High-calcium flue gas desulfurization products reduce aluminum toxicity in an Appalachian soil

Journal Article · Fri Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1996 · Journal of Environmental Quality

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2134/jeq1996.00472425002500060034x· OSTI ID:430952

Wendell, R R; Ritchey, K D ^[1]

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1. USDA-ARS, Beaver, WV (United States)

An acid Appalachian soil was amended with two flue gas desulfurization (FGD) by-products, one consisting of wallboard-quality gypsum (CaSO{sub 4}{center_dot}2H{sub 2}) and the other containing CaSO{sub 3}{center_dot}0.5H{sub 2}O as a major component. Soil columns treated with FGD by-products were leached with deionized H{sub 2}O under unsaturated conditions. Aluminum amounts leached increased 25-fold over the control when CaSO{sub 4}{center_dot}2H{sub 2}O FGD by-product was incorporated into the soil. Leachate pH decreased with FGD product treatment, but bulk soil pH increased, and exchangeable Al and total soil acidity decreased. Mean 4-d root lengths of sudangrass (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) seedlings grown in the leached soils were as much as 440 and 310% the value of the control for CaSO{sub 3}{center_dot}0.5H{sub 2}O and CaSO{sub 4}{center_dot}2H{sub 2}O treatments, respectively. Mechanisms by which mitigation of Al toxicity occurs with addition of high-Ca FGD by-products to acid soils are discussed. 48 refs., 8 figs., 6 tabs.

• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• OSTI ID: 430952
• Journal Information: Journal of Environmental Quality, Journal Name: Journal of Environmental Quality Journal Issue: 6 Vol. 25; ISSN JEVQAA; ISSN 0047-2425
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ALUMINIUM
BY-PRODUCTS
CALCIUM SULFATES
COAL
DESULFURIZATION
FLUE GAS
GYPSUM
LEACHATES
LEACHING
PH VALUE
PLANT GROWTH
SEEDLINGS
SOIL CHEMISTRY
SOILS
SORGHUM
WASTE PRODUCT UTILIZATION