Influence of compost amendments on the hydraulic functioning of brownfield soils

This study assessed the impact of compost on the hydraulic properties of three soils (sandy loam, clay loam and diesel‐contaminated sandy loam) with relatively poor physical quality typical of brownfield sites. Soils were amended with two composts at 750 t/ha. Samples were also collected from a clay‐capped brownfield site, previously amended with 250, 500 or 750 t/ha of compost. Water‐release characteristics and saturated hydraulic conductivity were determined for all soils and physical quality indicators derived. Unsaturated flow in field profiles after compost application with two depths of incorporation and two indigenous subsoils was simulated using Hydrus‐1D. Compost generally increased water retention. Hydraulic conductivity tended to decrease following compost application in sandy loam but increased in clay and clay loam, where compost addition resulted in a larger dominant pore size. Although compost improved physical quality indicators, they remained suboptimum in clay and clay loam soil, which exhibited poor aeration, and in the contaminated sandy loam, where available water capacity was limited, possibly due to changes in wettability. Increasing application rates in the field enhanced water retention at low potentials and hydraulic conductivity near saturation but did not alter physical quality indicators. Numerical simulation indicated that the 500 t/ha application resulted in the best soil moisture regime. Increasing the depth of incorporation in the clay cap improved drainage and reduced waterlogging, but incorporation in more permeable subsoil resulted in prolonged dry conditions to greater depths.     

A critical assessment of soil amendments (slaked lime/acidic fertilizer) for the phytomanagement of moderately contaminated shooting range soils

Purpose  

The effects of the addition of an acidic fertilizer solution and/or slaked lime (5.5 g Ca(OH)₂ kg⁻¹) on a slightly acidic shooting range soil (pH 6.1, % organic carbon 5.4) with moderate metal (e.g., 620 mg kg⁻¹ Pb) and metalloid (17 mg kg⁻¹ Sb) concentrations on metal and Sb solubility and plant accumulation were investigated.     

Influence of revegetation efforts on hydrologic response and erosion,Kaho'olawe Island,Hawai'i

Measurements of soil physical and hydrological properties provide the first evaluation of the success of revegetation efforts in reducing surface runoff and accelerated erosion on the largely barren plateau region of Kaho'olawe Island, Hawai'i. Saturated hydraulic conductivity and sorptivity data, collected within four of the largest restoration sites, suggest revegetated areas have significantly higher infiltration capacities compared with those of the bare areas surrounding the project sites. Furthermore, comparison of modeled steady-state infiltration capacity to one-min rainfall intensities demonstrate erosion-producing Horton overland flow is very rare on the vegetated areas compared with the barren landscape. Thus, recently, established vegetation forms zones of high infiltration capable of absorbing both rainwater and surface flow exported from upslope areas. However, the current areal extent and spatial arrangement of vegetation is not sufficient to significantly reduce watershed-scale runoff and erosion. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Nitrogen transformations in copper-contaminated soils and effects of lime and compost application on soil resiliency

 A neutral and an acidic soil were treated with different doses (0–3,000 mg Cu kg^–1 soil as CuSO₄) of copper. The percentages of inhibition of nitrification in both soils varied from 5 to 97%, but for the N mineralization these percentages varied from 8 to 65%. The toxic effect of Cu for basal nitrification and N mineralization was assessed as critical. Nitrification was more sensitive than ammonification to copper toxicity. It appears that an ecological dose of inhibition for nitrification and N mineralization higher than 10% is suitable as an indicator for Cu contamination. Soil resiliency assessed by N mineralization in the lime treatments varied from 11 to 154% in the sandy soil and from 70 to 168% in the sandy loam soil. A combined application of lime and compost significantly increased soil resiliency. The percentage increase varied from 904 to 1,390% in the sandy soil and from 767 to 2,230% in the sandy loam soil. It appears that compost was a powerful agent for recovering the soil fertility of Cu-contaminated soils as assessed by N transformation. The acidic sandy soil showed a lower capacity for recovery after Cu toxicity stress. Received: 27 February 1999     

