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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Auburn, Alabama » Soil Dynamics Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #154950
Title: TRAINING ON TRASH: USING GARBAGE AS A LAND REHABILITATION TOOL

Author
item BUSBY, RYAN - U.S. ARMY
item GEBHART, DICK - U.S. ARMY
item Torbert, Henry - Allen
item Potter, Kenneth
item BOREN, BETH - U.S. ARMY
item TAYLOR, S - U.S.ARMY
item CURTIN, DEBBIE - U.S.ARMY

Submitted to: Integrated Training Area Management Workshop
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/18/2003
Publication Date: 8/18/2003
Citation: Busby, R., Gebhart, D., Torbert III, H.A., Potter, K.N., Boren, B., Taylor, S., Curtin, D. 2003. Training on trash: using garbage as a land rehabilitation tool [abstract]. Integrated Training Area Management Workshop. 12th Annual Integrated Training Area Management (ITAM) Conference,August 18-22, 2003, El Paso, TX. p. 56

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: A novel process of separating and sterilizing garbage has been developed that could ultimately replace landfills. The organic fraction from this process, which accounts for around 70% of the waste stream, is being evaluated as a potential soil amendment on degraded training land at Fort Campbell. The experiment consists of 6 blocks with 4 application rates (2, 4, 8, and 16 tons per acre) as well as controls with and without revegetation. Plots were established in spring of 2002 and seeded with native grasses. First year data collection occurred in fall 2002, and consisted of basal vegetative cover, plant species composition, above-ground biomass, and plant and soil chemical analysis. Plant material and soils were analyzed for 17 elements, including plant nutrients and heavy metals. Vegetation analysis showed that the most widespread species were weedy annual grasses; however, their presence diminished with increased rates of the MSW pulp. Additionally, the control treatments had the lowest plant diversity and the highest total annual cover. Chemical analysis indicated that plant tissues from the 8 and 16 tons/acre treatments had significantly higher phosphorous accumulation but lower concentrations of lead, chromium, cobalt, and barium when compared to the control treatments. Soil chemical analysis revealed very slight increases in lead, nitrogen, calcium, copper, sodium, manganese, iron, and carbon with increasing application rates. Second year data will be collected in late summer of 2003, and will provide a much better indication of the ecological effects of the processed garbage.