Use of bark and combined paper sludge for the revegetation of bark-covered land

Abstract

This study investigated the use of bark and combined paper sludge, poor and rich in nutrients, in order to develop a suitable plant growth substrate and to establish a vegetation cover on bark-covered land. A short-term field experiment was established in Taschereau, Quebec, Canada to: 1-determine a suitable plant growth medium on a bark-covered land; 2-determine which plant mixture should be selected for establishment on this site and 3-determine a fertilization program for one selected plant. By the end of the summer, the best soil cover consisted of 2.5 cm of combined paper sludge on top of 2.5 cm of black bark, which gave good plant appearance, cover, and yield. On this soil cover, the Savoureux mixture (53% perennial grasses and 37% perennial legumes) in combination with birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus L.), Lab02 (65% perennial grasses and 35% perennial legumes) in mixture with MR77 (100% perennial grasses), and birdsfoot trefoil in mixture with bromegrass (Bromus inermis L.) gave good vegetation growth and yields. For the birdsfoot trefoil fertilization experiments, and over all soil covers, nitrogen fertilization was not required, but phosphorus and potassium fertilizations should be, respectively, 140 kg P 2 O 5 /ha and 160 kg K 2 O/ha to obtain good plant growth and yield. These first results suggested that combined paper sludge and black bark can be used as topsoil to favor plant establishment on bark-covered land.

Comparison of revegetation techniques on mineral clay soil: analysis of quantitative response of vegetation cover

“…These findings match the results gained from corresponding tests performed both in short (Heereman et al, 2001;Beauchamp et al, 2006;Claassen and Carey, 2006;Grigg et al, 2006;O'Dell and Claassen, 2006;Curtis and Claassen, 2009) and medium periods (Roberts et al, 1988).…”

“…Richardson and Evans (1986) and Beauchamp et al (2006) determined a significant N × OM interaction (or chemical fertiliser × organic matter), while no significant results were reported in Heeraman et al (2001). In the present study, the absence of interactions between treatments may be partially attributed to the vegetation cover values expressed in percentage: they have a high (Beauchamp et al, 2006) minimum detectable difference (Zar, 1984), which can mask weak effects. The standardised effect of all treatments in Table 5 confirmed the temporal trends supra and provided a precise quantification over time of the individual treatment effects and of their interactions.…”

“…A positive interaction between topsoil and chemical fertiliser (NPK) was found by Richardson and Evans (1986); by contrast, no significance were detected by McGinnies and Nicholas (1980), and by Sydnor and Redente (2000). Richardson and Evans (1986) and Beauchamp et al (2006) determined a significant N × OM interaction (or chemical fertiliser × organic matter), while no significant results were reported in Heeraman et al (2001). In the present study, the absence of interactions between treatments may be partially attributed to the vegetation cover values expressed in percentage: they have a high (Beauchamp et al, 2006) minimum detectable difference (Zar, 1984), which can mask weak effects.…”

Interactive effects of biochar and an organic dust suppressant for revegetation and erosion control with herbaceous seed mixtures and willow cuttings

“…Additions of topsoil or organic material are commonly necessary to allow development of vegetation cover and initiate pedogenesis, mineral nutrient cycling, and ecological succession on unconsolidated geological material (Fellet et al ; Brown & Naeth ; Golos & Dixon ). Organic soil amendments that have been widely used for this purpose include lignin sludge from paper manufacture, municipal solid waste compost, and treated biosolids (Kuyucak ; Beauchamp et al ; Cousins et al ). In all these cases, there are commonly rapid losses of organic material through decomposition processes (e.g.…”

Slit seeded grass-legume mixture improves coal mine reclamation

“…The origin and quantity of carbon that enters the soil determines the necessary stabilization period of soil. The use of bark and combined paper sludge as a suitable plant growth substrate was investigated by Beauchamp et al (2006). They found the most effective soil cover to consist of 2.5 cm of combined paper sludge on 2.5 cm black bark, seeded with birdsfoot trefoil.…”