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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Auburn, Alabama » Soil Dynamics Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #157216
Title: ECOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF PROCESSED MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE PULP ON DEGRADED ARMY TRAINING LANDS

Author
item BUSBY, R - US ARMY CERL
item GEBHART, D - US ARMY CERL
item Torbert, Henry - Allen
item Potter, Kenneth
item BOREN, B - FORT CAMPBELL
item TAYLOR, S - FORT CAMPBELL
item CURTIN, D - US ARMY CERL

Submitted to: ASA-CSSA-SSSA Proceedings
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/3/2003
Publication Date: 11/3/2003
Citation: Busby, R., Gebhart, D., Torbert III, H.A., Potter, K.N., Boren, B., Taylor, S., Curtin, D. 2003. Ecological effects of processed municipal solid waste pulp on degraded army training lands[abstract]. Agronomy Abstracts, ASA, Madison, WI.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: ERDC-CERL, Fort Campbell, and the USDA-ARS are studying the ecological effects of using the organic constituent of processed municipal solid waste (MSW) pulp as a soil amendment on Army training lands. 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 2002 at Fort Campbell and seeded with native grasses. Data on basal vegetative cover, plant species composition, above-ground biomass, and plant and soil chemical analysis were collected for two consecutive growing seasons. After one growing season, planted grass cover was significantly higher at the high application rate than controls. Weedy annual grass cover diminished with increasing rates of the MSW pulp. Chemical analysis indicated that plant tissues from the high pulp rates had significantly higher phosphorous accumulation but lower concentrations of lead, chromium, cobalt, and barium compared to the controls. Spring 2003 species composition data showed no reportable differences. Results of the second growing season will be presented.