K-State Research and Extension

The 4-H Ag Innovators Water Connects Us All Challenge explores:

   • Engineered conservation solutions including bioreactors, saturated buffers, bioswales and rain gardens.

   • STEM Career connections related to these engineered solutions.

What is Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering?

Ag and Biosystems engineers develop engineered solutions related to food production and the wise management of natural resources in the production, processing, storage, handling, and use of food, fiber and other biological products. Research efforts include agricultural water quality and management, engineering for economically and environmentally sound animal production systems, grain handling and food processing, agricultural machine design and automated controls, precision farming systems, agricultural safety, seed conditioning and processing, and soil tillage and management systems. Saturated buffers and bioreactors are engineered solutions that help the environment by improving water quality. What is a Bioreactor? According to Iowa State University researchers, “woodchip bioreactors are a new option to reduce the amount of nitrates in drainage before it flows into local surface waters. A woodchip bioreactor is made by routing drainage water through a buried trench filled with woodchips. Woodchip bioreactors also are known as denitrification bioreactors, a name that is slightly more descriptive of the actual process occurring inside the bioreactor. Denitrification is the conversion of nitrate(NO3 -) to nitrogen gas (dinitrogen, N2) that is carried out by bacteria living in soils all over the world and also in the bioreactor. These good bacteria, called denitrifiers, use the carbon in the woodchips as their food and use the nitrate as part of their respiration process. Because these bacteria also can breathe oxygen, providing anaerobic conditions through more constantly flowing tile water helps ensure that the bacteria utilizethe nitrate.”