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JNS SUPER Z® FOR AGRICULTURE JNS SUPER Z® Zeolite is non-hazardous, non-corrosive, non-toxic, and 100% natural. 
AGRICULTURE
COMPOSTING:
Basic Principles of JNS SUPER Z® Zeolite in Composting Operations.
JNS SUPER Z® Zeolite has two methods of holding cations such as ammonium and plant nutrients. The first method is by absorption in its porous matrix. The second method is by cation exchange (CEC) - zeolite holds ammonium and other plant nutrients in the crystal structure where they are not water-soluble but are plant-accessible on an as-needed time-release basis. Zeolite Adds Value to Manure and Compost:
JNS SUPER Z® Zeolite has a high affinity for the ammonium ion. This is a plant usable form of nitrogen. One of only three forms of nitrogen that is plant accessible (ammonia/ammonium, nitrates and nitrites). The introduction of zeolite with the manure, compost, or lagoon water to the soil has the added benefit of increasing water retention, holding the nitrogen and other micro-nutrients in the growth zone, providing a medium for the future capture of nitrogen, increasing the ion exchange capacity of the soil, and enhancing infiltration and aeration of the soil. NASA has been experimenting with zeolites as an efficient means of holding water and plant nutrients in a growing media for deep space flights.
How does Using JNS SUPER Z® Zeolites Benefit my Soil?
Using zeolite will cut fertilizer and water costs by holding the nutrients and water in the root zone until the plant is ready to utilize them. Thereby requiring less fertilizer and water to be applied. This promotes good stewardship of the land by reducing pollution brought on by fertilizers leaching to the groundwater or running off into surface water sources. Zeolites, when used properly, can yield some impressive results in regards to faster germination times, faster growth rates, larger plants, crop yields and reduced fertilizer and water applications.
Reduces water requirements during irrigation as JNS SUPER Z® Zeolite holds moisture in the growth zone.
JNS SUPER Z® Zeolite has a high CEC that enables a greater loading of plant nutrients such as nitrogen & micronutrients. The nutrients are held in the growth zone and are plant accessible but not water-soluble.
Reduces nitrogen fertilizer requirements as a large portion of nitrogen fertilizers leach through the growth zone and into the aquifer. JNS SUPER Z® Zeolite will hold nitrogen and prevent the pollution of the water table by nitrates and nitrites.
JNS SUPER Z® Zeolite prevents compaction, increases infiltration, and helps the aeration of deep root systems due to its high surface area and porosity.
JNS SUPER Z® Zeolite is 100% natural for organic operations and when composted with manure, it becomes a natural fertilizing system. JNS SUPER Z® Zeolite Use in Compost or Dry Stacked Manure:
The compost or dry stacked manure should be top-dressed with a thin layer of JNS SUPER Z® Zeolite after it is turned or after the addition of a new layer of manure. Alternatively, a layer of JNS SUPER Z® Zeolite should be placed in the area of the barn receiving the fresh manure. Composting is an important process that (1) converts organically bound nitrogen that is not plant accessible to ammonium hydroxide, ammonium nitrate, and ammonia that are all plant accessible, (2) kills the pathogens, (3) reduces or eliminates the odor, (4) dries the manure, (5) reduces the flies, and (6) kills weed seeds. Composting should be conducted in-vessel to prevent groundwater and air pollution. Wash down operations are no longer environmentally acceptable due to groundwater pollution of nitrates, nitrites, and hydrogen sulfide.
The following two articles outline a project involving
JNS SUPER Z® Zeolite for the compost industry:
Part 1 – JNS SUPER Z® Zeolite Retaining Nutrients in Compost.
Part 2 – JNS SUPER Z® Zeolite Reducing Manure Odors.
This project involves Zeolite and is managed by a leading agriculture college in Alberta, Canada. The project is funded by a Canadian Federal grant as part of its mandate to provide value added agriculture in the years to come.
