inc.
$22,750
01/01/10 - 12/31/10
OBJECTIVES: 1. Investigate the interactions of cover crops, pre-emergence herbicides, and tillage on the management of Palmer Amaranth with particular emphasis on herbicide-resistant Palmer. Impact of strategies on production costs, farm labor requirements, Palmer populations, and cotton yields. 2. Perform a cost benefit analysis of the steps and strategies developed under the first objective to determine the effectiveness, benefit, and potential return for implementing the step. 3. Provide cotton producers with a best management practices factsheet that discuss mechanical weed control and other management tools that can be used to relieve resistant weed pressure.
2008-1703
Development and Evaluation of Reduced Input Planting, and Harvest and Storage System Strategies for Economic Production of Biofuels from Industrial Sweetpotatoes
George C. Yencho, Jonathan R. Schultheis, Matthew W Veal, Bryon Sosinski, Kenneth V. Pecota
Biofuels Center of North Carolina
$197,033
06/25/08 - 07/31/11
This three-year $200,000 project is focused on developing high starch industrial sweetpotato (ISP) feedstocks, and integrated crop production and processing technologies for the production of ethanol and other biobased chemicals from ISP. Our research efforts will be targeted at the major economic impediments to the successful use of ISPs for ethanol production on-farm. Specifically, we propose to: 1) evaluate and continue developing improved high yielding, high starch ISPs that yield more ethanol per acre, 2) determine if it is feasible to plant ISPs using a novel "cut seed piece" planting technology that can significantly lower ISP planting costs, and 3) develop mechanical harvesting and improved storage methods so that ISP feedstocks can be harvested more economically and stored in a format that can be used to provide feedstock year-round. To achieve our goals, we have assembled a multidisciplinary team of scientists consisting of 1) breeders and molecular geneticists, 2) crop production, cultural management and post-harvest specialists, 3) bioprocess engineers, and 4) economists. This project is proposed in tandem with another longer-term project headed by Dr. Bryon Sosinski, that is using the tools of biotechnology and bioprocess engineering to develop transgenic, self-hydrolyzing ISPs, which can then be converted to sugars and ethanol using simplified and environmentally friendly processes greatly improving the yield and economics of ethanol from ISP. Currently, these two projects are being conducted in parallel, with the long-term goal of our transgenic ISP research being the development of ISP transformation and regeneration protocols that can be used to improve our best performing, conventionally bred ISP lines. Corn is currently the primary raw material for ethanol production in the US. But, it is not the best feedstock for all of the US, and as the demand for ethanol increases and concerns about this demand leading to higher food prices escalate, it would be more sustainable and economically beneficial to develop more diversified and regionally appropriate sources of ethanol. Sweetpotatoes, the 7th most important crop in terms of total production worldwide, are suitable for the production of ethanol because they are capable of producing tremendous starch yields (biomass) under a wide range of low input conditions. ISPs are capable of producing 30% higher starch yield per unit area than corn. Further, they are highly adaptable, drought tolerant, easy to grow, and can produce high yields with minimal fertilizer inputs on a wide variety of soils. For the southeastern US, a corn deficit region where the preponderance of imported grains are fed to livestock; but, where the majority of our nation"s sweetpotatoes are produced, ISPs have great potential to contribute to the regional diversification of our nation"s energy needs. ISP, which will be produced as an industrial feedstock and will not be subject to rigid table-stock market requirements, can be produced on marginal lands not currently used for production. This will greatly expand the acreage that can be committed to ISPs, with the ethanol derived from these being used to offset increased demand for ethanol in the SE US. In the United States, over 1.6 billion pounds of sweetpotatoes are produced yearly. Over 37% of this production comes from North Carolina alone, while Mississippi, Louisiana and Alabama account for an additional 30% of total production. Because sweetpotatoes are currently produced by a wide range of small- medium- and large-scale farmers of varying socio-economic backgrounds, our research has great potential to impact these constituencies, promoting economic and agricultural diversification, and contributing to the development of a more sustainable and less petroleum dependent bio-based economy in rural SE US. In addition, because high dry matter sweetpotatoes (i.e. ISPs) are critically important in many developing countries, this research may have great potential for use in these regions as well.
