Sewage sludge as a coal mine spoil amendment for revegetation in Colorado

Journal Article · · J. Environ. Qual.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2134/jeq1986.00472425001500010011x· OSTI ID:6070768

Topper, K F; Sabey, B R

Use of digested municipal sewage sludge as an amendment for revegetation of a Colorado coal mine spoil was evaluated as a function of application rate. Plant growth responses to sewage sludge additions were compared to inorganic nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) fertilizer treatments on a grass pasture mixture. Sewage sludge additions resulted in significant increases in aboveground biomass and percent canopy cover over the control for two seasons of growth following sludge application. Sewage sludge rates < 83 Mg ha/sup -1/ yielded greater plant growth than any of the inorganic N and P fertilzer treatments for both growing seasons. However, the lowest level of sewage sludge (14 Mg ha/sup -1/) resulted in equivalent total N and total P concentrations of the seeded grasses when compared to the highest inorganic fertilizer treatments. The superior growth associated with sewage sludge additions at less than 83 Mg ha/sup -1/ was likely due to measured increases in nutrient availability, improved physical condition of the spoil and a possible stimulation of microbial activity. The highest level of sewage sludge (83 Mg ha/sup -1/) was detrimental to seeded grass growth when compared to the lower sludge rates in 1984. This may have been due to increased soluble salt concentrations, an increase in competition by invading annual forbs, and/or elemental toxicities. Further research is necessary to determine the exact causes.

• Research Organization: Utah State Univ., Logan
• OSTI ID: 6070768
• Journal Information: J. Environ. Qual.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Environ. Qual.; (United States) Vol. 15:1; ISSN JEVQA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
010900 -- Coal
Lignite
&amp; Peat-- Environmental Aspects
510200* -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Chemicals Monitoring &amp; Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
COAL MINING
COLORADO
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
DOSE-RESPONSE RELATIONSHIPS
ELEMENTS
FEDERAL REGION VIII
FERTILIZERS
GROUND DISPOSAL
GROWTH
LAND RECLAMATION
MANAGEMENT
MINERAL WASTES
MINING
NITROGEN
NONMETALS
NORTH AMERICA
PHOSPHORUS
PLANT GROWTH
SEWAGE
SEWAGE SLUDGE
SLUDGES
SOLID WASTES
SPOIL BANKS
STIMULATION
USA
WASTE DISPOSAL
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTES