David A. Kost

Gypsum Additions Reduce Ammonia Nitrogen Losses During Composting of Dairy Manure and Biosolids

Composting of N rich organic materials often leads to N loss via ammonia volatilization. Literature references from as early as 1922 have suggested gypsum can prevent N loss from manure. Millions of tons of high quality by-product gypsum are produced each year in the United States as a result of flue gas desul-furization (FGD) scrubbing of sulfur dioxide during combustion of coal. Our objective was to determine the impact of this gypsum on N release when mixed with dairy manure and biosolids during composting. A preliminary experiment was conducted involving 4-liter vessels containing 1.1 kg of dairy manure mixed with by-product gypsum at dry weight rates (w/w) of 0, 6%, 13% and 23% and composted for 18 days. The ammonia-N released in the off gas was trapped in 0.67 M boric acid solution. Loss of ammonia-N was essentially complete after seven days. When expressed as percent of initial N in the mixes, the amount of N lost ranged from 6.4% for the zero rate control to 2.6–2.8% for the gypsum treatments. Composting studies were also conducted in insulated 210-liter stainless steel vessels over a 28-day period using dairy manure and biosolids treated with or without 17% gypsum (dry weight, w/w). Results revealed the amount of N lost, as a percentage of that originally present in the compost mix, was 7.27% and 15.6% without gypsum for dairy manure and biosolids, respectively, and 3.62% and 13.6% with gypsum. The difference between the dairy manure and biosolids results is attributed primarily to a lower C:N ratio of the biosolids compared to the dairy manure. The final composts were found to contain significant amounts of plant nutrients while heavy metals were well below values considered to be harmful to surface water quality or for crop production. We conclude that combining organic waste streams, especially N-rich streams, with by-product gypsum produces a quality product while also decreasing the loss of N and reducing odors associated with the volatilization of ammonia during the composting process.

Topsoiling, ripping, and fertilizing effects on tree growth and nutrition on calcareous minesoils

Abstract Tree survival, growth, and foliar nutrition were evaluated in two studies on coal minesoils in southeastern Ohio. A topsoiling-fertilizing study contrasted three constructed soil profiles (graded cast overburden, graded cast overburden under 30 cm of standard graded or ripped topsoil) and six phosphorus fertilizer treatments (0, 280, or 560 kgha −1 triple superphosphate, and 0, 1120, or 2240 kgha −1 rock phosphate). A ripping-fertilizing study used only graded cast overburden, ripped to 1.2 m depth or not ripped, and four fertilizer treatments (0 kgha −1 P and N, and 112 kgha −1 P in combination with 0, 168, or 336 kgha −1 N). Fertilizer treatments were in addition to fertilizers applied during ground cover seeding. After 7 years, overall tree survival was excellent for green ash ( Fraxinus pennsylvanica Marsh.) (91% survival) but poor for silver maple ( Acer saccharinum L.) (15–21%), sycamore ( Platanus occidentalis L.) (9%), and white pine ( Pinus strobus L.) (1%). Austrian pine ( Pinus nigra Arnold) survived moderately well in the topsoiling study (62%) but failed in the soil ripping study (0%). Deer browsing and rabbit cutting contributed to poor tree survival. In the topsoiling study, green ash was taller on both topsoil profiles (total height, 85 cm) than on cast overburden (64 cm). Austrian pine was also taller on standard topsoil (115 cm) and ripped topsoil (102 cm) than on cast overburden (64 cm). Tree performance was not improved by ripping topsoil in the topsoiling study or by ripping cast overburden in the soil ripping study. For comparable fertilizer treatments, gree ash grew better on cast overburden (ripped or not ripped) in the ripping study than on topsoils in the topsoiling study. Silver maple survived better (29% vs. 11%) and green ash was taller (126 cm vs. 101 cm) on plots that received both N and P than on plots that received no fertilizer. Fertilization with P alone was not effective. Foliar N concentrations in green ash (12.4–13.6 gkg −1 in the topsoiling study; 15.0–16.4 gkg −1 in soil ripping study) and Austrian pine (6.7–7.0 gkg −1 in topsoiling study) were much less than optimal. Of treatments tested, provision of adequate N by fertilizers appears to have the most potential for improving tree growth on these minesoils, but controlling animal damage would probably have a greater impact on survival and early growth than any fertilizer treatment.