The effect of lime on the response of soils to sodic conditions

The role of CaC0₃ in preventing clay dispersion and losses in hydraulic conductivity (HC) of sodic soils was determined directly by mixing two lime-free soils with 0.5 and 2.0 per cent CaCO₃. Whereas the HC of the lime-free soils dropped sharply when 0.01 n solutions of SAR 20 were displaced with distilled water, mixing the soils with powdered lime prevented both HC losses and clay dispersion. The response of a sandy soil mixed with lime was similar to that of a calcareous sandy soil. The beneficial effect ofCaC0₃ was not so pronounced in soils equilibrated with solutions of SAR 30. The increase in electrolyte concentration, due to CaCO₃ dissolution, was suggested as the mechanism responsible for the beneficial effect of lime.     

Evaluation of a technical revegetation action performed on foredunes at Devesa de la Albufera,Valencia, Spain

We have evaluated the level of restoration achieved by a technical revegetation action carried out on reconstructed foredunes at the Devesa de la Albufera and compared this level with that achieved by spontaneous succession. Foredunes 1, 3, 6 and 20 y old since revegetated (1, 3, 6 and 20 y, respectively) were considered as spatially separated stages representing a successional trend in the development of the restored plant community. Lower and similar levels of diversity (richness and H´ and Pielou´s indexes) and coverage, respectively, were found on dunes corresponding to the oldest stage of technical revegetation compared with that of the reference site. Diversity and coverage parameters increased during the first 6 y of the technical succession and decreased after 20 y of revegetation. Moreover, that increase was quite obvious as early as 3 y after the onset of revegetation. Results also showed that the Devesa de la Albufera has its own capacity for revegetation. According to the Jaccard and Sørensen indexes, these dunes were more similar to the reference than those from the 20 y old site. Beyond the current functionality of the revegetated sites, it is concluded that the natural and aesthetic values may be restored at the Valencian Devesa de la Albufera. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

耕作改制对砂姜黑土微量元素的影响研究

研究旱作改水旱轮作对砂姜黑土中微量元素含量、有效性和赋存形态等的影响结果表明,砂姜黑土旱作改水旱轮作后,微量元素的总含量除Mo外,均呈贫化趋势且达显著水平;Cu、Fe、Mn和Mo的有效性明显提高,Zn的有效性降低,严重缺Zn可能限制作物产量提高;残留态、晶形铁态和碳酸盐态微量元素含量随旱作改水旱轮作时间的延续而降低,有机态和无定形铁态微量元素的含量则不断增加,代换态微量元素含量变化与有效态微量元素相似,呈两极分化,Cu和Ni增加,而Zn和Mn降低.     

石灰用量对酸性土壤pH值及有效养分含量的影响

采用室内培养法,设置不施生石灰和生石灰用量0.3、0.9、1.8、2.4、4.8 g/kg,共6个用量梯度,研究不同生石灰用量对酸性土壤pH值动态变化、有效养分含量的影响及土壤pH值与有效养分含量之间的相关性。结果表明,生石灰的施入,可以显著提高土壤pH值,改善土壤酸度。培养到第90 d,生石灰用量4.8、2.4、1.8g/kg处理较对照分别提高了2.88、1.16和0.74个pH单位。施用生石灰对土壤全氮含量影响不大,但对土壤无机氮影响显著。生石灰用量在0~2.4 g/kg范围内,土壤硝态氮含量随生石灰用量的增加而显著增加,增幅为12.4%~146.8%,当生石灰用量2.4 g/kg时,土壤硝态氮含量显著降低。土壤铵态氮的变化趋势则刚好相反,随着生石灰用量的增加而减少;土壤有效磷含量随着生石灰用量的增加先升高后降低;对于土壤速效钾来说,当生石灰用量0.9 g/kg,其含量随着石灰用量的增加而显著降低,降幅为2.9%~21.7%。施用生石灰可以显著提高土壤有效Ca含量,且随生石灰用量的增加而显著增加,增幅为32.3%~543.0%。生石灰的施用显著降低了土壤有效Fe、Mn、Cu、Zn的含量,且当生石灰用量≥2.4 g/kg时,土壤有效Mn、Zn含量均已处于极其缺乏的状况。土壤pH值与土壤全氮、铵态氮、速效钾、有效Fe、Mn、Cu、Zn呈显著线性负相关,与有效Ca呈极显著线性正相关,与土壤硝态氮、有效磷和有效Mg则符合二次函数,各相关系数均达到极显著水平。土壤养分与土壤酸度有着较好的相关性,在施用石灰改良酸性土壤时,要特别注意其施用量及土壤有效Mn、Zn等微量元素的及时补充。     