2008-1526
Effective Strategies for Biogas and Nutrient Management Resulting from Anaerobic Digestion in Covered Swine Lagoons
Matthew W Veal, Philip W. Westerman, Jiayang Cheng, Anne-Marie M. Stomp, Kelly D. Zering
National Fish & Wildlife Foundation
$457,433
09/01/08 - 06/30/11
Biogas generation and capture using covered lagoons is a promising renewable energy technology that can be utilized by North Carolina swine farmers to increase on-farm income and mitigate rising energy costs. Covering lagoons would also reduce ammonia and greenhouse gas emissions, particularly methane, and have potential to obtain Carbon Credits. Currently, swine producers in the state have reservations about covering lagoons for biogas production as the economic recovery associated with energy generation equipment is unknown for NC and concerns about nutrient management have lead state officials to exclude covered lagoon projects from state conservation agricultural cost-share programs. An overlooked aspect of anaerobic digestion is the use of the nutrients in the production of crops that can be converted into value-added agricultural products. Algae and duckweed are examples of energy crops that could be grown in a media similar to digested swine wastes and then used in the production of biodiesel or bioethanol. The ultimate goals of this project is to exhibit effective, economically-feasible energy generation technologies utilizing biogas, demonstrate utilization of biogas combustion by-products (i.e. heat and CO2), and to show a variety of processes that can be implemented to manage swine effluent nutrients. The technologies to be demonstrated in this project include: 1.Anaerobic digestion of swine manure for biogas production and utilization of methane for electricity generation through an internal combustion engine, 2.Utilization of CO2 from methane combustion to enhance tomato production in greenhouse, 3.Nitrification biofiltration for ammonia emission control, very low cost denitrification in pits for nitrogen removal, and nutrient utilization for greenhouse tomato production, 4.Growing duckweed to recover nutrients from swine wastewater and convert duckweed into bioethanol, and 5.Struvite crystallization for phosphorus removal from swine wastewater. Also, technologies and extension education materials will be transferred to interested stakeholders. Workshops, field days, extension publications, and website spreadsheets and other materials will be developed from the knowledge obtained from this project.
2009-2808
Energy and Heat Generation Potential of Switchgrass in NC
Matthew W Veal, John Dail Garner
NC Agricultural Foundation, Inc
$166,000
06/02/09 - 05/30/11
Considerable interest in switchgrass for bioenergy has been expressed by industry and farmers. This is evident by the state of Tennessee encouraging switchgrass production near Oak Ridge and switchgrass plots are established on numerous NC State University research plots. This proposed project will build on current NCSU research and evaluate the energy production potential from switchgrass. Agronomic production data from the existing projects and processing characteristics from the proposed project will be useful to encourage bioindustries to locate in North Carolina. The choice of crops and cropping systems will have a significant impact on the cost and sustainability of renewable energy from cellulosic feedstocks. Feedstock selection, planting procedures, chemical application (fertilizers and pesticides), and feedstock collection are typically considered on the front end of the system. However, decisions on the front end will have a significant impact on the biorefinery in terms of delivered feedstock cost, processing characteristics, final product cost, and overall system sustainability. Most studies have looked at feedstock production and delivery as a separate step from processing. The unique aspect of this project is the demonstration of the overall system from feedstock produced by farmers to potential ethanol, electricity, and thermal energy production. The billion ton study by DOE/USDA identified perennial grasses and fast growing trees, primarily switchgrass and hybrid poplars, as two additional feedstocks required to meet the one billion ton goal. This project is focused on switchgrass and its potential for ethanol, electricity, and thermal energy production. Some varieties could have a higher lignin content that would be more suitable for electricity and combustion processes, while other varieties with a lower lignin content would be more suitable for ethanol production. Some production schemes would result in a higher moisture content feedstock that would have a significant negative effect on combustion and only a minor effect on fermentation processes, although a significant effect on transportation costs. Minimizing the cost and maximizing the production of renewable energy per unit of fossil energy input will require the integration of numerous operations from farm to the biorefinery. No side by side comparison of switchgrass yield and its potential energy production has been performed where the crops are produced by farmers and the fossil energy, labor, cost, and potential renewable energy production is documented. The crops will be grown in areas where the primary commodity is forages and the land is not suitable for corn or soybean production. With guidance from North Carolina State University researchers, research plots are seeded the crops, applying chemicals, and harvesting the crops. For this project it is intended to use the same trials to provide additional data that would be useful for developing a biorefinery. Estimates of the labor, fuel consumption, and chemical application would be tracked so that fossil energy and production costs could be calculated. The objectives for this project are: 1. Demonstrate the range in fossil energy, labor, and cost required to grow and transport biomass into renewable energy products managed on three sites, 2. Perform screening assays to evaluate the potential ethanol, electricity, and thermal energy production from farmer managed plots from two varieties of switchgrass, and; 3. Evaluate the utility of switchgrass pelletization as a means to open transitional energy markets, improve logistics costs, and ability to serve as a vehicle for enzymatic pretreatment for bioethanol production.
