Vegetative treatment system
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A Vegetative Treatment System (VTS) is a combination of treatment steps for managing
runoff Runoff, run-off or RUNOFF may refer to: * RUNOFF, the first computer text-formatting program * Runoff or run-off, another name for bleed, printing that lies beyond the edges to which a printed sheet is trimmed * Runoff or run-off, a stock market ...
. It treats runoff by settling, infiltrating, and nutrient usage. Individual components of a VTS include, a settling structure, an outlet structure, a distribution system, and a Vegetative Treatment Area (VTA). All these components when used together are considered to be a Vegetative Treatment System.


Introduction

A Vegetative Treatment System (VTS) is a new alternative treatment option for treating the runoff from an
animal feeding operation The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) defines an animal feeding operation (AFO) in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR, Federal Register, V. 68 No. 1, page 7265) as a lot or facility (other than an aquatic animal production fac ...
in an effort to protect water quality in
South Dakota South Dakota (; Sioux language, Sioux: , ) is a U.S. state in the West North Central states, North Central region of the United States. It is also part of the Great Plains. South Dakota is named after the Lakota people, Lakota and Dakota peo ...
(SD). A VTS consists of a
sediment basin A sediment basin is a temporary pond built on a construction site to capture eroded or disturbed soil that is washed off during rain storms, and protect the water quality of a nearby stream, river, lake, or bay. The sediment-laden soil settles i ...
to settle the solids from the feedlot, and uses controlled release of the liquids to a vegetated treatment area (VTA). The VTA area is commonly confused with vegetative buffer (or filter) strips. A
buffer strip A buffer strip is an area of land maintained in permanent vegetation that helps to control air quality index, air quality, soil quality, and water quality, along with other environmental problems, dealing primarily on land that is used in agricu ...
is a narrow strip of vegetation (usually 30–60 feet wide) between cropland or a water source, such as a
river A river is a natural flowing watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing towards an ocean, sea, lake or another river. In some cases, a river flows into the ground and becomes dry at the end of its course without reaching another body of wate ...
,
lake A lake is an area filled with water, localized in a basin, surrounded by land, and distinct from any river or other outlet that serves to feed or drain the lake. Lakes lie on land and are not part of the ocean, although, like the much large ...
, or
stream A stream is a continuous body of water, body of surface water Current (stream), flowing within the stream bed, bed and bank (geography), banks of a channel (geography), channel. Depending on its location or certain characteristics, a stream ...
. In contrast, a VTA is a specifically sized area of
perennial A perennial plant or simply perennial is a plant that lives more than two years. The term ('' per-'' + '' -ennial'', "through the years") is often used to differentiate a plant from shorter-lived annuals and biennials. The term is also wide ...
vegetation to which runoff from a
barnyard A barnyard or farmyard is an enclosed or open yard adjoining a barn,Oxford English Dictionary Second Edition on CD-ROM (v. 4.0) © Oxford University Press 2009. Barn. n. and, typically, related farm buildings, including a farmhouse. Enclosed b ...
or
feedlot A feedlot or feed yard is a type of animal feeding operation (AFO) which is used in intensive animal farming, notably beef cattle, but also swine, horses, sheep, turkeys, chickens or ducks, prior to slaughter. Large beef feedlots are called conc ...
is applied uniformly. The VTA utilizes the water holding capacity of the soil to store the runoff water until the nutrients and water can be used by the vegetation. Therefore, the application of the runoff to the VTA must be at a rate to prevent deep percolation below the root zone, and not allow the flow to extend past the end of the VTA. A VTS can be an economical alternative to runoff retention (holding) ponds for controlling runoff from an open lot feeding production system (
feedlot A feedlot or feed yard is a type of animal feeding operation (AFO) which is used in intensive animal farming, notably beef cattle, but also swine, horses, sheep, turkeys, chickens or ducks, prior to slaughter. Large beef feedlots are called conc ...
s). A Vegetative Treatment Area (VTA) is an area of perennial vegetation, such as a grass or a forage. The VTA is used to treat runoff from a feedlot or barnyard. It treats runoff by settling, infiltration, and nutrient use. Runoff passes through buffers with some “filtering” of pollutants, but no attempt is made to control solids or flow. A VTS, however, collects runoff from a barnyard or feedlot, separates the solids from the liquids, and uniformly distributes the liquid over the vegetated area. Little or no runoff should leave a VTA. Runoff is first collected from an open lot or barnyard area in a
sediment Sediment is a naturally occurring material that is broken down by processes of weathering and erosion, and is subsequently transported by the action of wind, water, or ice or by the force of gravity acting on the particles. For example, sand an ...
settling structure, usually a basin. Such basins are very effective for removing most solids. The runoff then flows into a VTA where the soil treats and stores the runoff. Once the runoff is in the soil, natural processes allow plants to use the nutrients. The general idea behind VTS technology is that the plants will take up the nutrients contained in the runoff and that natural processes will eliminate undesirable components such as pathogens. There are many different types of VTA’s such as level, infiltration basins, sloped, sprinkler, dual and multiple systems, etc. A Vegetative Treatment System can be used to manage runoff from open lots of both AFOs and
CAFO In animal husbandry, a concentrated animal feeding operation (CAFO), as defined by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), is an intensive animal feeding operation (AFO) in which over 1,000 animal units are confined for over 45 day ...
s. VTS systems for large
CAFO In animal husbandry, a concentrated animal feeding operation (CAFO), as defined by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), is an intensive animal feeding operation (AFO) in which over 1,000 animal units are confined for over 45 day ...
s can be permitted under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System ( NPDES) in the US.


Advantages

* May provide lower initial investment and operating costs * More aesthetically palatable than large ponds * No long-term storage of runoff required, such as holding or evaporation ponds * Fewer safety issues * Land designated for VTA can produce usable forage


Disadvantages

* A VTA may not be a “closed” system; * Saturated soils from previous rains could allow a discharge * Special management required during runoff events * The VTAs can be damaged by a lack of maintenance and attention - gullies, erosion, and poor vegetation stands dramatically reduce their effectiveness * Not currently permittable in SD by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources * The VTAs may not provide the same level of water quality improvement as a total runoff containment system, such as holding or evaporation ponds provide


References


Introduction to Vegetative Treatment Systems

Need a Vegetative Treatment System for Your Barnyard or Lot?
a Small Farms Fact Sheet from the Livestock and Poultry Environmental Learning Center


External links


Introduction to Vegetative Treatment Systems

VTS guidance document
from the Heartland Regional Water Coordination Initiative
Animal Feeding Operation Information
from the University of Nebraska - Lincoln {{DEFAULTSORT:Vegetative Treatment System Environmental soil science Hydrology