EVALUATION OF THE USEFULNESS OF GRASS MIXTURES AND SEWAGE SLUDGE FOR RECLAMATION OF DUMPING GROUND

Aleksander Kiryluk
Department of Technological Research, Technical University in Białystok, Poland

ABSTRACT

The usefulness of grass mixtures for biological reclamation of municipal dumping ground was investigated. Five mixtures and inter-genus hybrid Festulolium were sown on plots treated with 20, 40 and 60 t of sewage sludge per hectare. The highest biomass production was achieved on plots with Festulolium, and the best sodding was formed by Lolium perenne and Festuca rubra species. Dose of 40 t·ha^-1 was the most favorable referring to sodding effect and biomass production under experimental conditions. Investigations point out to the usefulness of further study upon Festulolium.

Key words: biomass crop, sodding, sludge rate, grass species.

INTRODUCTION

Increasing amounts of wastes produced in households and industry make their removing and utilization out of living areas is necessary. The problem refers mainly to small agglomerations where waste segregating and utilizing plants do not always function, and most of wastes are stored on local dumping grounds. At present, arising dumping grounds must fulfill legal and technical requirements [15]. Hitherto functioning and exploited dumping grounds do not have proper protections against hazardous interaction with an environment [6]. Completing the waste storage makes the necessity of detailed management of dumping ground area and its reclamation [15]. Reclamation of municipal dumping ground means performing the technical and biological procedures that would minimize the ground and surface water, soil environment pollution as well as emission of noxious gases and bacterial aerosols.

Methods and technologies insisting in covering the dumping grounds with the soil layer of low water permeability and ground stabilization on slopes were fairly well recognized and worked out [13]. Fertilization of soil cover in dumping grounds using sewage sludge is considered as positive process [1]. It allows soil enrichment in nutrients and waste utilization at the same time, as well as reduction of potential environment threat with hazardous elements and compounds [18]. However, opinions, confirmed by study results, on the usefulness of sewage sludge application for soil fertilization during dumping ground reclamation, prevail [7]. Sewage sludge management fulfilling the norms [10] during dumping ground reclamation can be considered as a method for their ecological neutralization [17].

Problem of biological reclamation of dumping ground areas and slopes is not fully recognized and worked out, mainly due to the difficulties associated with vascular plants adaptation to strongly anthropogenized conditions [5, 16]. The attempt to evaluate the usefulness of chosen grass species to stabilize the dumping ground surface and estimation of sewage sludge doses during biological reclamation process was undertaken in present study. [Phot.4]

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Study upon grass species and sewage sludge usefulness for biological reclamation of municipal dumping ground surface was performed in Stożne near Kowale Oleckie [Phot.6.]

Two-factor experiment in split-plot design was set on completed part of the dumping ground. Studied factors were: three sewage sludge doses (20, 40 and 60 t·ha^-1), as well as five grass species and inter-genus hybrid Festulolium (Tab.1), plot area 10 m²; each object in three replications. Taking into account practical aspect of study, common grass species and inter-genus hybrid Festulolium was applied in mixtures for experiment. Earlier investigations point out to great usefulness of plants of Poaceae family to stabilize so-called “difficult areas” [3].

The evaluation of sown mixture and Festulolium hybrid usefulness was done according to available methodology [2] as well as to own research concept [5]. Gravimetric, linear and percentage measurements of plant traits were made. Usefulness of grass mixtures being an artificial plant community, was assessed mainly in an aspect of their ability to form the stable plant cover.

Following measurements were carried out:

• Size of plant biomass production;

• Height of main plant mass;

• Area coverage [sodding];

• Synthetic field mixture evaluation.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Plant biomass production is an indicator of soil fertility and plant’s production potential. Sown mixtures yielded in a range of 7.9-104.4 dt^.ha^-1 D.M. in 2002 characterizing with mean weather conditions (Tab. 2).

The lowest biomass production was recorded on object with M-3 mixture with no sludge applied. The highest biomass production was achieved on object sown with Festulolium applying sewage sludge at the rate of 40 t·ha^-1 D.M. [Phot.3].It seems that sewage sludge dose at 40 t·ha^-1 D.M. ensured optimum conditions for plant’s biomass production in the second year after sowing. Excessive sewage sludge rates introduced into soil cover characterizing with poor physico-water properties cause the increase of soil environment salinity and reduce the plant’s development and growth [16]. Soil salinity increases due to permeability. In general, higher biomass yields, regardless the species composition of the mixture, were achieved on plots with higher doses of sewage sludge. The highest yields were obtained for three-component mixture M-5 at all sewage sludge rates.

Study upon the height of main plant’s mass, performed before I cut harvest (June 2002) revealed that the highest main plant’s mass occurred on plots with Festulolium (above 25 cm) and on plots with M-1 and M-5 mixtures (above 20 cm) (Fig. 1). Other mixtures were characterized with main plant’s mass height in a range of 10-20 cm.

Sodding measurements made by means of Weber squares method revealed that applied grass mixtures sown on plots with sewage sludge formed good sodding covering at least 60% area on every object (Fig. 2). Better sodding was achieved at higher rates of wastes [Phot 7]. Following sodding was formed by: Festulolium – above 70% and M-2 mixture consisting of Lolium perenne and Festuca rubra. Among studied traits, sodding is the most needed one during biological reclamation of dumping grounds [19]. Higher sewage sludge doses [40 and 60 t·ha^-1 D.M.] in first years of management positively interacted with grass adaptation, formation of root system and, in consequence, more durable surface sodding. Synthetic mixture assessment in 10-point grade performed on field points out that all applied mixtures sown with sewage sludge achieved at least score 4 (Fig. 3). Plots with Festulolium and M-1 mixture achieved the highest scores [Phot.5].

Obtained positive effects of biological dumping ground stabilization confirm the usefulness of further studies upon the selection of grass species. Positive results with Festulolium in first years of study, due to this species biology [2] do not determine the usefulness of its application for sodding. Further research on the inter-genus hybrid is necessary. [Phot. 3.]

CONCLUSIONS

1. The highest plant’s biomass yields were achieved on plots sown with Festulolium. The increase of sewage sludge rate caused linear increase of plant’s biomass to 40 t·ha^-1 D.M.

2. Due to the development and growth of plants sown on reclamated dumping ground, 40 t·ha^-1 D.M. would be the most profitable sewage sludge dose, at which good sodding and biomass gains are achieved. [Phot .1, Phot 2].

3. All mixtures applied for reclamation formed area sodding over 60%. The best sodding was formed by: Festulolium and M-2 mixture with great share of Festuca rubra and Lolium perene.

4. Achieved positive quantitative and qualitative parameters of Festulolium usefulaness in the first years of study, due to the biology of the species being the inter-genus hybrid, point out to the need of further investigations.

Investigations subsided from rector’s project No PB W/IIŒ/25/02.

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