Progress 10/01/11 to 09/30/16
Outputs
Target Audience:Individuals with an interest in soil management and conservation. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Numerous students were involved with the project over the years. These involvements included site visits and skill acquisition in research labs as hourly workers. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Numerous presentations have been made to the public in general, and to scientific colleagues as well. Several formal scientific and general interest publications were made over the course of the project. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?We will continue to work to publicize our results.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
We were able to establish self-sustaining vegetation on the USX brownfield in South Chicago. We utilized Illinois River dredged sediments and managed them to produce a fertile soil on the brownfield where natural vegetation was severely handicapped. What was once an unusable brownfield is now a lake side park thanks to the productive soils we established.
Publications
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Progress 10/01/14 to 09/30/15
Outputs
Target Audience:Individuals with an interest in soil management and conservation. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Numerous students were involved with the project over the years. These involvements included site visits and skill acquisition in research labs as hourly workers. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Numerous presentations have been made to the public in general, and to scientific colleagues as well. Several formal scientific and general interest publications were made over the course of the project. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?We will continue to work to publicize our results.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
We were able to establish self-sustaining vegetation on the USX brownfield in South Chicago. We utilized Illinois River dredged sediments and managed them to produce a fertile soil on the brownfield where natural vegetation was severely handicapped. What was once an unusable brownfield is now a lake side park thanks to the productive soils we established.
Publications
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Progress 10/01/13 to 09/30/14
Outputs
Target Audience:
Nothing Reported
Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Several student groups as well as other interested individuals have viewed our research/demonstration site in Chicago. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Professional presentations have been given on the project in Oklahoma City at the ASMR meeting and at the LER meeting in Beijing China. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Continue to monitor the research site and make visits to assess the progress of soil development.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
We continue to monitor the success in establishing new soils in the brownfield that was the US Steel production facility in South Chicago.
Publications
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Progress 01/01/13 to 09/30/13
Outputs
Target Audience: The general public, students, natural resource managers and scientists involved and concerned with optimal management of brownfields and other human-altered ecosystems. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Undergraduate students have visited our research/demonstration site at the USX brownfield in Chicago. Lectures in NRES 201 and NRES 471 involve material from this research project and are given each semester the PI teaches. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Industry and political community members have been given talks and site visits associated with the project. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? We plan to wrap up some ongoing research data sets and publish some additional findings.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Brownfield reclamation at the USX site in Chicago is ongoing. This fall we taught a course involving the “Mud to Parks” concept that this project is central to.
Publications
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Progress 01/01/12 to 12/31/12
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Illinois River Dredged Sediment Sub-project: We revisited the sediment as topsoil substitute plots at Banner Marsh and measured the shrinkage of the sediment in our large and small containment vessels. This is an important measure that allows conversion of initial, fresh dredged sediment volume to actual topsoil volume after dewatering. We dissembled the sediment containment vessels and collected samples for analysis. The experimental site has been decommissioned. The Mud to Parks research and demonstration area was revisited to assess soil changes since initial sediment placement. The area has been proposed for extensive development utilizing Illinois Rived dredged sediment as the much needed topsoil to enhance the desirability of the property. New samples of fresh and weathered sediment form the project site were collected for analyses. PARTICIPANTS: John Marlin of the Illinois Sustainable Technology Center has assisted with the work. Several undergraduate students have been employed as lab and field assistants. TARGET AUDIENCES: Professional soil scientist community, parks and recreation managers, and dredge sediment contractors. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
Our work with dredged sediment has shown them to be a viable topsoil substitute. Two city parks, one in East Peoria, and another in Chicago utilized Illinois River dredged sediment as topsoil to reclaim brownfields into city parks.
Publications
- McDaniel, P.A., Darmody, R.G., Bell, J.C. and McGhan, D.G. 2012. Mollisols. p. 33-97-33-113. In: P.M. Huang, Y. Li, and M.E. Summer (eds.) Handbook of Soil Sciences. Properties and Processes, 2nd ed. CRC Press. Boca Raton, FL.
- Amiotti, N.M., Villamil, M.B. and Darmody, R.G. 2012. Agronomic and taxonomic consequences of agricultural use of marginal soils in Argentina. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 76:558-568.
- Darmody, R.G. and Hayek, J.C. 2012. Soils of Illinois. Ch. 14 In: R.J. Reber and C. Nixon (eds.) Illinois Master Naturalist Curriculum Guide. University of Illinois Extension, Urbana, IL. 20pp.
