Bioreactor

A woodchip bioreactor removes nitrates from tile drainage. The woodchips act as a carbon source for denitrifying bacteria, and as they become saturated, low oxygen conditions promote denitrification.

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Woodchip Bioreactors: A Science-based Option to Reduce Nitrate Loss

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This fact sheet answers some of the most common questions about woodchip bioreactors using a recent survey of all published bioreactor research.

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NRCS Bioreactor Video

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In the summer of 2017, the Peoria County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD), the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and Illinois Farm Bureau teamed up with a forward-thinking landowner to plan, design, and install a relatively new conservation drainage practice so that folks could see what the denitrifying bioreactor looks like and how it’s built. Check out this video and see if it’s something that would fit on your land!

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