2009-1241
Optimizing Cultivation and Conversion Parameters For Efficient Sweet Sorghum Bioethanol
Matthew W Veal, Mari S Chinn, Larry F. Stikeleather
Biofuels Center of North Carolina
$183,468
05/22/09 - 08/31/12
Sweet sorghum is an attractive bioenergy crop because it requires less crop inputs than corn or soybeans, and the juice provides a source of aqueous sugar that is easier to convert into ethanol than starch or cellulose. The development of a sweet sorghum conversion industry would allow marginal lands in North Carolina to be placed in agricultural production and create a bioenergy resource that is sustainable, does not compete with food or feed resources, and provides economic security for rural communities. The Biological and Agricultural Engineering Department (BAE) at North Carolina State University (NCSU) is leading the way in addressing the techno/economic concerns surrounding the production of sweet sorghum for ethanol. The BAE department cultivates sweet sorghum in Plymouth, Wallace, and Clayton, NC to assess the feasibility of using this crop to fuel the transportation systems of the state.
2010-0180
CAREER: Fate and Transport of Aerosols from Animal Feeding Operations
Lingjuan Wang
National Science Foundation
$403,172
02/01/10 - 01/31/15
Animal feeding operations (AFOs), while a vital link in America"s food supply, pose a major risk to the environment. There is a critical need to study the fate and transport of hazardous aerosol emissions from AFO facilities. This will provide a basis for further study of health effects and risk assessment associated with AFO aerosols. The dynamics of animal housing/biological systems make the characteristics of aerosols emitted from AFOs different from other industrial pollutants. Although the science community has a fundamental understanding of aerosol formation, fate and transport, significant knowledge and technology gaps still exist regarding fate and transport of AFO aerosols/bioaerosols. The objectives of the proposed work are to (1) quantify the impact of particle size distribution (PSD) on the federal reference method (FRM) PM10 sampler"s measurements such that it will lead to improvements of the FRM PM sampler measurements for broader applications; (2) characterize the spatial and temporal variations in the physical, chemical, and biological properties of aerosols emitted from AFO facilities such that it will result in improved understanding of the mechanism of generation, fate and transport of those aerosols; and (3) develop an interactive simulation model to predict the fate and transport of bioaerosols emitted from AFO facilities. The proposed work involves theoretical and field experimental studies on FRM PM measurement technique and on the fate and transport of AFO aerosols/bioaerosols. The field study will be conducted on two commercial AFO farms. The proposed work will yield (1) theoretical/empirical models to correct measurement errors of FRM PM samplers caused by interaction of PSD and performance characteristics of the sampler; (2) valuable knowledge on the fate and transport of AFO aerosols and bioaerosols; and (3) Bio-Aerosol Responding/Notifying System (BARNS).