Effect of air flow rate,lime amendments,and chemical soil properties on the volatilization of ammonia from fertilizers applied to sandy soils

NH₃ volatilization from surface-applied urea, diammonium phosphate (DAP), and calcium ammonium nitrate (CAN) was measured with chambers through which air was drawn continuously. Two sandy soils and two sandy loam soils, which had been treated with and without time for the last 25 years, were used for the experiments. The accumulated NH₃ loss from CAN applied to an unlimed sandy soil was linearly related to time. For the other treatments the accumulated loss was exponentially related to time. The NH₃ loss was exponentially related to the maximum soil pH of the fertilizer-amended soil, and was inversely related to the content of exchangeable H⁺. Due to the low cation exchange capacity of these light-textured soils the NH₃ loss was not reduced as the soil CEC increased. The maximum pH after soil amendment was related to soil pH. Therefore, a model is proposed that relates the NH₃ loss solely to fertilizers and soil pH. The NH₃ loss was less than 5% from CAN, about 20% from DAP, and about 30% from urea, with the insignificant loss from urea applied to the unlimed sandy soil excluded. The NH₃ loss from surface-applied DAP was related to the air flow rate and a transfer coefficient (K _a) was estimated. K _a increased exponentially with the flow rate. At a flow rate above 3.9 liters min^–1 (20 volume exchanges min^–1) no further increase was seen.     

西藏高寒河谷流动沙地植被恢复潜力综合评价模型

生境胁迫条件下高寒河谷不同类型沙地植被恢复潜力定量评价,是开展青藏高原退化沙化生态系统植被恢复急需解决的瓶颈问题和决策依据。笔者选择河滩流动沙地、河岸流动沙地和山坡流动沙地3种类型试验样地作为研究对象,结合不同类型沙地的植被演替阶段划分和生境特点,采用层次分析法和模糊综合评价方法,通过构建植被恢复潜力评价指标与标准体系,建立了高寒河谷流动沙地植被恢复潜力综合评价模型。结合2008-2014年的植被恢复试验结果,验证与探讨了该模型的评价精度与适用性。结果表明,山坡流动沙地植被恢复潜力等级为强,河滩流动沙地植被恢复潜力等级为较强,河岸流动沙地植被恢复潜力等级为较弱。气象条件、地形条件和土壤状况决定了生境胁迫条件下植被恢复具备的先天条件,恢复措施则决定了其具备的后天条件。通过强有力的人工促进植被恢复措施即可直接提高寒河谷流动沙地植被恢复潜力,亦可间接改变土壤状况,从而提升植被恢复效果。     