PART 1 – Incorporating Zeolite in Manure Compost Retains Nutrients & Reduces Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Project Applicant - Dr. Abimbola Abiola, Olds College School of Innovation
The Challenge - To show through an on-farm demonstration project that the incorporation of zeolite into livestock manure during composting reduces the production of nitrous oxide and methane, while retaining valuable nutrients.
Funding Allocation - The Greenhouse Gas Mitigation Program (GHGMP) for Canadian Agriculture has allocated $2.1 million for beef sector projects over three years ending March 31, 2006. The GHGMP has contributed $87,500 toward this project.
With manure composting growing into an economical and practical method for managing cattle manure, improving the process by retaining more of the valuable nutrients, and reducing odor and greenhouse gas emissions are also becoming important considerations for cattle producers.
The Olds College School of Innovation will demonstrate how to achieve all these objectives when composting beef cattle manure by incorporating Zeolite into the compost windrow. The goal is to produce a high-quality compost that can be used as a bio-based soil amendment. Along with nutrient value, compost also can help improve soil quality characteristics. “Preliminary results of earlier research suggest that when Zeolite is ingested by cattle through feed, it may reduce methane production in the rumen,” explains Abiola. “With this project, we intend to show we can achieve a similar reduction in greenhouse gases by adding the compounds to feedlot manure in the composting process. By retaining more of the nitrogen in the compost, less is released as nitrous oxide, a greenhouse gas.
Naturally occurring zeolites are commonly used in a number of industrial applications. Zeolites can filter, remove odor and absorb gas, are now used in water softeners.
Zeolite is part of a larger group of compounds known as aluminum silicates and silicates are derived from silicon. “If you think of carbon as being the backbone of life, then silicon is the backbone of soil,” says Abiola. “The key characteristic of zeolites are their ability to perform filtering, odor removal and gas absorption tasks.”
Methane and nitrous oxide are two of the greenhouse gases produced during the composting process. Both gases are more potent than carbon dioxide. Aluminum silicates can sequester reactive ions such as nitrates, sulfates and hydrogen ions, which may reduce methane and nitrous oxide production during the composting process. It has been estimated that the use of aluminum silicates may reduce methane and nitrous oxide emissions by 20 percent.
Assisting Abiola on the project is Tanya McDonald, a research technician at the Olds College School of Innovation. McDonald says despite the tough year agricultural producers have experienced, there is still the need to examine manure management options.
“As agriculture moves towards larger farm sizes and increased animal numbers, there is a greater need for effective methods of dealing with manure,” she says. “Composting is one management strategy that results in improved nutrient retention, reduced odor and pathogen content, and reduced volume of manure to be handled.”
Turning manure into rich compost
The first year of the project is intended to produce a nutrient-rich compost suitable for use as a bio-based soil amendment, using a process that reduces production of greenhouse gases such as methane. “Properly composted material should not produce methane gas,” says Abiola. “Methane is only produced under an anaerobic environment (without oxygen), while proper compost is made in an aerobic environment (with oxygen).”
The Olds College demonstration site involves a 10,000 m 2 clay-based pad for the compost windrows. Manure and bedding material from the college feedlot will form four composting windrows. The windrows will be approximately two meters tall, four meters wide and 50 meters long.
The Zeolite will be added to the windrows. Three windrows will contain Zeolite in various percentages, with the fourth windrow being the control.
“Zeolite has proven benefits in many industries,” says McDonald. “Zeolite is used in everything from plant growth media, health applications, feed additives, wastewater filtration and composting. It has an excellent ability to bind ions.” It is also widely used in horticultural, construction and industrial applications. It can improve aeration and moisture retention, which makes it a useful product to include in the demonstration.
A Scarab compost windrow turner will work the product into the manure. Windrows will be monitored to ensure that temperatures reach 55 C, needed for the destruction of pathogens and weed seeds, and the windrows will be turned five times within the first fifteen days.
Gas monitoring will be done on the first day of the project, and then again on days 10 and 30. Gas samples are collected using a flux chamber situated on the top of the compost pile. These samples are analyzed for carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide concentrations. These measurements will be related to the various amounts of zeolite added.
