Kathryn L Farrell-Poe

Kathryn L Farrell-Poe

Department Head, Agricultural-Biosystems Engineering
Specialist, Agricultural-Biosystems Engineering
Primary Department
Department Affiliations
Contact
(520) 626-9120

Work Summary

Kathryn Farell-Poe's work focuses on developing extension environment education programs including: Composting: On-Farm, Backyard, and Municipal; Groundwater; Hazardous Chemicals in the Home - Use, Storage, and Disposal; Nonpoint Source Pollution; Recycling, Precycling; Safe Drinking Water; Onsite Wastewater/Septic Education

Research Interest

Dr. Farrell-Poe is the head of the Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering. Her work focuses on developing extension education programs in cooperation with county faculty and their clientele including county, state, and federal agency staff, local public officials, elementary and secondary teachers, farmers, and ranchers.

Publications

Kitamura, Y., Maekawa, T., Tagawa, A., Hayashi, H., & Farrell-Poe, K. (1996). Treatment of strong organic, nitrogenous wastewater by an anaerobic contact process incorporating ultrafiltration. Applied Engineering in Agriculture, 12(6), 709-714.

Abstract:

An anaerobic contact process incorporating an ultrafiltration (UF) unit was used to treat distillery wastewater characterized by high carbon and nitrogen concentrations and a low carbon to nitrogen (C/N) ratio. By diluting the influent to the fermentor with water (2.6 to 2.8 fold), the ammonia accumulation or inhibition caused by its low C/N ratio was avoided. The UF unit was employed to thicken the sludge without washing out the microbes in the process. The resulting treatment system produced a methane yield of up to 0.6 m3/kg-VS and removed up to 80% of the volatile acids. The process ultimately failed when the UF membrane irrevocably fouled and caused a decrease of microbes in the fermentor. The process can be effective for the treatment of high strength, low C/N wastewater with some modifications, especially for membrane flushing. The quantity of fresh water for dilution could be reduced by filtering the UF filtrate using a reverse osmosis unit. To increase the volatile acids (VA) consumption rate, a two-phase fermentation process incorporating an UF unit may be able to thicken the targeted microbes independently of the microbial kinetics. The UF filtrate contained too high a VA concentration to be released into a waterbody directly; thus, this system needs a secondary treatment system to be considered a total wastewater treatment system.

Farrell, K. L., Farrell, K. L., Nye, J. C., & Nye, J. C. (1984). CONCRETE ENCAPSULATION OF PESTICIDE CONTAMINATED SLUDGE.. Paper - American Society of Agricultural Engineers.

Abstract:

Research was conducted to determine the feasibility of encapsulating pesticide contaminated sludge in a concrete-activated carbon matrix. Samples were leached using EPA's regulatory method to simulate worst-case conditions. Alachlor, dinosib and trifluralin were the pesticides used in analysis. Resulting concrete matrix was analyzed for pesticide retention and strength.

Stetson, L. E., Stark, G. L., & Farrell-Poe, K. (1988). ELECTRIC DEMAND CHARACTERISTICS OF NEBRASKA FARMSTEADS.. Transactions of the American Society of Agricultural Engineers, 31(1), 247-256.

Abstract:

Electric demands on 35 farmsteads in a five-county area in central Nebraska were studied. Graphs of three seasonal peak days for both 1981 and 1982 for the coincidental, average demand of each group are presented and show unique daily demand patterns for each category. In addition, graphs of the maximum, average, and minimum demands are shown for each month of 1981 and 1982 which illustrate sesonal peak demands in summer, fall, and winter. The monthly load factors are also shown. Load duration curves, which illustrate the effectiveness of utilization of power for the peak winter, summer, and fall months for a selected year are presented for each category. Identifiable demand patterns were found for all of the speciality groups within the high category. Additional study results are discussed.

Beard, F. R., Poe, S. E., Farrell-Poe, K., & Deer, H. M. (1997). Handling waste rinsate associated with commercial pesticide application equipment. Paper - American Society of Agricultural Engineers, 2.

Abstract:

The disposal of waste rinsate is a problem confronting commercial pesticide applicators. Environmental and legal issue must be addressed, and economic concerns continue to grow. In arid regions of the U.S. evaporation is a viable solution to reducing waste rinsate. This paper outlines recommendations for the construction of on-site facilities to assist in the collection and reduction of waste rinsate. A flat concrete pad with watertight curbing is recommended as the ideal facility for commercial applicators. Surface area as it relates to evaporation potential is discussed, and consideration is given to the variations in equipment boom width, nozzle discharge height and nozzle spray pattern.

Farrell-Poe, K., Ranjha, A. Y., & Ramalingam, S. (1997). Bacterial contributions by rural municipalities in agricultural watersheds. Transactions of the American Society of Agricultural Engineers, 40(1), 97-101.

Abstract:

Four rural municipalities were evaluated for their bacterial contributions to the nonpoint source pollution (NPSP) in the Little Bear agricultural watershed. Total and fecal coliform were investigated to determine the bacterial contributions of these municipalities. Grab samples collected from perennial streams upstream and downstream of these municipalities were collected for about 15 months in 1993-1994. Total and fecal coliform were statistically significantly higher downstream compared to upstream for each municipality. The number of total coliform bacteria in either the upstream or downstream samples did not exceed the State criterion of 5000/100 mL. However, the State numerical criteria for fecal coliform, 200/mL, was exceeded in downstream samples at least five times over the 15-month period for all four municipalities. Bacterial nonpoint source pollution from rural municipalities should be incorporated in the predictive computer models used to determine total NPSP from agricultural watersheds.