Environmental Conditions and Resource Management in Smallholder Dairy Farms in Thailand. II. Effects of Dairy Wastes on Water and Soil

The environmental conditions in smallholder dairy farms especially the effects of dairy wastes on waters and soil were the main objectives of this investigation. Forty-three dairy farms from an older dairy cooperative (Nongpho Dairy Cooperative, NP) were compared with four dairy fauns from relatively new dairy cooperative (Kamphaengsaen Dairy Cooperative, KS) for the quality parameters of water and soil samples during a 12-month period. Forty-three farms at NP were from three geographical areas and three levels farm crowdedness. The results from this study clearly showed that the waste waters from older dairy barns contained much higher levels of organic and inorganic substances which could create environmental pollution if not properly managed. The differences in waste water qualities due to areas and seasons were not significant, while waste water samples from crowded farms tended to contain higher averages of waste water parameters such as COD and BOD. Highly significant correlations between pairs of waste water parameters indicated that certain parameters can be used without the need for chemical analysis of some other parameters. The qualities of well water on dairy farms as well as water samples from public waterways nearby indicated some contamination of dairy wastes such as manure. Storage and sun-drying of dairy manure on bare soil surface could result in the contamination of underground water and nearby water sources. Some recommendations from this study if implemented can prevent environmental pollution in smallholder dairy farms.