“Our objective is to not only show how the zeolite works in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, but also to determine the economics,” says Abiola. “We need to determine the economic ratio of aluminum silicates for the amount of manure being composted and the benefits achieved.”
Once the active phase of composting is complete, the compost will be left to cure. Samples will be analyzed for nutrient content prior to field application of the product as a bio-based soil amendment.
Using the product:
In the second year of the project, team leaders will use the manure compost as a bio-based soil amendment for field crops and compare the results with synthetic fertilizer. The compost will be divided into four equal parts. Half the compost will be broadcast applied to the pasture, with split applications of the material in the fall and spring. This application will not be incorporated. The other half of the compost will be used on barley silage with the same split application timing, but the compost will be incorporated.
Project leaders expect a comparison between compost and commercial fertilizer applications will showcase the performance of compost against synthetic fertilizer in field crop applications.
“JNS SUPER Z® Zeolite is an excellent product for enhancing plant growth,” says McDonald. It provides aeration and improved moisture retention. Zeolite acts as a slow release fertilizer, releasing nutrients as they are required by the crop. It should perform very well in the field.”
The Benefits:
Adding JNS SUPER Z® Zeolite to the composting manure is an effective way to manage manure, says Abiola. Essential nutrients are retained while greenhouse gases naturally produced during the composting process are minimized. Odor from the manure is also greatly reduced.
Producers will be able to see first hand the economic benefits of adopting such a process for their operations. Confined feedlot operators will be able to maximize the value of manure as a bio-based soil amendment on their own land. There’s also potential to market composted manure as a commercial product.
“Composting beef manure provides a cost effective solution to many manure management issues, such as volume and odor reduction,” says Abiola. He adds that there may be an opportunity for producers to trade carbon credits if that market develops.
Abiola notes the success of these two projects will have national implications. If shown to be both practical and economical, livestock producers across Canada would be able to implement the system. The GHGMP supports a broad range of projects across Canada.
PART 2 – Aluminum Silicate JNS SUPER Z® Zeolite Reduces Manure Odor & Cuts Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Olds, Alta., September 15, 2004
The Olds College School of Innovation will demonstrate that adding an aluminum-based mineral to composting beef manure will help reduce odor and greenhouse gas emissions, while retaining valuable nutrients, providing moisture and aeration.
The aluminum silicate product is a volcanic mineral called Zeolite.This naturally occurring mineral is also commonly used in a number of industrial applications.
"Preliminary results of earlier research suggest that when this mineral is ingested by cattle through feed, it reduces methane production in the rumen," explains Dr. Abimbola Abiola, project leader. "With this project, we intend to show we can achieve a similar reduction in greenhouse gases by adding the compounds to feedlot manure in the composting process."
The process will produce a high quality compost, to be used as a bio-based soil amendment. Along with nutrient value, compost also helps improve other soil quality characteristics.
The demonstration project is being funded in part by the Greenhouse Gas Mitigation Program for Canadian Agriculture (GHGMP). The federal program is designed to promote awareness of agricultural practices that reduce atmospheric levels of greenhouse gas or increase carbon storage in soils. The Canadian Cattlemen's Association (CCA) administers the delivery of the beef sector component of the program.
The project site is located at the Olds College Composting Technology Centre. In the first year of the project, four windrows were assembled using manure from the Olds College feedlot, says Abiola. One windrow, without any treatments, will be used as the control, while the other three windrows include a combination of manure and zeolite in various percentages.
The windrows will be turned at specific times to ensure effective aerobic composting. Gas emissions will also be monitored to measure methane, carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide production. Gas measurements will be related to the amounts of JNS SUPER Z® Zeolite added to the compost.
"Our research is not only to show how the silicates work in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, but also to determine the economics," says Abiola. "We need to determine the economic ratio of JNS SUPER Z® Zeolite for the amount of manure being composted and the benefits being achieved."