The effect of simulated runoff on the erosion of gypsiferous soils

The effect of runoff generation on the erosion of gypsiferous soils under different experimental conditions was investigated by applying simulated rainfalls of 48 and 58 mm h⁻¹ to experimental plots exhibiting representative characteristics of these soils. The 45 experiments indicate differing erosive behaviour as test conditions varied. Suspended gypsum yields ranged from 0-3.9 gm⁻² h⁻¹ the higher values occurring with the steeper slopes and dry soil conditions. The differences among the soils tested were mainly due to variations in underlying rock outcrop, whilst within each soil type, slope was the most important variable. Transport of suspended gypsum by runoff is inversely related to rock outcrop, and positively related to slope. The highest erosion rates are registered in Gypsic Calcisols, followed by Gypsic Calcisols (lithic phase), while production of suspended gypsum is not verified for Dystric Leptosols. By transporting gypsum particles down-slope, runoff is probably responsible for the dynamic evolution of gypsiferous hillslopes as well as the genetic evolution of the studied soils.     

An economic analysis of revegetation for dryland salinity control on the Lower Eyre Peninsula in South Australia

Dryland salinity is a major natural resource management problem imposing large economic and environmental costs in many countries throughout the world. The major cause of dryland salinity is the replacement of perennial native vegetation with annual crops and pastures. This results in greater amounts of water entering a groundwater system, watertable rise and the concentration of naturally occurring salts near the soil surface. Many consider that the best long‐term solution is the re‐establishment of high water use perennial vegetation through production systems such as agroforestry. This paper presents a benefit–cost analysis (BCA) of revegetation to control dryland salinity over a 20‐year period in South Australia. The results of the BCA indicate that market costs are likely to exceed market benefits for broad‐scale revegetation programmes. These results are driven by hydrogeological studies, which indicate that as much as 50 per cent of a ‘problem‐type’ catchment needs to be revegetated to save only 3 per cent of land from being salt affected. The conclusion is that revegetation programmes need to be highly targeted to areas of a catchment with large potential to control salinity, land that has minimal value for other uses and regions with high infrastructure and ecological value. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The short-term effects of liming on organic carbon mineralisation in two acidic soils as affected by different rates and application depths of lime

Two acidic soils (initial pH, 4.6) with contrasting soil organic C (SOC) contents (11.5 and 40 g C kg^?1) were incubated with ¹³C-labelled lime (Ca¹³CO₃) at four different rates (nil, target pH 5, 5.8 and 6.5) and three application depths (0–10, 20–30 and 0–30 cm). We hypothesised that liming would stimulate SOC mineralisation by removing pH constraints on soil microbes and that the increase in mineralisation in limed soil would be greatest in the high-C soil and lowest when the lime was applied in the subsoil. While greater SOC mineralisation was observed during the first 3 days, likely due to lime-induced increases in SOC solubility, this effect was transient. In contrast, SOC mineralisation was lower in limed than in non-limed soils over the 87-day study, although only significant in the Tenosol (70 μg C g^?1 soil, 9.15%). We propose that the decrease in SOC mineralisation following liming in the low-C soil was due to increased microbial C-use efficiency, as soil microbial communities used less energy maintaining intracellular pH or community composition changed. A greater reduction in SOC mineralisation in the Tenosol for low rates of lime (0.3 and 0.5 g column^?1) or when the high lime rate (0.8 g column^?1) was mixed through the entire soil column without changes in microbial biomass C (MBC) could indicate a more pronounced stabilising effect of Ca²⁺ in the Tenosol than the Chromosol with higher clay content and pH buffer capacity. Our study suggests that liming to ameliorate soil acidity constraints on crop productivity may also help to reduce soil C mineralisation in some soils.     

The effect of lime levels on the growth of beans and maize and nodulation of beans in three tropical acid soils

Abstract

A study to investigate the effect of lime on dry matter yield of maize (Zea mays) and beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) and nodulation of beans grown in three tropical acid soils (two humic Nitosols and one humic Andosol) was carried out in a greenhouse. The soils ranged from 4.2 to 5.0 in pH; 1.74 to 4.56 in %C; 21.0 to 32.0 meq/100g in CEC; 5.10 to 8.10 meq/100g in exchange acidity; 0.60 to 3.20 meq/100g in exchangeable (exch.) Al and 0.13 to 0.67 meq/ 100g in exch. Mn.

