Tuesday, November 6, 2007
231-24

Field study of Manufactured Topsoil Containing Spent Foundry Sand and Compost.

Kirsten E. McDonald1, Richard Stehouwer2, and Jennifer Hindman1. (1) Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, Penn State University, 116 ASI Building, University Park, PA 16801, (2) Pennsylvania State Univ., Penn State University, 116 ASI Bldg., University Park, PA 16802-3504

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 field experiments were set up on three sites in Pennsylvania using three different SFSs. Each SFS was combined with one of three composts (biosolids, spent mushroom substrate (SMS), and yard trimmings) and a subsoil from each site to create manufactured soil blends at a weight based ratio of 6.5:1.5:2.0, respectively. Each field plot was fitted with a pan lysimeter and filled with either manufactured soil mix or with natural topsoil as a control and planted with perennial ryegrass. Leachates were collected at major precipitation events and 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. Perennial ryegrass clippings were collected every two weeks to submit for tissue analysis and determine yield amounts. Ryegrass cumulative yields were larger in plots containing soil blends than in natural topsoil plots. Leachate chemistry was primarily affected by the compost component; little effect was seen from the SFS component. Leachate nitrogen concentrations were greater in samples from blended soils than topsoil samples, although these differences are due to the compost component of the blend. Results indicate that for most metals, the use of manufactured soils blends will not increase the amount of metals lost in leachates over levels seen in natural topsoil or produce leachates with metal concentrations that exceed the National Primary Drinking Water MCL's.