Yiling boosts eco-agriculture by reusing livestock and poultry manure
2026-07-27 19:07:44
By Chen Si.
Yiling District in Yichang has expanded its eco-circular agriculture area to 300,000 mu (20,000 hectares), bringing both ecological and agricultural benefits.
Yichang Shengmu Ecological Agriculture Co., Ltd. in Longquan Town, Yiling District, has built biogas slurry storage tanks and water-fertilizer delivery pipelines.
Fermented biogas slurry is transported through pressurized pipelines to citrus orchards for automated fertilization.
“We ferment livestock and poultry manure to produce biogas and organic fertilizer. Biogas provides energy for electricity and lighting, while biogas slurry and residue serve as organic fertilizer for fruits and vegetables. This model delivers multiple benefits at once,” said Yang Hongxue, head of Shengmu Ecological Agriculture Co., Ltd.
The base uses a “pig-biogas-fruit” eco-circular model, generating more than 700 yuan (US$103) per mu annually in additional income and cost savings while balancing economic and ecological benefits.
Yiling District in Yichang has expanded its eco-circular agriculture area to 300,000 mu (20,000 hectares), bringing both ecological and agricultural benefits.
Yichang Shengmu Ecological Agriculture Co., Ltd. in Longquan Town, Yiling District, has built biogas slurry storage tanks and water-fertilizer delivery pipelines.
Fermented biogas slurry is transported through pressurized pipelines to citrus orchards for automated fertilization.
“We ferment livestock and poultry manure to produce biogas and organic fertilizer. Biogas provides energy for electricity and lighting, while biogas slurry and residue serve as organic fertilizer for fruits and vegetables. This model delivers multiple benefits at once,” said Yang Hongxue, head of Shengmu Ecological Agriculture Co., Ltd.
The base uses a “pig-biogas-fruit” eco-circular model, generating more than 700 yuan (US$103) per mu annually in additional income and cost savings while balancing economic and ecological benefits.
Yangyue Agricultural Products Cooperative in Yiling District has built an agricultural recycling zone featuring the "pig-biogas-fruit" model.Recognized by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs as a high-quality production area for citrus and tea, Yiling District is also a major grain-producing region in Hubei Province and a local supply base for fresh agricultural products.
The district also produces nearly 1 million market-ready hogs each year.
In recent years, the district has built demonstration sites for biogas-based circular agriculture to make productive use of livestock.
Thirteen circular agriculture demonstration sites following the “pig-biogas-vegetable (fruit/tea)” model have been completed across the district, covering orchards, vegetable plots, tea plantations, and rural residential zones.
The eco-circular agriculture system now covers a total of 300,000 mu, generating more than 500 yuan per mu annually in additional income and cost savings.
In addition, supported by large-scale livestock farms, the district has completed nearly 300 biogas projects of various sizes. A circular industrial chain centered on the “pig-biogas-fruit (vegetable/tea)” model has been established, forming a regional agricultural recycling system connecting livestock farms, rural households, and planting bases.
To date, all large-scale livestock and poultry farms in Yiling District are equipped with manure treatment facilities, while their overall manure utilization rate remains above 95 percent.
Jie Xingwei, Xu Chen also contributed to this story
