A lagoon is a long term, in ground storage system for animal wastes. In most cases animal manure is mixed with waste water from the operation and pumped into the lagoon. Manure is broken down by tiny microbes. Some of these microbes require oxygen, or aerobic conditions. Others do not require oxygen and prefer anaerobic conditions. Some microbes even like both conditions and are called facultative. The microbes eat manure and other wastes in the lagoons, producing an excellent fertilizer. They break down the remaining solids and turn them into liquid. Lagoons are beneficial to the environment because they provide a place to store excess manure instead of spreading it all on the fields at once. By using lagoons, farmers can reduce or eliminate their need for commercial fertilizers, maintain or improve crop production, protect groundwater, and comply with water quality regulations.
