However, the high energy requirements of traditional aerobic treatment lagoons made aerobic treatment uneconomical for livestock manure. In the last few years, researchers, and swine producers have had a renewed interest in aerobic treatment of swine waste. Recent research has shown that the amount of aeration required to control odor is much less than required for significant treatment of the manure to reduce the biological oxygen demand. Many of these new technologies are still in the development phase, and additional on-farm research is needed. Anaerobic Lagoons Anaerobic microbes decompose manure in an oxygen free environment.
Anaerobic microbes dominate the microbial population in deep portions of an anaerobic lagoon.
In the two to three feet near the surface facultative microorganisms are often present. These microbes can thrive in either an aerobic or anaerobic environment. Anaerobic lagoons can be used to decompose more organic material per unit volume than aerobic lagoons and at a lower cost. For this reason, the majority of the livestock waste lagoons in the United States, and South Carolina are anaerobic. The other advantages, and the disadvantages of anaerobic lagoons are pointed out below.