Abstract: A sludge evaporation tunnel and associated method for producing a solid fertilizer product from a sludge. The sludge evaporation tunnel includes a floor surface for supporting a relatively thin layer of sludge from which water is to be evaporated, a cover over the floor for retaining heat and preventing dilution of the sludge layer by rainwater, one or more inlets for introducing sludge into the evaporation tunnel, means for moving and turning over the layer of sludge as water is progressively evaporated from the sludge, and an outlet through which the solid fertilizer product exits. The sludge evaporation tunnel may form part of a larger waste treatment system that includes a digester or anaerobic lagoon, which separates a waste animal slurry into sludge and a dilute waste slurry, and a dilute waste evaporation tunnel.

Abstract: A system and related method for concentrating a waste slurry produced from an animal confinement housing so as to significantly reduce the volume of waste requiring treatment. The system includes means for containing a volume of waste slurry produced and flushed from an animal confinement housing, means for removing a portion of the waste slurry to produce a removed portion of waste slurry, means for selectively evaporating at least some water from the removed portion of waste slurry so as to produce a concentrated waste slurry, and optionally, means for containing the concentrated waste slurry.

Abstract: An animal waste management system for handling a waste slurry that includes coarse solids flushed from an animal confinement housing. The system comprises a surge tank for stabilizing the flow of waste slurry through the waste management system, reducing means for reducing the particle size of the coarse solids contained within the waste slurry flushed from the animal confinement housing, recycling means for recycling a portion of the waste slurry through the waste management system at a recycle rate so as to increase the concentration of solids within the waste slurry flushed from the animal confinement housing, and conditioning means for conditioning at least the recycled portion of the waste slurry to maintain air quality in the animal confinement housing.

Abstract: A sludge harvester for removing a concentrated nutrient sludge from a sludge pond includes a frame, one or more wheels or skids attached to the frame, means for gently breaking up at least a portion of the sludge layer adjacent to a dilute layer, and means for capturing at least a portion of the broken up sludge layer. The organic sludge product recovered by the harvester has a higher nutrient concentration as compared to alternative methods because of minimized mixing of the sludge and dilute layers during collection of the organic sludge product. The organic sludge product captured by the harvester can be applied directly to agricultural land or used in the production of a certifiable organic or other fertilizer.