Woodchip-based treatment systems are increasingly used to manage nitrate in agricultural drainage, especially where subsurface tile drains collect water and deliver it to ditches, streams or wetlands. These systems use a contained bed of woodchips as a carbon source and habitat for microorganisms. They are often called woodchip bioreactors. Fungi may naturally colonise the wood … Read more
Mycofiltration is an emerging approach to managing contaminated water with the help of fungi growing through an organic filter medium. In an agricultural setting, that medium may include woodchips, bark or other woody materials colonised by fungal mycelium. The resulting bed can intercept runoff before it reaches a ditch, drain, wetland or stream. It is … Read more
When nitrogen and phosphorus leave a farm, the loss affects both farm performance and downstream water quality. Nutrients that were purchased, produced in manure or stored in soil are no longer available to the crop when they move beyond the root zone. They may also contribute to algal growth, oxygen depletion and other water-quality problems … Read more