Progress 02/01/98 to 01/30/04
Outputs
The project involved studies aimed at maintaining and enhancing forest soil productivity. Several projects relating to this topic were joined, including a study which evaluated soil erosion associated with intensive site preparation funded by the U.S. Forest Service. One publication has been produced and another has been submitted from this work. Another aspect of the study evaluated poultry litter as a forest fertilizer. This work was in cooperation with the Natural Resources Conservation Service and Temple Inland Forest Products Company. This work is still ongoing. Another study was joined on restoring forest soil productivity on brine contaminated soils. This was a cooperative project with Shell Oil Company. Two theses were produced from this work and a publication is being prepared.
Impacts
Results of this research will be useful in our understanding of how to maintain and enhance forest soil productivity. The erosion study gave indications on how site preparation techniques might be modified to minimize soil erosion. The poultry litter work showed how this agricultural waste, which is a real environmental problem in the region, could be a very effective forest fertilizer. The very successful remediation and reclamation of brine contaminated land with loblolly pine in the Shell funded study developed techniques in restoring such contaminated land to productive forestland.
Publications
- Field, J.P., K.W. Farrish, and E.A. Carter. 2003. Soil and nutrient losses following site preparation burning in a harvested loblolly pine site. Trans. of ASAE. 46(6):1697-1703.
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Progress 01/01/02 to 12/31/02
Outputs
An initial study evaluating poultry litter for use as a forest fertilizer now has four growing seasons of data collected. A follow-up study, a cooperative effort with the NRCS and Temple Inland, now has three growing seasons of data collected. A new study that is underway and utilizes poultry litter, also in cooperation with the NRCS and Temple Inland, is aimed at developing cost-effective techniques for the revegetation of gravel pits in east Texas. A cooperative study with Shell Oil Company on remediation and reclamation of brine contaminated lands has resulted in the successful reestablishment of loblolly pine on a severely contaminated site. Another cooperative study with the USFS on reducing soil erosion on site prepared forestland using winter cover crops is still ongoing.
Impacts
The research has developed alternative uses of poultry litter, a major environmental waste problem in the region. The brine remediation work has developed techniques to return the many acres of brine contaminated land to productivity.
Publications
- Osborne, H. and K.W. Farrish. 2002. Remediation of a brine contaminated site in Louisiana. Abstract. National Association of Environmental Professionals Annual Meeting. Dearborn, MI.
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Progress 01/01/01 to 12/31/01
Outputs
The initial study that has been evaluating the use of poultry litter as a forest fertilizer has three growing seasons of data now. Poultry litter has been shown to be as effective as commercial chemical fertilizer and in some ways shows advantages. A second, larger study on the use of poultry litter as a forest fertilizer, conducted in cooperation with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service and Temple Inland Corp., was installed a year ago and first year growth data has been collected. The cooperative study with Shell Oil Co. on remediation of brine-contaminated sites is also still ongoing. First year survival of planted loblolly pine on a remediated brine site showed encouraging 83% first year survival. A cooperative study with the USDA Forest Service that will evaluate means of controlling soil erosion on site prepared land is underway. Bordered soil erosion monitoring plots will be established this spring on recently clear-cut land that is slated for site
preparation. Seeding with native and non-native herbaceous cover crops will be evaluated for erosion control effectiveness and other benefits.
Impacts
The poultry litter work is important for this region where the poultry industry has a litter disposal problem and forest industry is actively applying fertilizer. The brine remediation study is also important to the region that has thousands of such contaminated sites. Returning these barren areas to productive forest vegetation is very desirable. Controlling soil erosion on site prepared forestland is desirable to maintain both soil productivity and water quality.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 01/01/00 to 12/31/00
Outputs
Data from the study evaluating poultry litter as a substitute for commercial fertilizer is still being collected. Data from two growing seasons indicates that poultry litter is at least as effective as commercial fertilizer in this loblolly pine plantation. A second cooperative study was initiated in 2000. The use of poultry litter as a pre-plant fertilizer and in mid-rotation fertilization is being evaluated. This four site study is in cooperation with USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service and Temple Inland Corporation. Tree nutrition and growth will be evaluated over several years. The study, which has been exploring techniques for restoration of brine contaminated soils is still ongoing. The study site was planted with loblolly pine seedlings in early 2001 after several years of successful remediation work. Seedling survival and growth will be monitored over the next two years. Shell Oil Corp. is the cooperator on this project.