Once the active composting process is complete, the compost will be left to cure. In the second year of the project, the treated and untreated composts will be applied to field crops and pastures and compared to commercial fertilizer.
Abiola says adding zeolite to the composting manure is an effective way to manage manure. Essential nutrients are retained, while greenhouse gases naturally produced during the composting process are minimized. The Olds College demonstration is intended to show the environmental and economic benefits of composting. He says feedlot operators will be able to expand their manure management options and use this valuable bio-based soil amendment on their land. There may also be opportunities to sell the composted manure as a commercial product.
"Composting beef manure could provide a cost effective, environmentally friendly solution to many manure management issues such as volume, odor and timing of application," says Abiola.
Greenhouse Gas Mitigation Program for Canadian Agriculture
Beef Sector Administered by the Canadian Cattlemen's Association
ANIMAL MANURE MANAGEMENT:
Odor Suppressant & Moisture Control for Livestock Operations Natural JNS SUPER Z® zeolite provides a healthy and economical solution for odor and moisture control at barns, stables, pens and CFO (confined feedlot operations).
JNS SUPER Z® Zeolite is non-hazardous, non-corrosive, non-toxic, and 100% natural. It is simply mined from quarries and meshed to various sizes for various applications. JNS SUPER Z® Zeolite treats manure in bedding lanes and provides pen management by:
• Reducing ammonia odors in the bedding lanes and pens,
• Controlling moisture content of the bedding lane & pens,
• Improving integrity/longevity of pens & bedding lanes,
• Reducing NH3 CO2 & other Greenhouse gases,
• Absorbing nitrogen & improving manure compost, and
• Improving air quality & reducing groundwater contamination.
These and other operational advantages lead to economic, health and aesthetic improvements over current operations that try to react with or mask odors. The JNS SUPER Z® Zeolite mineral is the simple, innovative and natural solution the agriculture industry has been looking for to vastly improve existing operations.
Controlling Ammonia Odors:
JNS SUPER Z® Zeolite will eliminate urine-generated ammonia odors from stables, feedlots, paddocks, pens, litter boxes, hog & poultry houses, barns, and transportation trailers. Capturing and holding ammonia (NH3) provides a safer and more comfortable environment for the animals, the operators and the neighboring community. The zeolite structure via CEC (cation exchange capacity) traps and holds ammonia and other animal odors without the need for chemical additives (i.e.: lime and deodorants). The trapped ammonia allows for a natural slow-release nitrogen fertilizer. The capture of ammonia prevents the loss of valuable nitrogen nutrients into the atmosphere which is common in present operations. Secondary benefits include the reduction of fly populations at the barn and manure pile. Currently, a study has concluded with a leading feedlot in Alberta, Canada with very positive results.
Ammonia, when inhaled can cause severe damage to the respiratory tract in both animals and operators. Even low concentrations of ammonia have proven to reduce or depress airway defense mechanisms. Atmospheric NH3 depresses the intrapulmonary phagocytosis and the bacteria from the airways and lungs. This results in a higher incidence and severity of pneumonia which is often encountered in young livestock. Studies have revealed that higher concentrations of NH3 over prolonged exposure periods result in decreased animal weight gain and conversion rates.
Controlling Moisture in Bedding Lanes:
Zeolite also absorbs moisture from livestock bedding. JNS SUPER Z® Zeolite, when added to bedding lanes is proven to ensure bedding lane longevity. Up to 40% savings in operations is experienced in large feedlots by the addition of JNS SUPER Z® Zeolite to bedding lanes due to reduced stall maintenance and change-outs. A JNS SUPER Z® Zeolite enhanced bedding lane provides many advantages, both economic and operational: reduces fly infestation, does not burn or crack animals hooves (as does lime) and prevents sinking. The granular form of JNS SUPER Z® Zeolite is non-dusting. It is important to keep the bedding dry especially for new-borne and animals confined due to illness. JNS SUPER Z® Zeolite will retain moisture and air in the soiled bedding. This accelerates manure composting. JNS SUPER Z® Zeolite will not break down under trampling therefore providing better traction for animals and personnel even when the material is wet. Tagging is also reduced since the moisture is controlled. It is important to note that zeolite is easy to spread over the bedding lane and is effective with the first application.
