Nitrogen mineralization potentials of revegetated lignite overburden in the Texas Gulf Coast

Conference · · Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6556524

Hornby, W J; Brown, K W; Thomas, J C

This study was conducted to compare the mineralizable N resulting from inorganic fertilizer and sludge applications to overburden. Nitrogen mineralization potentials were determined from laboratory data on a pre-mined native soil and 4-yr old reclaimed mixed overburden that received 180 kg N ha/sup -1/ yr/sup -1/ as NH/sub 4/HO/sub 3/. In addition, the effect of anaerobically digested sewage sludge (sludge) on N-mineralization potential of overburden was evaluated on samples collected from field plots. Treatments were as follows: 0 kg N ha/sup -1/, 212 kg N ha/sup -1/ as NH/sub 4/NO/sub 3/, 106 kg N ha/sup -1/ as NH/sub 4/NO/sub 3/ plus 106 kg N ha/sup -1/ as sludge, and 212 kg N ha/sup -1/ as sludge applied to 13.8 m/sup 2/ plots of overburden. Mineralization rates were determined using columns containing 0.2 kg of soil or treated overburden plus 0.1 kg of sand which were incubated for 18 weeks at 35/sup 0/C. These columns were leached with saturated CaSO/sub 4/ and a N-free nutrient solution at 0, 2, 6, 10, 14, and 18 weeks and were extracted to a tension of -0.066 MPa after each leaching. The leachate was analyzed for NH/sub 4//sup +/ and NO/sub 3//sup -/ by colorimetric methods. Application of 56 Mg sludge ha/sup -1/ significantly (..cap alpha.. = 0.05) increased the total N 26 and 52 weeks after application to levels present in the 4-yr old mineral fertilized reclaimed spoil. Sludge application also resulted in a sustained release of plant available N for 52 weeks after application. Mineralization potentials 2 weeks after the plots were treated were ranked as unamended overburden = NH/sub 4/NO/sub 3/ treated overburden < native spoil = 4-year old reclaimed overburden < NH/sub 4/NO/sub 3/ plus sludge treated overburden < sludge treated overburden.

• Research Organization: Texas A and M Univ., College Station
• OSTI ID: 6556524
• Report Number(s): CONF-8611156-
• Conference Information: Journal Name: Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J.; (United States) Journal Volume: 50:6
• 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
AMMONIUM COMPOUNDS
AMMONIUM NITRATES
BROWN COAL
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
COAL
COASTAL REGIONS
DISSOLUTION
ENERGY SOURCES
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
FEDERAL REGION VI
FERTILIZERS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
LAND RECLAMATION
LEACHING
LIGNITE
MATERIALS
MINERALIZATION
NITRATES
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NORTH AMERICA
OVERBURDEN
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
REVEGETATION
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SEWAGE
SEWAGE SLUDGE
SLUDGES
SOILS
SPOIL BANKS
TEXAS
USA
WASTES