Assessment of Wood Chips and Agricultural Residues as Denitrifying Bioreactor Feedstocks for Use in the Canadian Prairies

Highlights Performance of denitrifying bioreactors in Alberta was evaluated. Barley straw more effective reducing nitrate compared to wood chips. Hydraulic retention time, feedstock, and season are the primary factors affecting removal. Abstract. This study evaluated performance pilot-scale (LWD: 6 × 0.6 1m) filled with different carbon substrates, including barley straw, hemp woodchips, for removing dissolved nitrogen from simulated subsurface drainage at two representative geographic locations Alberta. In this study, were tested under varying hydraulic times (4, 8, 12 h) spring, summer, fall one year. Tracer studies conducted evaluate flow dispersion characteristics. The mean removal efficiency ranged 19% 87% during 44% 95% 21% 68% fall. We found that (45% 95%) chips (19% 54%). is first testing effect biomass types residence on bioreactor Canadian prairies (Alberta) will allow agricultural producers regulators assess suitability these systems within region. Keywords: Bioreactor, Denitrification, Water quality, Wood chips, Agricultural residues, Subsurface Drainage.