Intervention Strategies on the Wastewater Treatment Behavior of Swine Farmers: An Extended Model of the Theory of Planned Behavior

A novel two-stage process for the effective treatment of swine wastewater using Chlorella sorokiniana AK-1 based algal-bacterial consortium under semi-continuous operation

This study aimed at developing an eco-friendly and effective treatment for swine wastewater (SWW) using a designer microalgae-bacteria consortium. A functional algal bacterial consortium was developed with SWW-derived bacteria and Chlorella sorokiniana AK-1. Light intensity (300 µmol/m²/s) and inoculum size (0.15 and 0.2 g/L for microalgae and bacteria) were optimized. Semi-batch operation treating 50 % SWW resulted in a COD, BOD, TN, and TP removal efficiency of 81.1 ± 0.9 %, 97.0 ± 0.7 %, 90.6 ± 1.6 % and 91.3 ± 1.1 %, respectively. A novel two-stage process with an initial bacterial start-up stage followed by microalgal inoculation was applied for attaining stable organic carbon removal, in addition to satisfactory TN and TP removal. Full strength SWW was treated with this strategy with COD, BOD, TN, and TP removal efficiencies of 72.1 %, 94.9 %, 88 %, and 94.6 %, respectively. The biomass consisted of 36 % carbohydrates, indicating a potential feedstock for biochar production. In addition, the effluent met the standards for effluent discharge in Taiwan.

Determinants of Sick and Dead Pig Waste Recycling—A Case Study of Hebei, Shandong, and Henan Provinces in China

Simple Summary

Proper handling of dead and sick pig carcasses is a significant concern for farmers, the general public, academia, and government. By drawing on the existing literature, the study selects various determinants of sick and dead pig recycling and evaluates the impacts of rewards and punishment mechanisms on farmers’ commitment to proper handling of dead and sick pigs. We utilized face-to-face discussion accompanied by a structured questionnaire to grasp the opinion of the Chinese pig farmers. The article elucidates the moderating effects of reward and punishment mechanisms, which will be crucial for understanding the on-hand experience of the farmers towards dead and sick pig recycling.

Abstract

Improper handling of sick and dead pigs may seriously affect public health, socio-economic conditions, and eventually cause environmental pollution. However, effective promotion of sick and dead pig (SDP) waste recycling has become the prime focus of current rural governance. Therefore, the study explores the impact of commitment, rewards, and punishments to capture the recycling behavior of farmers’ sick and dead pig waste management. The study employs factor analysis, the probit model, and the moderating effect model to craft the findings. The study’s empirical setup comprises the survey data collected from the Hebei, Shandong, and Henan provinces, representing the major pig-producing provinces in China. The study found that the commitment, reward, and punishment mechanisms are essential factors affecting the farmers’ decision-making on recycling sick and dead pig waste. The marginal effect analysis found that the reward and punishment mechanism is more effective than the farmers’ commitment. The study confirmed that in the recycling treatment of sick and dead pig waste, the farmers’ commitment and the government’s reward and punishment policy are the main factors that influence farmers to manage sick and dead pig waste properly. Therefore, the government should highlight the importance of effective waste management, and training facilities should also be extended firmly. The government should impose strict rules and regulations to restrict the irresponsible dumping of farm waste. Monitoring mechanisms should be put in place promptly.

Decision-making process of partnership in establishing and managing of rural wastewater treatment plants: Using intentional and geographical-spatial location data

The construction of rural wastewater treatment plants (RWTPs) is an effective initiative to achieve sustainable water resources, especially in the rural areas situated upstream of the dams where water and waste substances produced by villages are discharged into the wastewater behind the dams. Neither is the initiative feasible to be launched without the partnership of local people. For this reason, we gained insights into the determinants of villagers' desire and intention to have a share in the construction and management of RWTPs and determined the best place to locate the RWTPs using Fuzzy Catastrophe Scheme (FCS). The study benefited from the survey of 180 rural people from two villages situated upstream of Alavian dam, Maragheh Township, northwestern Iran. Using the theory of goal-directed behavior (TGDB) and rational choice theory (RCT), we designed a questionnaire, inclusive of the constructs relevant to the hypothetical relationships. The Cronbach's alpha method and discriminant analysis were used to make sure that indicator variables were consistently loaded with pertinent latent variables. The results of PLS-SEM manifested a proper fitted model with the data. As would be hypothesized, attitude towards participation, PBC, positive emotions had a positive impact on desire, which directly influences the intention to participate in the construction and management of RWTPs. To locate RWTPs as geographically and spatially as possible, we made use of suitability index (SI), formulated by the FCS, the resulting evidence demonstrated that the spatial distribution of SI would be classified into five bands using Jenks' optimization method, northwestern areas located in Bands 1 and 2 were appropriate areas, whereas, western and northwestern areas (in Bands 4-5) were caught sight of being not appropriate areas. The implications delivered in conclusion would be useful for the same cases in other parts of the world and further to stimulate rural people to participate in the construction of RWTPs and locate the best area for setting up the plants.