Exchange acidity and exch. Al decreased with increasing levels of lime in the three soils. Exchangeable Al was reduced to virtually zero at pH 5.5 even in the soils which had appreciable initial amounts. Exchangeable Mn also decreased with increasing levels of lime in the two Nitolsos. Exceptional results, however, were obtained with the Andosol where exch. Mn increased ten‐fold with the first level of lime and then decreased with subsequent levels.

In all the soils, mean dry matter yield of beans and maize, and mean nodule dry weight of beans generally increased significantly with increasing lime levels up to pH value of 6.0. The dry matter yield of beans and maize, and nodule weight of beans, however, decreased progressively with increasing lime levels beyond pH 6.0 value. pH range of 5.5 to 6.0 was considered optimum for the growth of maize and beans, and nodulation of beans in these soils.     

Method for determining the acid ameliorating capacity of plant residue compost,urban waste compost,farmyard manure,and peat applied to tropical soils

Abstract

Plant residue compost, urban waste compost, farmyard manure, and peat can be used to ameliorate soil acidity. The diversity of these materials and their highly variable composition mean that their reliability in increasing the soil pH is uncertain because of lack of a method to test their acid ameliorating capacities. Incubation of a Spodosol from Sumatra, an Oxisol from Burundi and an Ultisol from Cameroon with 1.5% by weight of four composts, a farmyard manure and a sedge peat resulted in increased soil pH and decreased aluminum (Al) saturation measured at 14 days of incubation. The increased soil pH was directly proportional to the protons consumption capacity of the organic materials. This was measured by titrating the organic material from their natural pH values down to pH 4.0. This measure of acid neutralizing capacity provides a simple test method that was reliable across the variety of materials used. The final pH of the soil treated with organic material can be predicted with reasonable accuracy by determining the buffer characteristics of the soil and organic matter separately. The pH at the intersection of the two buffer curves predicts reasonably accurately the final pH of the treated soil. This suggests that a major mechanism of acid amelioration may be proton exchange between the soil and organic matter buffer systems. The increased soil pH was also directly proportional to the base cations [calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), and potassium (K)] contents of the added organic material. Such a relationship was presumably obtained because the base cations reflected the content of weak organic acid functional groups that are capable of binding protons and Al.     

生物炭和堆肥提高西澳大利亚沙质平原土壤上的作物产量但这种效应是短期的

Sandplain soils on the south coast of Western Australia have low inherent fertility, which is mainly due to poor nutrient retention caused by insufficient clay and organic colloidal material. Previous research has shown the benefits in nutrient levels and retention from adding clay to sandplain soils; however, there is almost no information on the addition of organic amendments. A field experiment was established at the Esperance Downs Research Station, Western Australian, in May 2010, to assess the effects of wheat straw (WS) and chicken manure (CM) biochars and compost with and without phosphorus (P) addition on soil properties and crop production over five growing seasons. The five seasons alternated between winter and summer crops.~The CM and WS biochar and compost treatments significantly increased crop yields and P uptake in 3, 2 and 1 of the five seasons, respectively. The yield increases $(P<0.05)$ were no more than 8\%. By the end of the third season, no differences in crop yields were found that could be attributed to the organic amendments. The addition of P increased crop yields in each winter cropping season. Phosphorus addition explained more than 30\% of the variation in crop yields. Despite marginal P levels and summer drought conditions, arbuscular mycorrhizal root colonisation was not affected by the organic amendments. There were no significant interactions between the organic amendments and P addition in terms of crop yields, P uptake or P uptake efficiency. We conclude that much of the effect of the organic amendments was due to direct nutrient addition which dissipated over time.     

