About

Joseph Sanford is an Assistant Professor at UW-Platteville, affiliated with the Soil and Crop Science program and the Dairy Innovation Hub. He holds a B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. in Biological Systems Engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, completed in 2013, 2016, and 2019 respectively. His research focuses on agricultural waste management, manure processing and management, agricultural runoff treatment systems, waste-to-energy technologies such as anaerobic digestion and pyrolysis, and agricultural sustainability. Sanford has received recognition as the 2016 ASABE Wisconsin Graduate Student of the Year and was a Wisconsin Dairy Innovation Hub Postdoctoral Fellow in 2020.

Research topics

• Engineering
• Waste management
• Environmental science
• Environmental engineering
• Soil science
• Environmental planning
• Environmental chemistry
• Chemistry
• Business

Selected publications

• Evaluation of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances Leaching from Biosolids and Mitigation Potential of Biochar through Undisturbed Soil Columns

  ACS ES&T Water · 2024 · 29 citations

  Senior authorCorresponding
  • Environmental chemistry
  • Environmental science
  • Waste management

  Land application of biosolids recycles nutrients and reduces the need for commercial fertilizers. However, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) may leach from biosolids, resulting in groundwater contamination. We measured PFAS leaching from land-applied biosolids through undisturbed soil column trials and evaluated the treatment potential of amending biosolids with biochar. Synthetic rainfall was applied weekly to undisturbed soil columns from four regions in Wisconsin, including two fields with a history of biosolid application, simulating annual precipitation. The treatments consisted of a control (soil only), soil amended with biosolids, and soil receiving a mixture of biosolids and biochar. Concentrations of total PFAS in leachate were significantly affected by soil location and site history One-time application of biosolids may result in groundwater contamination, as PFAS concentrations in leachate exceeded the local groundwater standard (a combined perfluorooctanoic acid and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid groundwater concentration of 20 ng L–1) at three locations. Legacy PFAS may pose a risk to human health years after biosolid application, as a control column from a site with an intensive history of biosolid application exceeded PFAS groundwater standards. Incorporation of biochar with biosolids during application mitigated PFAS (specifically from soils with elevated leaching potential) through significant reductions of C7–C10 perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids and C4 and C6–C8 perfluorosulfonic acids (40% to 64% reduction in measured Σ28 PFAS). Biochar may facilitate sustainable use of biosolids through mitigation of long-chain PFAS leaching, pending a long-term field evaluation.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Assessing changes to nutrient density and availability following separation, drying, and pyrolysis of manure solids

  Bioresource Technology Reports · 2022-07-26 · 2 citations

  articleOpen access1st authorCorresponding

  Manure nutrients are beneficial when land applied but contribute to environmental degradation when lost as runoff or emissions. Applying manure nutrients to better meet agronomic crop needs has potential to reduce losses. However, transporting manure nutrients to nutrient deficient fields is commonly cost prohibitive. Densifying manure nutrients has the potential to reduce costs. Manure processing of separated manure solids via drying at 50 °C for 48 h reduced the mass by 62.8 %, where reduction by pyrolysis reduced the mass by 81.8 % and 83.4 % at 350 and 500 °C, respectively. Drying and pyrolysis retained and densified the manure phosphorus. Drying retained the nitrogen within the solids, but 37 to 47 % of nitrogen was lost through pyrolysis. Immediately after processing, available phosphorus decreased with increasing pyrolysis temperature. Incubation of manure solids and processed manures shows that processing decreased available phosphorus through the first 28 days, but following that initial period reached similar phosphorus availability.

  PublisherDOI

• Common Buckthorn Engineered Biochar (Rhamnus Cathartica), Calcined Quagga Mussel Shells (Dreissena Rostriformis), Pickled Steel, and Steel Slag as Filter Media for the Sorption of Phosphorus from Agricultural Runoff

  Conservation · 2022-12-07 · 1 citations

  articleOpen access

  The reuse of waste residuals as reactive media is a sustainable solution to remove phosphorus (P) from wastewater and reduce eutrophication. Large reactive waste media filters incorporated in edge-of-field treatment systems could reduce P loading from agricultural fields. We measured the treatment potential of regionally available waste residuals (i.e., calcined quagga mussel shells (CSHELL), magnesium activated biochar (MGBC), pickled steel (PSTEEL), and steel slag (SLAG)) for dissolved P removal. CSHELL and MGBC had elevated sorption capacities (64,419 and 50,642 mg kg−1, respectively) in comparison to SLAG and PSTEEL (14,541 mg kg−1 and 736 mg kg−1, respectively). However, CSHELL requires long reaction times for removal (22% removal after 1.5 h) and P sorbed to MGBC is removed with DI, reducing treatment potential. SLAG and PSTEEL were the only media with significant reductions of agricultural runoff and had the greatest overall treatment potential. SLAG is recommended for removal and replacement systems while PSTEEL is suitable for larger systems designed for regeneration on site.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Assessing Certified Manure Analysis Laboratory Accuracy and Variability

