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First-ever bioreactor recharge in Iowa

The first woodchip bioreactor installed in Iowa was recently recharged with new woodchips as part of the reconditioning process.

The bioreactor, located near Jefferson in Greene County, was installed nine years ago.

Chris Hay, an environmental scientist with the Iowa Soybean Association, says the bioreactor has done its job in reducing nitrate flow into surface water.

“The Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy says, on average, that bioreactors will reduce about 43 percent—load reduction in nitrogen—and that’s right in line with what we saw from this bioreactor,” Hay says. “Up to 60 percent at times and down to 20 percent, but in that 40 percent range, on average.”

Hay says bioreactors are a key component of trying to meet the state’s nutrient reduction strategy.

“Bioreactors and some of these other edge-of-field practices like it are some of the best performing practices that we’ve got—and some of the most cost-efficient practices that we’ve got—to deal with nitrogen losses from agricultural lands. And particularly ag lands that have sub-surface drainage.”

Hay says there are currently about 40 bioreactors in Iowa.

AUDIO: Chris Hay