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-
• Journal Information: Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J.; (United States), Vol. 50:6; Conference: 50. annual meeting of the Soil Science Society of America, New Orleans, LA, USA, 30 Nov 1986
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
LIGNITE
OVERBURDEN
NITRATES
LEACHING
MINERALIZATION
SEWAGE SLUDGE
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
TEXAS
LAND RECLAMATION
AMMONIUM NITRATES
COASTAL REGIONS
FERTILIZERS
REVEGETATION
SOILS
SPOIL BANKS
AMMONIUM COMPOUNDS
BROWN COAL
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
COAL
DISSOLUTION
ENERGY SOURCES
FEDERAL REGION VI
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
MATERIALS
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NORTH AMERICA
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SEWAGE
SLUDGES
USA
WASTES
010900* - Coal
Lignite
&amp; Peat- Environmental Aspects
510200 - Environment
Terrestrial- Chemicals Monitoring &amp; Transport- (-1989)