The effect of leaching and irrigation on the growth of Atriplex semibaccata

Mining activities along the west coast of South Africa will lead to salinization of the soil if sea-water is used in the mining process. Laboratory studies were conducted to determine the influence of leaching depth and the amount and frequency of irrigation on the growth of Atriplex semibaccata R. Br. Leaching depth as well as the amount and frequency of irrigation had no significant effect on biomass production. However, the interaction between leaching depth and amount of irrigation did influence the biomass production of Atriplex semibaccata. Root:shoot ratio increased as the amount of irrigation decreased.     

The effect of pig slurry on exchangeable potassium in calcareous soils

Pig slurry in quantities of 200, 400, 500, 600, 800, and 1000 m³ ha^-1 year^-1 was added to two calcareous soils, which differed in concentration and type of clay minerals. The soils were cultivated with two successive crops of pepper and tomatoes grown in containers. A control was given no slurry. The soils were analysed after harvesting for exchangeable K⁺. Differences in exchangeable K⁺ were studied in relation to the concentration and type of clay minerals. The soil with the higher clay content and of the illite type retained K in the exchangeable form to a much greater extent than the soil with the low clay content. In the soil with the lower clay content, of the interstratified illitic — montmorillonite type, very little K was incorporated into the exchange complex. The exchange capacity being low, the amount of K added had little effect on the level of exchangeable K⁺.     

The effect of compost and Bacillus licheniformis on the phytoextraction of Cr,Cu, Pb and Zn by three brassicaceae species from contaminated soils in the Apulia region,Southern Italy

The selection of appropriate plant species is critical in the successful application of phytoremediation techniques. The present study is an attempt to assess the capability of three brassicaceae, Brassica alba (L.) Rabenh, Brassica carinata A. Braun and Brassica nigra (L.) Koch, for the phytoextraction of Cr, Cu, Pb and Zn from an unpolluted and polluted silty loamy soil added with either Bacillus licheniformis BLMB1 or compost or both. Experiments were conducted in a greenhouse in pots filled with the soils. In all experiments metals were shown to accumulate in shoots and roots of plants grown on polluted soils, and both compost and B. licheniformis BLMB1 strain were able to enhance the accumulation of metals, especially Cr. In particular, Cr accumulation in B. alba resulted higher than the Cr threshold for hyperaccumulator plants (1000 mg kg^? 1). This result provides a new plant resource that may have a potential use for phytoextraction of Cr from contaminated soil. However, because of the low bioconcentration factors (< 1) for all studied metals, these species cannot be regarded as suitable for the phytoextraction of excessive Cr, Cu, Pb and Zn from polluted soils. Thus, these species may be used with success only for low metal polluted soils.     

The influence of amendments on the volumetric shrinkage and integrity of compacted clay soils used in landfill liners

Clay liners remain an important component of composite liners used in landfill construction. Because their hydraulic integrity is frequently lost due to desiccation cracking, either during construction or shortly thereafter. The present study was initiated to evaluate the effects of common soil additives including lime, cement, and sand on the shrinkage and hydraulic conductivity of compacted clay soils commonly used in clay liner construction. Three soils having predominant clay minerals of smectite, illite and kaolinite were amended with varying amounts of lime, cement or sand; compacted using the Harvard miniature compactor; and the volumetric shrinkage was measured on the compacted samples. Additional samples of each treated soil were compacted according to ASTM 698 and used for measurement of the hydraulic conductivity. The results show that the majority of shrinkage occurs when the samples were dried to 25 °C with little additional shrinkage at temperatures up to 105 °C. The amendments of either 4% lime or 40 to 50% sand resulted in reduced shrinkage and increased hydraulic conductivity. The addition of 3% cement reduced shrinkage by up to 50% and simultaneously reduced hydraulic conductivity by 2 orders of magnitude. Thus, amendment of clay soils having a high shrink-swell potential with Type I Portland cement has the greatest poetential for field application as an amendment to help maintain the integrity and improve the long term performance of compacted clay liners.