Soil amendments such as municipal biosolids, animal manures and litters, sugar beet lime, wood ash, among others, are being increasingly used in soil remediation, revegetation, reuse, and ecological revitalization of contaminated properties. In addition to reducing exposure to contaminants at these sites, soil amendments also restore soil quality by balancing pH, adding organic matter, increasing water holding capacity, re-establishing microbial communities, and reducing soil compaction. Another important co-benefit of using soil amendments for remediation is terrestrial carbon sequestration, the process through which carbon dioxide from the atmosphere is absorbed by trees and plants through photosynthesis and stored as carbon in soils and biomass.

To date, little research has been published evaluating and quantifying terrestrial carbon sequestration benefits associated with contaminated lands remediated with soil amendments (i.e., Superfund sites, Brownfield sites, etc.). The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) conducted a field study, where EPA collected and analyzed samples at three field sites to quantify soil carbon sequestration rates after treatment with soil amendments. As part of this study, EPA developed a methodology for field sampling and analysis of carbon in soils at amended sites.

This seminar will discuss the importance of the use of soil amendments in the context of soil health and ecosystem services and provide details about the EPA field study.

Upcoming Events  No upcoming events. Archives of past CLU-IN internet seminars are available in the CLU-IN Studio at http://clu-in.org/studio/. You will be able to view the slide and hear an audio stream of the presentation as it occurred.

Previous Events (click to view/hide)

Live Online Class, Internet Based View details on CLU-IN   October 27, 2011 - October 27, 2011