Poultry & Hog Operations:
 
Air scrubbers using media containing zeolite are used to improve hog and poultry-house environments by extracting NH3 without heat loss that accompanies ventilation during cold weather operations. JNS SUPER Z® Zeolite can either be applied directly to the droppings on a regular basis or used in the filter units suspended above. Considerable cost savings can be experienced by larger operations for odor control.
Oxygen and ammonia are the two most important parameters in aquaculture operations. While oxygen can be easily controlled ammonia on the other hand is much more difficult to mitigate and is highly detrimental to the health of fish. The natural generation of toxic levels of ammonia (NH3) and hydrogen sulphide (H2S) by large densities of fish in aquaculture operations affects fish tissue, growth rates, oxygen utilization, disease resistance and causes mass mortality.
JNS SUPER Z® Zeolite is currently used in commercial fish farms to reduce ammonium (NH4) and hydrogen sulphide levels resulting in increased growth rates and population densities. JNS SUPER Z® Zeolite is also used during fish transportation allowing the delivery of more fish over a longer period of time.
JNS SUPER Z® Zeolite has a high selectivity and capacity for ammonium via cation exchange capacity (CEC). Once the ammonium ion is within the JNS SUPER Z® zeolite lattice, it is not water-soluble. When used as an ion-exchange filter medium the JNS SUPER Z® Zeolite can reduce ammonium content of circulating freshwater from aquaculture systems by as much as 97%. Piper and Smith (1982) suggested that a water recycling system with a JNS SUPER Z® Zeolite filter system can allow up to a 10 fold increase in fish density. Zeolite also reduces ammonium content in discharge waters in order to meet environmental requirements.
JNS SUPER Z® Zeolite is 100% natural, durable and can also be simply regenerated using a brine solution (with a rinse) for repeat cycles of this ion exchange filter bed.
JNS SUPER Z® Zeolite can also be broadcast over the surface of a pond to be effective in reducing ammonium. The pond-bed sludge can be recovered and used as a nutrient enriched slow release fertilizer. Refer to the ‘Soil Conditioning’ menu item in the Agriculture Section. The addition of JNS SUPER Z® zeolite to ponds and tanks also controls the growth of algae.
The required JNS SUPER Z® Zeolite quantity for your operation depends on water pH, temperature, volume along with fish species and population density. When the optimum quantity of JNS SUPER Z® Zeolite is used, the ammonium level is reduced at a rate highly dependent upon the rate of water movement. A variety of systems have been designed for reduction of ammonia in fish rearing environments.
JNS SUPER Z® Zeolite also provides a substrate for bacterial populations in order to breakdown ammonium to nitrate (NH4 to NO3) and remains effective as a chemical filter capable of modifying fluctuations in the system's ammonium levels. This enhances the biological functions making ammonium available to bacteria at a stable level, thus enabling the bacteria to remain abundant during periods of low ammonium contamination. The bacterial population will therefore survive during dramatic changes in concentration.
There are three filtration processes to reduce ammonia in the water:
1. Mechanical: Filtration of unused food and fecal material. JNS SUPER Z® Zeolite is much more effective than sand and charcoal filters due to nominal rating of 3 to 5 microns (sand is typically 20 microns) thereby increasing loading while reducing the amount of backwashing.
2. Biological: The tremendous surface area and irregular surface of JNS SUPER Z ® Zeolite provides an idea media for aerobic bacteria. The bacteria mineralize the organic nitrogen compounds. The process can be aerobic (nitrification) or anaerobic (denitrification). Nitrification is most common and involves the oxidation of ammonia to nitrite to nitrate by autotrophic bacteria.
3. Chemical: Due to its large cation exchange capacity JNS SUPER Z® Zeolite is an excellent filter of ammonium and certain heavy metals.
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