Design of long-term sludge-loading rates for forests under uncertainty
- Univ. of California, Riverside, CA (United States). Dept. of Soil and Environmental Science
A simple time series describing nitrate-nitrogen concentrations percolating form a sludge-amended forest is presented for the case where applications are made at several-year intervals. The time series converges to a quasi-steady-state solution that can be solved for an application rate limited by percolating nitrate-nitrogen concentrations. Excess nitrogen is commonly converted to nitrate, a form that leaches readily to pollute ground water. A chance constraint incorporates uncertainty associated with precipitation and evapotranspiration, the most important factors in determining the excess of water available for leaching. Design loading rates for eight New York state forest regions are discussed. If applications occur at 3-year intervals, rates range form 0.2 to 5.3 Mg/ha dry weight depending on the design confidence level, local excess water patterns, forest nitrogen uptake, sludge type, and atmospheric nitrogen deposition rates. Results are compared to predictions made with FORSENTO, a comprehensive model for simulating sludge applications to northern hardwood forests. FORSENTO simulations suggest that mature hardwoods need only 12 kg/ha to support annually perennial material growth and that atmospheric nitrogen deposition may eventually meet or exceed needs of trees so that landspreading may not be sustainable indefinitely in some areas.
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- OSTI ID:
- 103933
- Journal Information:
- Journal of Environmental Engineering, Vol. 121, Issue 9; Other Information: PBD: Sep 1995
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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