Abstract: Embodiments of a method for assessing potential nitrogen concentration of plant available nitrogen in soil comprises collecting soil samples, analyzing one or more of the soil samples to compute the amount of nitrate and the amount of ammonium, analyzing one or more of the soil samples to compute the amount of mineralizable nitrogen using a soil respiration method, obtaining a total plant available nitrogen value in the soil samples by summing the computed nitrate value, the computed ammonium value, and the computed mineralizable nitrogen value, and calculating a potential nitrogen assessment value by subtracting from the total plant available nitrogen value an amount of nitrogen applied at time of planting not represented within the soil sample and further subtracting an amount of nitrogen required to achieve the crop yield goal multiplied by the yield crop goal.

Abstract: Embodiments of a method for assessing potential nitrogen concentration of plant available nitrogen in soil comprises collecting soil samples, analyzing one or more of the soil samples to compute the amount of nitrate and the amount of ammonium, analyzing one or more of the soil samples to compute the amount of mineralizable nitrogen using a soil respiration method, obtaining a total plant available nitrogen value in the soil samples by summing the computed nitrate value, the computed ammonium value, and the computed mineralizable nitrogen value, and calculating a potential nitrogen assessment value by subtracting from the total plant available nitrogen value an amount of nitrogen applied at time of planting not represented within the soil sample and further subtracting an amount of nitrogen required to achieve the crop yield goal multiplied by the yield crop goal.

Abstract: Systems and methods configured to continuously separate manure and bedding comprise a vertical housing without screens, grates, or filters therein, a manure and bedding inlet port coupled to the side of the housing, and a water inlet port coupled to the side of the housing. The system further comprises at least one inlet flow controller. Upon separation of the bedding and manure, the housing comprises a manure outlet port disposed on its upper portion and configured to output a product stream comprising separated manure and water. The housing further comprises a bedding outlet port disposed on its lower portion and configured to output a product stream comprising separated bedding and water.

Abstract: A waste treatment system that removes as much of the inorganic and organic solids as possible prior to treating the collected waste material in treatment lagoons. First, inorganic solids, such as sand, are removed, if needed. Then coarse solids are removed, including manure and other organic material such as straw. After removal of inorganic and coarse solids, additional fine solids are removed through two settling basins. For example, after coarse solids separation and fine solids separation, the solids concentration has been reduced by over 80%. Preferably, the coarse solids separation and fine solids separation has reduced size requirements of the treatment lagoons to accommodate an organic loading, as total volatile solids, between 0.00253 lb/ft3 of lagoon volume/day×K and 0.0105 lb/ft3 of lagoon volume/day×K, where K varies from about 0.4 to about 1.2. Finally, the remaining liquid is treated in the treatment lagoons.

Abstract: Systems and methods configured to continuously separate manure and bedding comprise a vertical housing without screens, grates, or filters therein, a manure and bedding inlet port coupled to the side of the housing, and a water inlet port coupled to the side of the housing. The system further comprises at least one inlet flow controller. Upon separation of the bedding and manure, the housing comprises a manure outlet port disposed on its upper portion and configured to output a product stream comprising separated manure and water. The housing further comprises a bedding outlet port disposed on its lower portion and configured to output a product stream comprising separated bedding and water.

Abstract: A waste treatment system that removes as much of the inorganic and organic solids as possible prior to treating the collected waste material in treatment lagoons. First, inorganic solids, such as sand, are removed, if needed. Then coarse solids are removed, including manure and other organic material such as straw. After removal of inorganic and coarse solids, additional fine solids are removed through two settling basins. For example, after coarse solids separation and fine solids separation, the solids concentration has been reduced by over 80%. Preferably, the coarse solids separation and fine solids separation has reduced size requirements of the treatment lagoons to accommodate an organic loading, as total volatile solids, between 0.00253 lb/ft3 of lagoon volume/day×K and 0.0105 lb/ft3 of lagoon volume/day×K, where K varies from about 0.4 to about 1.2. Finally, the remaining liquid is treated in the treatment lagoons.

Abstract: An animal production building which has animal living quarters with a floor at least partially slatted with a manure deposition area beneath the slatted floor, a ventilation system which provides air motion through the animal quarters downwardly into the manure deposition area and through the manure deposited therein and outwardly of the building which processes the manure with bulking agents into a dry organic nutrient. A method of processing animal waste is also provided including the steps of providing animal quarters over a waste deposition area, depositing animal waste into the waste deposition area, removing the water from the waste, drying the waste, and mixing the waste with a bulking agent.