Tuesday, 8 November 2005
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Ryegrass Growth and Leachate Chemistry in Manufactured Topsoil Containing Spent Foundry Sand and Compost.

Jennifer Hindman, Richard Stehouwer, and Kirsten MacNeal. Penn State University, 116 ASI Building, University Park, PA 16803

Spent sands from metal casting industries could potentially be utilized with composted organic wastes in high sand content manufactured soils; however, environmental concerns exist regarding potential contaminants in spent foundry sands (SFS). Three SFSs from foundries utilizing differing core binder system chemistries were each combined with three composts (biosolids, spent mushroom substrate (SMS), and yard trimmings) and a subsoil source to create manufactured soil blends at a weight based ratio of 6.5:1.5:2.0, respectively. Columns constructed from PVC were filled with a 21.5 cm depth of manufactured soil blend or with natural topsoil as a control and planted with perennial ryegrass. Columns were leached every four weeks (6 leachings) and leachates were analyzed for pH, electrical conductance, organic C, total N, NO3, NH4, Al, Ba, Ca, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, K, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, Ni, P, S, and Zn. Harvested ryegrass clippings were dried and weighed and a composite sample was analyzed for nutrients and trace elements. Ryegrass yields were higher in all manufactured soils than in natural topsoil, with SMS and biosolids giving the highest yields. Molybdenum was the only trace metal in plant tissue that was higher in all SFS-containing soils than in the control. Tissue B concentrations were increased only when grown in soils containing shell SFS. Leachate chemistry was primarily affected by the compost component; little effect was seen from the SFS component. Biosolids-containing blends exhibited the highest total N concentrations and leached the greatest amounts of nitrate, ammonium, and total nitrogen. Phosphorous leaching was greater in SMS containing blends, with the greatest loss seen in the FNB-containing blend. Leachate metal concentrations were very low for all blends. The SFS-based manufactured soils produced excellent grass growth with little potential for trace metal uptake or transport, however, the potential for nutrient leaching is an environmental concern.

Handout (.pdf format, 1152.0 kb)

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