Is silage leachate a potential environmental problem?

Silage leachate is a term used to describe liquid runoff from silage piles in upright structures, bags, or bunkers. Leachate is an organic liquid that is the result of the pressure in the structure or the presence of excess water. Silage leachate is a serious environmental problem. On average, leachate is 40 times stronger than dairy parlor wastewater and up to 200 times stronger than raw sewage. The acidity of silage leachate can harm groundwater or kill vegetation in the area where it drains. It also has high biochemical oxygen demand, meaning it has the potential to use up oxygen. When leachate enters a stream or pond, it depletes the oxygen necessary for marine life. High ammonia levels in leachate are also toxic to fish, and the phytonutrients may also cause algae bloom. For these reasons, silage leachate should be controlled such that it does not impact environmentally sensitive features. Controls might include keeping rainfall off silage to the extent possible and controlling runoff from silage storage areas.

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