To prevent the 7 to 11 million metric tons of waste foundry sand (WFS) produced annually in the USA from entering landfi lls, current research is focused on the reuse of WFSs as soil amendments. Th e eff ects of diff erent WFS-containing amendments on turfgrass growth and nutrient content were tested by planting perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) and tall fescue (Schedonorus phoenix (Scop.) Holub) in diff erent blends containing WFS. Blends of WFS were created with compost or acid-washed sand (AWS) at varying percent by volume with WFS or by amendment with gypsum (9.6 g gypsum kg -1 WFS). Measurements of soil strength, shoot and root dry weight, plant surface coverage, and micronutrients (Al, Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, B, Na) and macronutrients (N, P, K, S, Ca, Mg) were performed for each blend and compared with pure WFS and with a commercial potting media control. Results showed that strength was not a factor for any of the parameters studied, but the K/Na base saturation ratio of WFS:compost mixes was highly correlated with total shoot dry weight for perennial ryegrass (r = 0.995) and tall fescue (r = 0.94). Th is was further substantiated because total shoot dry weight was also correlated with shoot K/Na concentration of perennial ryegrass (r = 0.99) and tall fescue (r = 0.95). A compost blend containing 40% WFS was determined to be the optimal amendment for the reuse of WFS because it incorporated the greatest possible amount of WFS without major reduction in turfgrass growth.
A study was initiated in soils of two southern Illinois loess‐derived landscapes to investigate the distribution of selected trace and major elements. The objective of the research was to link the distribution of elements in different landscape positions to important soil and landscape processes. Seventeen pedons (representing different geomorphic hillslope positions) at the Morgan Pond (MP) and Bean Ridge (BR) sites were sampled by horizon. Data were evaluated by grouping selected horizons (A, Bt) by site (MP and BR) as well as by geomorphic hillslope position. Results show that relative concentrations of total As, Cr, Cu, V, Ni, Pb, Se, and Zn between these two sites were impacted by differences in inherent particle size distribution of the parent material. These elements were also greater in Bt versus A horizons within each site, suggesting that select elements were redistributed by clay illuviation processes. Barium, Ca, Cd, Hg, and Pb were all significantly elevated in A relative to Bt horizons at the BR site and were strongly correlated with total C, suggesting biocycling and trace element bioaccumulation were important in landscape positions of this site. The MP site lacked this same concentration of elements in surface horizons, demonstrating the effect of accelerated erosion due to more intensive cropping history. When grouping data by landscape position, elemental distribution and Bt/A clay ratios showed that landscape stability was greatest in summit positions relative to other positions (summit > shoulder > backslope positions), confirming that relative amount of soil erosion was also related to landscape position among these sites.
The fundamental purposes of a soil survey are to show (cartographically) the geographic distribution of the soils and make land‐use predictions about those soils. A wide array of environmental, ecological, agricultural, geological, and natural resource issues have placed greater demands on soil survey information. Traditional soil maps, soil map units, and interpretations may be inadequate when confronting these complex issues, and in particular, issues that require detailed hydrologic information.
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