Application of Sewage Sludge and Other Amendments to Coal Refuse Material: II. Effects on Revegetation

Abstract

The effects of sewage sludge, lime, and gypsum on the revegetation of acidic coal refuse material were studied at a Fulton County, IL, land reclamation site. Treatments consisted of a control, 542 dry Mg ha−1 anaerobically digested sewage sludge, 89.6 Mg ha−1 lime, 112 Mg ha−1 gypsum, and combinations of these amendments. The experimental plots were seeded with a mixture of bromegrass (Bromus inermis Leyss.), tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea L.), and alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.). Yearly analysis of coal refuse material (0–15 cm) showed that the concentrations of NH+4‐N, [NO−3 + NO−2]‐N, available P, and water‐soluble K were the highest in sludge‐amended treatments, but they decreased with time. Plant yields increased each year from 1978 to 1980 in treatments receiving lime, sewage sludge, or both amendments. The highest yield of 6.00 Mg ha−1 occurred in the 1980 sludge + lime treatment. In 1980, the order of dry matter plant yields by treatments was sewage sludge + lime > gypsum + sewage sludge + lime > lime > sewage sludge > gypsum + sewage sludge > gypsum + lime > gypsum = control. Coal refuse and tissue K levels indicated that supplemental K would be desirable for long‐term maintenance of a vegetative cover. The better survival of bromegrass and tall fescue, as compared to alfalfa, reflected the coal refuse pH and the shorter root system of the more acid‐tolerant grasses. Concentrations of Al, Fe, Pb, and Zn in composite plant samples from some treatments exceeded the phytotoxic limits for these metals in plants. Potential plant toxicity from metals in the coal refuse material was most likely reduced by reactions with the applied sewage sludge and lime.

Role of organic amendments on enhanced bioremediation of heavy metal(loid) contaminated soils

“…Biosolids have been similarly blended with lime, other alkali and various salts after biosolid production for improving alkalinity and soil productivity. Lime and gypsum treated anaerobically biosolids post production were used by Pietz et al [164,165] for revegetation of acidic coal refuse material. It was found that the lime + biosolid and gypsum + biosolid treatments reduced soil acidity and dissolved Al and increased plant productivity compared to control and individual amendments.…”

Uptake of multielements by corn from fly ash-compost amended soil

“…It is evident that among other factors, greater availability of K from soil and FA-Compost mixture (Table I) was responsible for the improved growth of corn. Pietz et al (1989) also showed that the concentration of water soluble K was the highest in sludge + lime-amended treatments of coal refuse material. In their study, potential toxicity from metals in the coal refuse material was most likely reduced by complexing and neutralizing reactions with the applied sewage sludge and lime.…”

Improving Soil Fertility to Support Grass–Legume Revegetation on Lignite Mine Spoils

“…Moreover, they contribute toward the recovery of soil organic-matter levels as well Downloaded by [Istanbul Universitesi Kutuphane ve Dok] at 08:08 05 November 2014 as restoring ecosystem biodiversity and other environmental functions. Different grass and herbaceous legume species have been commonly used in revegetation studies (Brofas and Varelides 2000;Brofas et al 2007;Joost et al 1987;Olsen and Chong 1991;Pietz et al 1989;Russell and Roberts 1986;Waldron et al 2005).…”