2007-2068
Characterizations of Particulate Matter Emitted from Egg Production Facilities: Sources versus Public Exposure
Lingjuan Wang, David B. Beasley
US Dept. of Agriculture (USDA)
$399,080
01/01/08 - 12/31/11
While health effects of PM emitted from AFOs are of increasing interest, PM exposure estimates for most epidemiology studies and risk assessments are currently based upon EPA ambient air quality measurements, of which over 90 percent are taken in urban areas. Lack of information about the linkage of AFO PM emissions and possible public exposure had caused some bias or inaccuracies in studies of health effects or risk assessment associated with AFO PM, which ultimately misled public concept towards AFO industry. The ultimate goal of this proposed project is to establish basic understanding of the relationships between mass and characteristics of particulate matter (PM) including both PM2.5 and PM10-2.5 at the emission sources and at the property lines of egg production facilities. This understanding will link PM emissions from animal feeding operations (AFOs) to possible public exposure for further study of health effects and risk assessment associated with AFO PM. The project will focus on accomplishing the following specific objectives: (1) Investigating daily, day of the week and seasonal variations of PM2.5 and PM10-2.5 mass concentration at the emission barns and at upwind and downwind property lines. (2) Investigating physical, chemical and biological characteristics of PM2.5 and PM10-2.5 at the emission barns and at upwind and downwind property lines under different meteorological conditions. (3) Investigating differences of PM2.5 and PM10-2.5 mass concentrations, physical properties and chemical compositions between sampling locations at emission barns and along surrounding property lines to discover factors that cause the differences. Upon completion of this project, the following questions will be answered: (1) How do PM2.5 and PM10-2.5 concentrations, physical properties and chemical compositions vary daily, weekly and seasonally on local scale (at the emission sources and at the property lines)" (2) How do PM2.5 and PM10-2.5 mass concentration, physical properties and composition at the property lines respond to the air emissions (mainly PM and gases) from AFOs barns under different meteorological conditions"
2009-2444
Coordinated Analysis to Facilitate Technology Transfer to Meet Emission Requirements for Next Generation Livestock and Poultry Production Facilities
Charles M. Williams, Lingjuan Wang, Sanjay B. Shah, John M. Rice, Edgar O. Oviedo
US Dept. of Agriculture (USDA)
$325,368
07/01/09 - 06/30/11
This project represents continued coordinated planned series to address issues associated with affordable technology development and demonstration to address emissions from swine and poultry production farms. Three major initiatives are contained in this project. The first will provide direct information concerning the feasibility and performance of remediation technologies for reducing emissions of gases, particulates and odor from swine and poultry houses. The second major initiative involves completing the construction and implementation of a unique set of environmental chambers for conducting leading edge research, on a pilot scale, involving emissions from primarily poultry facilities. The third initiative provide support for the continued operation of the Waste Processing Facility and its collaboration with the just-completed R&D Facility in matters related to air quality and improved animal waste management. The combination of a comprehensive systems approach to evaluation of new solutions for air quality concerns, along with specific studies of the causative mechanisms behind emissions from animal feeding operations (AFOs) which will lead to improved models of those systems, should provide the scientific community and the animal industry with new knowledge for improving production practices and reducing emissions of gases, particulates, and odors. Specific objectives to be accomplished follow: Evaluate remediation technologies for reducing emissions of gases, particulates, and odor from swine and poultry houses; Complete a pilot-scale environmental chamber system for collecting process-level data on gas, particulate, and odor production from poultry AFOs in order to improve air quality models and management systems for those facilities; and Provide support for the continued operation of the Waste Processing Facility at NC State University and link its capabilities with those of the new Air Quality/Waste Management R&D facility.
2008-1929
Environmentally Sustainable Swine and Poultry Production Systems for the Future
Kelly D. Zering, Eric VanHeugten, Sarah K. Liehr, Lingjuan Wang, Otto Simmons, Leonard S. Bull
US Dept. of Agriculture (USDA)
$347,246
07/01/08 - 06/30/11
This USDA CSREES special research grant to study Swine and Other Waste Management is administered through the NCSU Animal and Poultry Waste Management Center. The work is intended to improve the environmental, economic, public health, and production performance of swine and poultry production systems in North Carolina. The three specific objectives of this grant are to produce a knowledge base of the technologies available to improve emissions as well as economic and production performance of swine and poultry production systems, to conduct a microbiological study of the source, fate and transport of pathogens and indicators associated with animal production, and to conduct an aerosol dispersion modeling study to better predict the dispersion of aerosols from poultry and swine production facilities. Requested funds will be used to support faculty and graduate student time on the project, to provide small equipment, materials and supplies, and to cover travel, publication, and web development services costs of the project.