  Applied Engineering in Agriculture · 2020-01-01 · 7 citations

  articleOpen access1st authorCorresponding

  Highlights Manure analysis proficiency laboratories were assessed for accuracy and precision. Total nitrogen analysis was accurate and precise and is a strength of industry. Ammonium analysis resulted in most variability in laboratory results. Phosphorus and potassium mean comparison indicated significant differences between lab results. Abstract .Nutrient management planning (NMP) is an effective method for ensuring proper nutrient applications to agricultural fields. At livestock facilities, quantifying manure nutrient content is crucial for producers to obtain accurate and precise data to properly apply nutrients to the field to optimize crop yields while minimizing nutrient losses to the environment. In this study, eight manure analysis proficiency program (MAP) certified laboratories each received six replicates of four manure samples (two dairy and two swine) and analyzed for total solids (TS), total nitrogen (TN), ammoniacal nitrogen (NH 4 -N), phosphate (P 2 O 5 ), and potash (K 2 O). Laboratories were compared using the MAP robust statistics comparison approach and a one-way ANOVA using laboratory means. Total nitrogen analysis had high precision and accuracy across laboratories selected for analysis. However, laboratories had less accuracy and precision in determining NH 4 -N concentrations. Additionally, while P 2 O 5 and K 2 O met MAP standards for accuracy and precision, there was concerns for reading accuracy, as the median absolute deviation (MAD) to overall median ratio was high (ranging from 5.9% to 14.4%) and many of the laboratory means were statistically different. Keywords: Laboratory variability, Manure, Nutrient analysis.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Pork Production Survey to Assess Factors of Facility Design and Operation

  Sustainability · 2020-06-03 · 3 citations

  articleOpen access1st authorCorresponding

  Pork producers can have difficulty operating or expanding existing facilities or establishing new facilities based on perceived negative impacts to the environment and surrounding community. It is critical to understand the characteristics and practices adopted in swine facilities to evaluate the extend of these impacts. A survey, completed by 69 pork producers in Wisconsin, was conducted to assess how facility design and management affect odor, water quality, water consumption, air quality, traffic, and noise. A wide range of production facilities participated in the survey where 29% of respondents were classified as very small (<35 animal units, AU), 16% as small (35–70 AU), 20% as medium (70–300 AU), 23% as large (300–1000 AU), and 12% as permitted (>1000 AU) facilities. Generally, facilities integrated numerous odor control strategies which resulted in high calculated odor scores and the absence of odor complaints. However, the lack of nutrient management planning and other practices for water quality, particularly for facilities with less than 300 AU, indicates there are areas that need improvement. Regardless of facility size, water reduction practices were very commonly reported indicating water conservation is important. Pit ventilation and mechanical ventilation was reported at 58 and 85% of the surveyed facilities, which highlights the need to increase the adoption of mechanical ventilation for air quality, especially in farms with under-barn storage. Using trucks instead of tractors and pumping instead of trucks and tractors can reduce traffic around facilities during manure hauling season.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Assessing Nitrogen Cycling in Corncob Biochar Amended Soil Columns for Application in Agricultural Treatment Systems

  Agronomy · 2020-07-08 · 10 citations

  articleOpen access1st authorCorresponding

  Biochar soil amendment to agricultural systems can reduce nitrogen (N) leaching; however, application to agricultural nitrogen treatment systems has not been extensively explored. The objective of this study was to assess the impact on N leaching in soils receiving repeated N applications which may be observed in agricultural treatment systems. In this study, 400 °C, 700 °C, and oxidized 700 °C corncob biochar was amended to sandy loam soil columns at 5% (wt/wt) to assess the impacts to N cycling following repeated synthetic N applications. Columns received weekly applications of either organic N (ORG-N), ammonium (NH4+-N), or nitrate (NO3−-N) and the N effluent, gaseous emissions, and soil N retention was measured. Biochar produced at 400 °C significantly reduced N leaching compared to control columns by 19% and 15% for ORG-N and NH4+-N, respectively, with application concentrations similar to silage bunker runoff. For NO3−-N applications, 700 °C biochar significantly reduced leaching by 25% compared to the controls. The primary mechanism reducing N effluent for biochar amended columns was enhanced soil retention of ORG-N and NO3−-N. Biochar surface chemistry analysis measured an increase in oxygenated functional groups and cationic minerals on the biochar surface, which likely enhanced retention through cationic bridging or the development of an organomineral layer on the biochar surface. Results indicated biochar amendment to agricultural treatment systems receiving N runoff may reduce the risk of N leaching.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Evaluating Landfill Diversion Strategies for Municipal Organic Waste Management Using Environmental and Economic Factors

  ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering · 2020 · 18 citations

  • Waste management
  • Environmental science
  • Environmental planning

  Municipal organic waste (MOW) contributes to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions leading to global climate change. Incentives that encourage consumers to adopt MOW disposal strategies that minimize environmental impacts are needed. Policymakers must ensure that incentive programs align with environmental objectives and are economically competitive. The MOW disposal infrastructure in the city of Milwaukee, WI, was evaluated using a coordinated market model capturing the inherent value of environmental indicators (estimated with partial life cycle assessment methods) in the context of the city’s MOW supply chain. Tax programs are identified that incentivize consumers to reduce emissions through MOW disposal patterns. Results indicate that the existing MOW management infrastructure in Milwaukee incentivizes residents to minimize MOW GHG emissions by sending MOW to composting and digestion sites that have lower tipping fees and are located closer to the city (have lower transport costs). Therefore, limitations associated with MOW collection likely decrease alternative landfill disposal options. GHG reduction policy prioritizes anaerobic digestion systems for MOW disposal, but the outcome can be altered depending upon the tipping fees and transport distances. Composting and digestion hold few opportunities for reducing ammonia emissions from landfills, but there is a need to expand ammonia emissions measurements from landfill systems to improve model predictions as ammonia losses can redeposit, resulting in environmental issues and indirect formation of N2O.

  PublisherDOI

• Nitrate sorption to biochar following chemical oxidation

  The Science of The Total Environment · 2019-03-06 · 87 citations

  article1st authorCorresponding
  PublisherDOI

• Evaluation of Biochar Nitrate Extraction Methods

  Applied Sciences · 2019-08-27 · 3 citations

  articleOpen accessCorresponding

  Biochar amendment to soil is a method used to mitigate losses of nitrogen leaching through agricultural soils. Multiple methods for extraction of nitrogen have been used, and recent studies have indicated that traditional soil extraction methods underestimate biochar nitrate. This study evaluated the nitrate extraction efficiency of a KCl extraction method under different temperature (20 and 50 °C) and duration (24 and 96 h) conditions. Increasing the duration of extraction from 24 to 96 h did not have a significant impact on extraction efficiency. However, increasing temperature resulted in nitrate extraction efficiencies above 90%. Rinsing the biochar once with deionized (DI) water following filtration after extraction increased the extraction efficiency significantly, but any subsequent rinses were not significant. This study recommends extracting nitrate from biochar using 2 M KCl at 50 °C for a period of 24 h with one additional rinse to increase nitrate recovery above 90%. However, future studies should evaluate this procedure for different types of biochar produced from alternative biomasses and at varying temperatures.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Treatment of horizontal silage bunker runoff using biochar amended vegetative filter strips

  Journal of Environmental Management · 2019-10-24 · 8 citations

  articleOpen access1st authorCorresponding

  Horizontal silage bunkers produce leachate that contains contaminants that can be detrimental to the environment if released untreated. Vegetated filter strips are used to treat silage bunker runoff to prevent contamination of surface waters via infiltration, however increased infiltration poses risks to groundwater, particularly for nitrate (NO3−). Vegetated filter strip plots with a sandy loam soil, half of which are amended with biochar, were investigated to assess the treatment of silage bunker runoff over 20 application events. The subsurface effluent biological oxygen demand (BOD5), chemical oxygen demand (COD), and total phosphorus (TP) were reduced on average by 40%, 46%, and 75%, respectively, and there was no statistical difference between treatments. The total nitrogen (TN) was reduced by 49 and 64% for control and biochar plots, respectively, which was significantly different between treatments. Biochar significantly reduced nitrate nitrogen (NO3−-N) leaching by 40% compared to the control, however, the NO3−-N concentration in leachate was still high ranging from 0.19 to 191.04 mg NO3−-N L−1 and 0.18–108.89 mg NO3−-N L−1 for control and biochar plots, respectively. A mass balance suggests the primary mechanism for a decrease in TN and NO3−-N leaching from biochar amended plots was greater retention of NO3−-N and organic N (ORG-N) within the soil/biochar matrix. The development of oxygenated functional groups and/or formation of organomineral layer on the biochar surface likely enhanced N retention.

  PublisherDOI

Frequent coauthors

• Rebecca A. Larson

  15 shared

• Matthew F. Digman

  4 shared

• Michael A. Holly

  University of Wisconsin–Green Bay

  4 shared

• Daniel D. Lakich

  2 shared

• Patrick S. Forsythe

  University of Wisconsin–Green Bay

  2 shared

• Keenan A. Leonard

  University of Wisconsin–Green Bay

  2 shared

• Daniel Johnstone

  University of Wisconsin–Madison

  2 shared

• Kpoti M. Gunn

  University of Wisconsin–Green Bay

  2 shared

Education

• PhD, Biological Systems Engineering

  University of Wisconsin Madison

Awards & honors

• 2020 Wisconsin Dairy Innovation Hub Postdoctoral Fellow
• 2016 ASABE Wisconsin Graduate Student of the Year