Irrigation with Resource Recovery from Livestock Wastewater
Kaohsiung City actively promotes the reuse of livestock manure effluent for crop irrigation. After anaerobic treatment, livestock manure effluent is returned to farmland as irrigation water and fertilizer for crops. This approach reduces the use of chemical fertilizers, shifts away from traditional wastewater treatment methods, and treats livestock manure effluent as a resource. By adopting natural farming practices, it improves environmental water quality and fosters circular utilization between agriculture and animal husbandry, achieving sustainable resource recycling.
Achievements
Kaohsiung City's livestock manure effluent recycling program has achieved significant results. For instance, in Luzhu District, rice crops irrigated with digestate showed improvements in above-ground biomass, grain yield, and ripening rates. Soil nutrient levels (nitrogen and potassium) were also significantly enhanced. To date, 205 livestock farms in Kaohsiung have been approved for participation, with an annual irrigation volume of 320,000 metric tons covering an area of 241 hectares.
Future Outlook
Kaohsiung City will continue to facilitate collaboration between farmers and livestock farms to apply for cases involving the reuse of livestock manure effluent or the use of digestate and sludge as soil fertilizers. This year, the city will continue to assist livestock farms in applying for these programs, promoting the resource recycling of livestock manure effluent and realizing the concept of "turning black gold into yellow gold."
Collaboration Between Farmers and Livestock Farms
Farmers who need digestate transportation for their fields currently contact transport vehicles directly to collect digestate from livestock farms and deliver it to their fields for irrigation. This process does not require intermediary matching services. Additionally, due to animal disease prevention requirements and related regulations at livestock farms, farm visitation services are currently unavailable.