2010-1402
Systems Approach to Reduce Ammonia and Particulate Emissions from Poultry Production Facilities
Charles M. Williams, John T. Brake, Charles R. Stark, Matthew Koci, Lingjuan Wang
US Dept. of Agriculture (USDA)
$324,803
07/01/10 - 06/30/12
The primary objective of this research project is to leverage, expand, and commercially apply knowledge derived from previous, ongoing, and presently sponsored air quality initiatives targeting ammonia and particulate emission reduction from livestock and poultry production facilities. These studies will employ a complete integrated systems approach to partition all aspects of nitrogen contribution to ammonia emissions including nutritional aspects (feed formulation and physical attributes), digestive physiology of the animal, gastrointestinal and broiler litter microbiology, production practices including manure and litter waste management, production building design, and emitted air treatment technologies that are affordable. The results of these studies are expected to be novel integrated applications that significantly mitigate ammonia and particulate emissions that are currently impacting the long term sustainability of poultry production in the state and nation. This research will involve an investigation of the effects of various blends of large and small particle sizes of corn used in the manufacture of broiler feeds on feed intake, growth, feed conversion, livability, and gastrointestinal tract function and microbiology. This will be coordinated with an investigation of the interaction of various types of litter and flooring with the digestion and utilization of feed that possesses different physical attributes. This coordinated work will provide a means to develop an optimized physical attribute strategy for the production of broiler feed that will result in lower feed production costs while contributing to reduced ammonia and particulate emissions from broiler facilities. Finally, this work will provide operational support for the continued operation of the Waste Processing and Air Quality/Waste Management R&D Facilities at NC State University. The expected outcomes will include lower broiler feed production and litter costs, more efficient and healthy broiler growth and feed conversion, improved broiler gastrointestinal tract function and health that will lead to reduced emissions of ammonia and fine particle particulates (PM-fine) as well as potential greenhouse gases and odors from broiler facilities that will be readily adapted by the commercial broiler industry on a cost-neutral basis.
2009-1221
Evaluation of Management Practices to Reduce Nitrogen Losses from Subsurface Drained Lands Receiving Liquid Animal Waste
Mohamed Youssef, George M. Chescheir, Richard W. Skaggs, Chad Poole
NC Division of Water Quality (DENR)
$152,000
01/01/10 - 12/31/12
The original proposal was developed to evaluate and demonstrate the effectiveness of controlled drainage and bioreactor systems in reducing the export of nitrogen from subsurface drained fields irrigated with animal waste. The original experimental design included two treatments replicated twice in addition to the control. The funding agency requested the inclusion of an additional treatment to study the combined effects of both controlled drainage and bio-reactors on the reduction of nitrogen export from these spray fields to receiving surface waters. The requested additional funds will be used to include the additional treatment to the project.
2007-0580
Nitrogen Fate and Transport Model Development and Application
Mohamed Youssef, Richard W. Skaggs
US Dept. of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service
$45,000
09/08/06 - 12/31/10
A forestry version of DRAINMOD-NII model has been developed to predict water, carbon and nitrogen dynamics in drained forested lands. The model links a forest growth module to the DRAINMOD hydrology model and the DRAINMOD-NII carbon and nitrogen model. The three components inherently interact with each other to make the forestry version of DRAINMOD-NII a comprehensive forest ecosystem model. The goal of this short term project is to test the newly developed forestry version of DRAINMOD-N II model for a natural forested watershed in South Carolina. The hydrologic model DRAINMOD has been previously tested and applied to this watershed. We will focus on simulating carbon and nitrogen dynamics in the system.
| NCSU Main | Bio&Ag Main | Contact Bio&Ag | Locate Weaver Labs Updated: 04/04/2011 Policy Disclaimer | Privacy Statement |
 |
 |