Impacts
The poultry litter work is very important in this region where the poultry litter industry has a large litter disposal problem. The forest products industry is actively engaged in fertilization programs in the same region. The project serves the needs of both industries by providing another use for the litter. The remediation and reclamation work on brine contaminated sites also serves the region well. Thousands of such contaminated sites exist in the region. Finding economical approaches to reclamation of such sites would be very useful.
Publications
- Anderson, Eric S. 2000. Remediation of an Oilfield Brine Spoil for Establishment of Southern Pine. M.S. Thesis. Stephen F. Austin State University.
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Progress 01/01/99 to 12/31/99
Outputs
The study on poultry litter as a soil amendment was installed during spring of 1999. First year tree remeasurments have been completed and data is being analyzed. Foliage nutrition status will be remeasured this month. The carbon sequestration study was completed during 1999. Soil C levels increased significantly on marginal farmland that had undergone afforestation in the Mississippi River Valley. The changes in C storage in soils was large enough to warrant measurement in carbon sequestration projects of this type. The remediation and reclamation project on a brine contaminated soil is still ongoing. Significant progress has ben made in the remediation of a contaminated site. A greenhouse study aspect was completed in 1999. Techniques for reestablishment of Southern pines on brine contaminated sites are being developed.
Impacts
(N/A)
Publications
- MacDonald, C.D. 1999. Dynamics of soil organic C content due to restoration of bottomland hardwood forests on marginal farmland in the Mississippi River Valley. M.S Thesis. Stephen F. Austin State University. Nacogdoches, TX.
- MacDonald, C.D., K.W. Farrish, J.C. Adams, and R.A. Newbold. 1999. Dynamics of soil organic carbon due to changes in land use in the Mississippi River Valley. Proc.(abst) Soil Sci. Soc Am. Salt Lake City, UT.
- Anderson, E.A. and K.W. Farrish. 1999. The ameliorating effects of woody organic matter incorporated on a brine-contaminated soil. Proc. Nation. Assoc. Env. Prof. Kansas City, MO.
- Anderson, E.A. and K.W. Farrish. 1999. Organic matter amendment in oilfield brine spoil remediation. Proc.(abst) Soil Sci. Soc Am. Salt Lake City, UT.
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Progress 01/01/98 to 12/31/98
Outputs
This umbrella project seeks to investigate issues involving forest soil productivity maintenance and enhancement in the Midsouth region. A study investigating the suitability of using poultry litter as a substitute for commercial fertilizer in Southern pine management was initiated during the fall of 1998. Two study sites in east Texas were located. Both were loblolly pine plantations, one 12 and the other 21 years old, that had been thinned the previous year. Three treatments and a control were established at each site in a randomized block design with five replications. Treatments consist of commercial fertilizer at the rate of 200 lb N and 50 lb P per acre, a poultry litter rate that supplies all of the N of the commercial fertilizer treatment with excess P, and a poultry litter rate that supplies all of the P of the commercial fertilizer treatment with supplimental N as urea to equal the fertilizer application of that nutrient. Height and diameter growth responses
will be monitored as well a soil and foliage nutrient concentrations over several growing seasons. Another study that was joined by this project is evaluating soil organic C dynamics associated with bottomland hardwood forest restoration on marginal farmland in the Mississippi River Valley. Preliminary data indicate that restoration of hardwood forests on marginal farmland recaptures much of the soil organic C lost through agricultural conversion within two decades. For example, an 18 year old nuttall oak planting had restored 84 percent of soil organic C lost due to agricultural conversion (the equivalent of 38 tons of CO2 per acre) on a Hebert soil. A third study is exploring techniques for restoring Southern pines to sites that have been contaminated with brine from oil production operations. These contaminated sites are difficult to revegetate in general, but are especially difficult for pine reestablishment. Soil remediation and reclamation techniques are being explored on a
severely contaminated site.
Impacts
(N/A)
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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