Feedlot hydrological modelling incorporation into MEDLI

Summary

The project updated an outdated version of the feedlot hydrological modelling component of the Model for Effluent Disposal Using Land Irrigation (MEDLI) to a new platform, and incorporated it into a new version of MEDLI (MEDLI Pro V2). This new version incorporates a fully tested and functional feedlot module, which enables modelling of multiple variable catchments simultaneously to emulate the diversity of surfaces and waste streams present at cattle feedlots and similar facilities. It is now available to all consultants servicing the feedlot sector through the Queensland Department of Environment and Science (DES) and the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF).

Objectives

• Develop a modern, well-tested, working version of the feedlot hydrological module that runs within the MEDLI V2 framework and produces output which is presented as part of MEDLI's output report as well as daily outputs, which are saved as csv files.
• This new product, built on the MEDLI V2 framework, to be made available commercially as "MEDLI Pro V2" by the Queensland Department of Environment and Science.

Key findings

• MEDLI Pro V2 is finalised and will be commercially released from June 2020.
• It includes the feedlot (Waste Estimation) module, which enables modelling of multiple variable catchments simultaneously to emulate the diversity of surfaces and waste streams present at cattle feedlots.
• It is anticipated it will be used by consultants servicing the feedlot sector, researchers, government regulators, and other assessment agencies to model cumulative environmental impacts of the various waste streams and catchment types associated with feedlots.
• This project contributes to the continued use of the feedlot module to assist and benefit the feedlot industry.
• The model may have wider adoption and application through its potential to be used as a tool for prediction of GHG emissions, dag formation, and climate change impacts.

Benefits to industry

MEDLI is a hydrological model for designing and analysing effluent disposal systems using land irrigation. It is widely used by consultants, regulators and researchers to model and assess system sustainability of intensive rural industries, agri-industrial processors, and sewage treatment plants. At project commencement, the feedlot hydrological modelling component was not included in the commercially available MEDLI version, existing only with one industry consultancy, on a redundant computer operating system. This project updated the feedlot hydrological modelling component to the current MEDLI operating system, and incorporated it into a new version of MEDLI. It is now available for use by all consultants, researchers, government regulators, and other assessment agencies to predict and assess manure depth and odour generation of cattle feedlots for development, expansion, environmental management, and animal welfare assessments.

MLA action

Publication of the B.FLT.5001 Final Report.

Promotion in ALFA Lotfeeding and The Quarterly Feed e-newsletter to inform industry and consultants servicing industry of its availability through the Queensland Department of Environment and Science.

Initiation of project B.FLT.5004 'Development of a validation dataset for MEDLI Pro V2' to ensure that modelling outputs can robustly and reliably predict impacts for a range of different Australian climates.

Future research

Completion of project B.FLT.5004 'Development of a validation dataset for MEDLI Pro V2' and incorporation of results into the feedlot hydrological component.

A range of other development requirements were identified during the project. These will be addressed by DES, and incorporated as later updates to the module.