USDA field pilots replaced most woodchips with corn cobs in nitrate bioreactors; the 75% corn-cob beds removed nitrate up to 10 times faster

Field pilots have demonstrated that corn cobs are highly effective in removing nitrates from farm drainage water. These innovative bioreactors not only accelerate the cleaning process but also do so at a fraction of the cost compared to traditional woodchip systems. Research indicates that a mixture containing 75 percent corn cobs can enhance nitrate removal by 1.6 to 10 times, utilizing a readily available agricultural byproduct common in the Midwest.