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Exploring a pumped bioreactor system for improved water quality

Recent innovations that may extend bioreactor applications will be discussed during a virtual field day with Iowa Learning Farms and the Iowa Nutrient Research Center and the Conservation Learning Group, Thursday, Oct. 20 at 1 p.m.

The event will feature a live conversation with Iowa State University Ph.D. candidate Lindsey Hartfiel; Michelle Soupir, professor and associate chair for research, department of agricultural and biosystems engineering, Iowa State University; and Natasha Hoover, water quality research scientist at Iowa State University.

Iowa Learning Farms is a part of Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.

In recent years, bioreactors have shown themselves to be efficient and dynamic tools for improving water quality through denitrification. Now, a new innovation suggests an additional use for these bioreactors, even when water isn’t flowing from the field tile drainage. This new design is a pumped bioreactor system with a pilot project installed just outside Ames.

Pumping water through a bioreactor allows it to be used beyond the seasonal patterns of subsurface drainage, extend its use to new applications and very possibly extend the life of the bioreactor itself. This virtual field day will explore the results of the design and discuss future plans for the project.

Participants in Iowa Learning Farms virtual field days are encouraged to ask questions of the presenters. People from all backgrounds and areas of interest are encouraged to join.

Webinar access instructions

To participate in the live webinar, shortly before 1 p.m. CDT Oct. 20:

• To access online, click this URL, or type this web address into your internet browser: https://iastate.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJUpduihpj8iE9ZHcjpsenc2DWQILG41wg0D, or visit https://www.iowalearningfarms.org for the registration link.

• To join from a dial-in phone line, dial +1 312 626 6799; meeting ID 914 1198 4892.

The field day will be recorded and archived on the ILF website so that it can be watched at any time.

Participants will be eligible for a Certified Crop Adviser board-approved continuing education unit. Information about how to apply to receive the CEU will be provided at the end of the live field day.