The project aims at surveying animal husbandry in Yunlin County. The content of survey includes the distribution of animal husbandry, the percentage of pollution contributed, the relative locations of key survey stations, and so on. The survey objects are focused on the animal husbandry business which owners have registration certificates for breeding livestock or poultry, and the survey areas are mainly at Beigang, Xinhuwei, Zhuoshui River basin, and Dayilun, Bajiaoting, Shicuoliao, Youcailiao, Magongcuo, as well as Niutiaowan Drain. The survey areas also include Tuku, Meilin and Haifeng Bridge.
Based on the distribution of animal husbandry and pollution load condition, the project comes up with a suggestion list of 133 livestock farms which could be counseled for using biogas fermentation residue as fertilizer. Project developers visit those livestock farms to check whether the facilities are qualified, to understand current conditions of waste water treatment facilities in farms, days of anaerobic fermentation, conditions of biogas collection and utilization, farm lands which can be used for biogas fermentation residue irrigation, and also to introduce farmers the application procedures for biogas fermentation residue as fertilizer, as well as related water pollution regulation.
In order to raise farmers’ interest in using biogas fermentation residue as fertilizer, project developers have printed 1,500 guidance brochures and hand them out during on-site counseling and promotional meetings. The project developers also made more than two films for using biogas fermentation residue as fertilizer for animal husbandry in order to enhance the effectiveness of the promotion. There were already 6 promotional meetings held by November 30, 539 participants joining, and 67 willingness questionnaires collected. There were 34 farmers who already have anaerobic pools and biogas bags on their farms showing interest in applying for the project. Among them, there were 12 applications assisted, and 1 was used for the case of the Council of Agriculture, Executive Yuan. After more in-depth on-the-spot counseling and understanding, there are 18 operators considered the cost of repairing equipment, supporting farmlands, pipelines, and so on. The process of subsequent irrigation operations has turned to no intention or wait-and-see attitude. There is one field been leased to other people, one is a comprehensive operation of animal husbandry and animal husbandry, and one field required farmland matching. In addition, the usage of the biogas fermentation residue farmland fertilizers was observed on August 14. The number of participants on the day reached 71 (excluding the Environmental Protection Bureau members and staff). During the observation meeting, the livestock farmers learned how to transport by pipeline. The tanker transports the farmland and how to build the biogas power generation equipment. Meanwhile, it can communicate with the visitors through the field to reduce the doubts of the livestock farmers.
Meanwhile, in order to know the farmers' willingness to participate in the application, the questionnaire survey was conducted. The scope of the survey included 17 townships, with a total of 553 valid samples. The respondents were mostly 60-69 years old. For farmers who had been working for more than 10 years, 84.4% of them did not know the policy of using biogas fermentation residue as fertilizer. However, more than 50% of the respondents showed their support after the explanation, indicating that the farmers were highly accepted. It is also suggested that more publicity activities such as "model sharing" and "handling briefings and speeches" can be held to enhance visibility, strengthen "farmers' demonstration and correct guidance" or "send staffs to guide correct irrigation methods" to increase willingness of participation.
In the tracking of the effectiveness of livestock farms that have been approved for application of biogas fermentation residue, 41 groundwater monitoring periods have been completed for high and low water level periods. The monitoring results are compared with the background values proposed in 2017, in order to understand whether the irrigation operation will affect the groundwater and irrigation soil adjacent to the agricultural land. The project team tracked the irrigation condition every three months, and assisted 41 farmers to submit the evaluation report. In addition, the project team has assisted 11 approved livestock farms with the application for change.
In assisting the application of biogas fermentation residue as fertilizer, 43 farms have been tested for biogas fermentation residue, soil and groundwater by November 30. It is estimated that the 133 times instrument analysis (including retesting) before the soil testing of the farmland with the biogas fermentation residue are completed, and the application and submissions have been done. There are 41 applications have been approved, and 2 reports keep modifying according to the opinions from committee members (approved by January 4, 2019). The total number of applicants who have applied and obtained for the approval from 2016 to 2018 is 113. The total number of farms located in the upstream of three key stations is 48, the area of farmland for irrigation is 137.530830 hectares, and the amount of irrigation is 129,080.51 (metric tons/year). The total reduction of BOD is approximately 1,971.4 (kg/day), the reduction of SS is 3,535.6 (kg/day), and the reduction of NH3-N is 136.15 (kg/day), among which the key measurement of Xinhuweixi Station-Haifeng Bridge has the largest reduction. As for the second aspect economic benefit, it can save about 2,375,100 water pollution fees in one year. From 2016 to 2018, the total amount of BOD reduction in irrigation is equivalent to 17.6 times of the average BOD reduction in the Douliu Water Recycling Center in the past five years. The third aspect in the use of chemical fertilizers can save 18,852 bags of No. 5 Fertilizer, equivalent to 6,221,160 NT dollars expenses.
According to 2017 annual statistical report of the Council of Agriculture, Executive Yuan, the planting area of Yunlin County is about 121,742.05 hectares. The current cultivated land area is sufficient to accommodate the biogas fermentation residue produced by pigs and cattle every day, however, promotion is required in order to establish farmers' confidence and willingness. In addition, results of the study showed that there is no impact on groundwater quality and soil after application of biogas fermentation residue or livestock wastewater.
The most common problems in the implementation of the project include insufficient anaerobic days, no biogas bags and no irrigation land can be used for match. Besides, it is unclear how to carry out the irrigation of biogas fermentation residue, and there is no irrigation vehicle to use, or not able to match the carrying time of the livestock farm. The problem solving-method can be determined by the competent agricultural authority according to individual plans, and the number of days for anaerobic fermentation is also approved. It can be applied as a biogas reheating lamp for boilers, hot water for boilers, and so on, and can be applied to the red mud biogas bag subsidy of the Council of Agriculture, Executive Yuan. If there is no farmland, the farmers can be the main target of the promotional meeting. By contacting the fruit and vegetable production cooperatives, production and marketing teams or farmers' associations in each township, it can help farmers and make them understand the current government policies, and thus willing to engage with animal husbandry. By film-making, brochure-making, and cooperating with experienced farmers, the county government may help farmers know how to apply irrigation. If there is no irrigation vehicle for carrying, or it is unable to match the carrying time of the livestock farm, the person in charge of the animal farm, the industrial group and the township office can help apply for the biogas fermentation residue purchased from Yunlin County Government. The subsidy for the vehicles and biogas fermentation residue farm storage tanks may increase convenience for implementation and enhance willingness.
