Australian Banana Growers Council: Denitrifying Bioreactors (Old ID 24751)

Department of the Environment and Energy
Role

Chief Investigator

Description

This project in conjunction with Australian Banana Growers Council seeks to establish the effectiveness of denitrification bioreactors as an on-farm technology to remove excess dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) leaving farms in the Wet Tropics bioregion. The Russell River catchment has been identified as a hotspot for DIN loading to the Great Barrier Reef lagoon, and this work represents a novel approach to curb DIN loading to natural systems. Denitrifying bioreactors route drainage water through a high carbon substrate under anaerobic conditions to encourage denitrification (the conversion of DIN to atmospheric N2). This project will involved detailed site monitoring, installation and scientific evaluation of a bioreactor wall in the headwaters of the Russell River catchment.

Date

01 Apr 2018 - 16 Apr 2019

Project Type

GRANT

Keywords

Banana;Water Quality;Nitrate;Runoff;Wet Tropics;Great Barrier Reef

Funding Body

Department of the Environment and Energy

Amount

30000

Project Team

Alex Cheesman