Bioremediation of hydrocarbon degradation in a petroleum-contaminated soil and microbial population and activity determination.

Bioremediation of hydrocarbon degradation in petroleum-polluted soil is carried out by various microorganisms. However, little information is available for the relationships between hydrocarbon degradation rates in petroleum-contaminated soil and microbial population and activity in laboratory assay. In a microcosm study, degradation rate and efficiency of total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH), alkanes, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in a petroleum-contaminated soil were determined using an infrared photometer oil content analyzer and a gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Also, the populations of TPH, alkane, and PAH degraders were enumerated by a modified most probable number (MPN) procedure, and the hydrocarbon degrading activities of these degraders were determined by the Biolog (MT2) MicroPlates assay. Results showed linear correlations between the TPH and alkane degradation rates and the population and activity increases of TPH and alkane degraders, but no correlation was observed between the PAH degradation rates and the PAH population and activity increases. Petroleum hydrocarbon degrading microbial population measured by MPN was significantly correlated with metabolic activity in the Biolog assay. The results suggest that the MPN procedure and the Biolog assay are efficient methods for assessing the rates of TPH and alkane, but not PAH, bioremediation in oil-contaminated soil in laboratory.

In situ recycling of urban deciduous litter

Abstract When 1, 2, 4 and 8 times the average annual litterfall was placed around trees in a shade tree evaluation plantation, earthworm populations increased with increasing application rate after 5 months. After 17 and 60 months there was no significant effect on earthworm populations. In situ recycling of leaf litter can increase earthworm populations in urban soils.

Site factor effects on establishment of planted and volunteer trees and shrubs on graded cast overburden and replaced topsoil in southeastern Ohio

Abstract We measured survival and height of trees planted on graded cast overburden in southeastern Ohio as affected by aspect and slope position in one study and by aspect and interplanted European alder in an adjoining study. We also measured density and height of volunteer trees and shrubs on the cast overburden and on adjacent topsoiled plots that were not planted with trees. After eight years, survival for planted species varied from 1% for white pine ( Pinus strobus L.) to 92% for green ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica Marsh) Survival was poor ( 15% r silver maple l(Acer saccharinum L.) and intermediate (43-52% or European alder [ Atnus giutinosa ( L.) Gaertn.] sycamore ( Platanus occidentalis L.) bur oak ( Quercus macrocarpa Michx) and Austrian pine ( Pinus nigra Arnold) Aspect ( northeast vs. southwest) or slope position ( upper vs. lower) affected survival only of silver maple. Maple survived better on the northeast-facing, lower slope ( 43% ) than on other combinations of aspect and slope position ( ...

Effects of flue gas desulfurization and mined gypsums on soil properties and on hay and corn growth in eastern ohio.

Gypsum (CaSO·2HO) is a quality source of Ca and S and has various beneficial uses that can improve agricultural production. This study was conducted to compare rates of flue gas desulfurization (FGD) gypsum and commercially available agricultural (i.e., mined) gypsum as soil amendments on soils typical of eastern Ohio or western Pennsylvania. Two field experiments were conducted, one involving a mixed grass hay field and the other corn ( L.). Gypsum was applied once at rates of 0.2, 2.0, and 20 Mg ha and a seventh treatment was a zero rate control. Corn grain yields response to gypsum was mixed with significant differences between low and high gypsum rates in 2010 but not between gypsum and no gypsum treatments. In the hay study, the low and intermediate gypsum rates generally did not result in any significant changes compared with the control treatment. At the high rate of 20 Mg ha, the following results were observed for the hay study: (i) both gypsums generally increased Ca, S, and soluble salts (electrical conductivity) in the topsoil and subsoil, when compared with the control; (ii) the FGD gypsum decreased Mg in soil when compared with all other treatments, and mined gypsum decreased Mg when compared with the control; and (iii) there were few effects on soil concentrations of trace elements, including Hg. Also at the high application rate, hay yield for the first cutting (May) in 2009 and 2010 was significantly less for mined and FGD gypsum compared with the control, but increased yields in subsequent cutting resulted in no significant treatment differences in total annual hay yield for 2008, 2009, or 2010 or cumulative yield for 2008 to 2010. Overall, for the hay study, the absence of significant soil chemical effects for the intermediate gypsum rate and the decrease in soil Mg concentrations for the high gypsum rate indicate that an application rate of approximately 2.0 Mg ha would be optimal for this soil.

