Forest land application of sewage sludge on the Savannah River Plant
- comp.
In 1980, a sewage sludge application study was initiated on the Savannah River Plant to evaluate the effects of sludge additions on nutrient cycling processes in loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) forest ecosystems and to determine whether or not such additions beneficially enhance forest productivity. Sewage sludge, either as a liquid anaerobic sludge at 0, 402, or 804 kg N/ha (360 and 720 lb/ac) containing approximately 7% N (oven dry) or a solid aerobic material at 632 kg N/ha (560 lb/ac) with approximately 1.3% N (oven dry), was applied to 1-, 3-, 8-, and 28-year-old loblolly pine stands on sandy and clayey upper coastal plain soils. A total of 525,000 gallons of liquid sludge and 560 tons of solid sludge was applied on 11.6 hectares (28.7 acres) of loblolly pine forest plots. Sludge additions were monitored to determine availability and movement so that potential impacts could be evaluated on water quality, nutrient and heavy metal cycling, soil and forest floor, understory vegetation, tree foliage, stand growth, biomass production, and wood quality. This study concluded that using liquid sludge at rates of 400 kg N/ha or less as a silvicultural treatment to fertilize pulp and sawtimber loblolly pine stands resulted in increased forest productivity without environmental or wood quality degradation. Application recommendations for stand age and loading rates for management purposes are addressed.
- Research Organization:
- Savannah River Site (SRS), Aiken, SC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC09-89SR18035
- OSTI ID:
- 5866425
- Report Number(s):
- DP-1763; ON: DE89014018
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: Portions of this document are illegible in microfiche products
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
BIOMASS
OPTIMIZATION
FORESTS
PRODUCTIVITY
PINES
SAVANNAH RIVER PLANT
SEWAGE SLUDGE
CONIFERS
ENERGY SOURCES
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
PINOPHYTA
PLANTS
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES
SEWAGE
SLUDGES
TREES
US AEC
US DOE
US ERDA
US ORGANIZATIONS
WASTES
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