Establishment of trees on minesoils during drought and wet years

ABSTRACT In two studies, green ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica) and white pine (Pinus strobus) were planted on three minesoils (graded topsoil, ripped topsoil, and gray cast overburden). Mixtures of grasses and/or legumes were seeded at different times in relation to tree planting. In the first study, tree planting was followed by several weeks of drought; in the second study, precipitation was above average for the first two growing seasons following planting. In the drought year, survival of green ash was influenced by minesoil type, herbaceous mixture, and herbaceous seeding time in relation to tree planting. Among minesoils, mean survival was highest (87%) on cast overburden. Seeding grasses the fall before planting resulted in poor ash survival (40% to 47%) compared with seeding at time of planting (82% to 85 %). Ash survived well (81 % to 94%) on legume-seeded plots. When tree planting was followed by two wet seasons, survival at 4 and 5 yr ranged from very good to excellent in all treatments. Total hei...

EFFECTS OF GYPSUM ENHANCED COMPOSTS ON YIELDS AND MINERAL COMPOSITIONS OF BROCCOLI AND TALL FESCUE

Gypsum (CaSO4·2H2O) addition during composting of manure or biosolids can reduce ammonia nitrogen losses and represents a new method for controlling odors. Additional work is needed, however, to test the ability of the gypsum-containing composts to support plant growth and affect uptake of nutrients and heavy metals. A field study using broccoli (Brassica oleracea L. var. italica) and a growth chamber study using tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea) were conducted by application of composts at 10 Mg ha−1 for broccoli and 10 and 25 Mg ha−1 for tall fescue. Compared to composts without gypsum, at 10 Mg ha−1, gypsum composts significantly increased or had a strong trend to increase yields of broccoli and tall fescue. Gypsum composts affected concentrations of nutrient elements but did not increase concentrations of environmental concern elements in broccoli flowers and tall fescue tissue. Thus gypsum composts can be safely applied to soils to enhance crop growth.

Topsoil and fertilizer effects on ground cover growth on calcareous minesoils

ABSTRACT We measured canopy cover and aboveground biomass of herbaceous species in four studies for five years (1989–1993) in southeastern Ohio. Three studies compared graded cast overburden, standard graded topsoil (30 era depth), and ripped topsoil. The fourth study lacked the ripped topsoil treatment. In 1997 two studies were seeded with both a standard and a modified mixture of grass and legume species, and two studies used the modified mix only. A nitrogen rate study used 45, 90, or 135 kg/ha of N applied on two occasions, and a phosphorus fertilizer study used rock phosphate amendment at 0, 1120, or 2240 kg/ha and triple superphosphate amendment at 0, 280, or 560 kg/ha. Based on one clipping per year, overall average biomass (Mg/ha dry weight) was slightly greater on standard topsoil (3·34), and ripped topsoil (3·30) than on cast overburden (3·09). Biomass did not differ significantly (p=0·05) on standard topsoil versus cast overburden for 15 of 19 comparisons. Legume biomass (Mg/ha, measured for 3 ...

Effects of fungal isolates on ectomycorrhizal development and growth of water-stressed northern red oak (Quercus rubra L.)seedlings in stockpiled topsoil

Abstract Northern red oak (Quercus rubra L.) seedlings were inoculated with five isolates of Plsollthus tlnctorlus (Pers.) Coker and Couch and three isolates of Cenococcum geophilum Fr, individually and with three combinations of Plsollthus and Cenococcum, and subjected to a series of four soil drying periods In a greenhouse. Seedlings were grown in a stockpiled topsoil from a coal surface mine. When introduced individually most of the Plsollthus isolates formed significantly more ectomycorrhlzae than Cenococcum isolates on seedlings that were colonized. Ectomycorrhizal development of seedlings inoculated with mixtures of Plsollthus and Cenococcum was erratic. Only root dry weight of seedlings inoculated with one of the Plsollthus isolates was significantly increased over that of nonmycorrhizal controls. Increases In root growth over the controls were generally less for seedlings inoculated with both fungal species than for seedlings Inoculated with either fungal species.