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Progress 01/01/11 to 12/31/11
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Activities include: Illinois River Dredged Sediment Subproject: We revisited the sediment as topsoil substitute plots at Banner Marsh and measured the shrinkage of the sediment in our large and small containment vessels. This is an important measure that allows conversion of initial, fresh dredged sediment volume to actual topsoil volume after dewatering. The Mud to Parks research and demonstration area was revisited to assess soil changes since initial sediment placement. The area has been proposed for extensive development utilizing Illinois Rived dredged sediment as the much needed topsoil to enhance the desirability of the property. Mississippi River Overbank Sediment subproject: One hundred soil samples were collected from overbank deposits resulting from the destruction of the Mississippi River levee downstream from Cairo Illinois. These samples are now being processed in the NRES Pedology Lab. Overall: I incorporate results from my research into my NRES 210, Introduction to Soil Science, and NRES 471, Pedology, class lectures. PARTICIPANTS: John Marlin of the Illinois Sustainable Technology Center has assisted with the work. Several undergraduate students have been employed as lab and field assistants. TARGET AUDIENCES: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
Our work with dredged sediment has shown them to be a viable topsoil substitute. Two city parks, one in East Peoria and another in Chicago, utilized Illinois River dredged sediment as topsoil to reclaim brownfields into city parks.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 01/01/10 to 12/31/10
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Presentations of the topsoil investigations were made at the Illinois Sustainable Technology Center seminar in Urbana. A presentation was also made at the International Soil Science Meeting in Brisbane Australia on the impact of reduced air pollution on soil properties. Efficacy of sediment as a topsoil substitute was demonstrated in a publication of a greenhouse experiment. Related work was reported in China at a Reclamation Conference. PARTICIPANTS: Undergraduate research assistants including David Mayer and Jason Ackerson, and graduate student Jenwei Tsai assisted in field and lab portions of the work. TARGET AUDIENCES: Professional land managers, researchers, and planners. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.
Impacts
Examples of the research are used in teaching soils classes at the University of Illinois.
Publications
- Ruiz Diaz, D.A., Darmody, R.G., Marlin, J.C., Bollero, G.A. and Simmons, F.W. 2010. Trace metal bioaccumulation and plant growth on dredged river sediment and biosolids mixtures. Water Air Soil Pollution 206:321-333.
- Stohr, C., Darmody, R.G., Wimmer, B., Krapac, I., Hackley, K., Iranmanesh, A. and Leakey, A.D.B. 2010. Detecting carbon dioxide emissions in soybeans by airborne thermal infrared imagery. Photogrammetric Engineering and Remote Sensing 76:735-741.
- Woli, K.P., David, M.B., Darmody, R.G., Mitchell, C.A. and Smith, C.M. 2010. Assessing the nitrous oxide mole fraction of soils from perennial biofuel and corn-soybean fields. Agriculture Ecosystems and Environment 138:299-305.
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Progress 01/01/09 to 12/31/09
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Presentations on the results of our topsoil investigations were made to the American Society of Mining and Reclamation (ASMR) in Billings MT in June 2009. Similar presentations were also given in 2009 at the NRES Departmental Faculty Seminar on the campus of the University of Illinois and to the Illinois Sustainable Technology Center in Champaign, Illinois. PARTICIPANTS: Undergraduate research assistants including David Mayer, Jason Ackerson, Jenwei Tsai were instructed in soil sample site selection and sample retrieval and analytical methodology in the pedology lab at the University of Illinois. TARGET AUDIENCES: Professional land managers, researchers, and planners. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
Examples from the project are included in the Introductory Soils class at the University of Illinois as well as in NRES 471, Pedology, which I also teach. The loss of productivity due to human management of soils is now hotly debated in the profession and our data is crucial in the discussion. Currently there is an ongoing soil survey of urban soils in Chicago and a sample collection is being gathered for later analyses to determine extent of pollution in the Chicago urban land region.
Publications
- Ruiz Diaz, D.A., Darmody, R.G., Marlin, J.C., Bollero, G.A. and Simmons, F.W. 2009. Trace metal bioaccumulation and plant growth on dredged river sediment and biosolids mixtures. Water Air Soil Pollution (DOI 10.1007/s11270-009-0108-7).
- Darmody, R.G., Daniels, W.L., Marlin, J.C. and Cremeens, D.L. 2009. Topsoil: What is it and who cares Proceedings of a Joint Conference of American Society of Mining and Reclamation 26th Annual National Meeting and 11th Billings Land Reclamation Symposium, May 30- June 5, 2009, Billings, Montana, p. 237-269 on CD.
- David M.B., McIsaac, G.F., Darmody, R.G. and Omonode, R. 2009. Long-term changes in Mollisol organic carbon and nitrogen. J. Env. Qual. 38:200-211.
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Progress 01/01/08 to 12/31/08
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Activities: Soil infiltration rates, bulk density, organic carbon content, and particle size analyses were determined at 14 sites in the Chicago suburbs and at 10 sites in suburban Champaign, Illinois. The motivation for these evaluations was to determine how real estate development impacts soil and water demand. The hypothesis is that soul moisture storage capacity and infiltration rates are damaged by activities associated with real estate development. Publication of the results of an earlier study on the impacts of agricultural modifications to soils was finalized. The data was statistically evaluated and the results tabulated and the final project report was submitted to th Journal of environmental Quality. PARTICIPANTS: Undergraduate NRES/U of IL student training, assisted with research: Jenwei Tsai, Jason Ackerson, David Mayer. Cooperator Senior Researcher, Cooperating Agencies, Collaborators: John Marlin, Illinois Department of Natural Resources Waste Management and Research Center. TARGET AUDIENCES: Not relevant to this project. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.
Impacts
Examples from my research have been included in my classroom teaching. I teach NRES 201 - Introduction to Soil Science and NRES 285 - Environmental Monitoring. The results from the urbanization study are not yet summarized. The agricultural soils study supports the hypothesis that agricultural soils are not necessarily damaged by agriculture, at least in terms of total organic carbon content to a depth of 100 cm.
Publications
- David M.B., McIsaac, G.F., Darmody, R.G. and Omonode, R. 2008. Long-term changes in Mollisol organic carbon and nitrogen. J. Env. Qual. (In Press).
- Marlin, J.C. and Darmody, R.G. 2008. Beneficial uses of dredged material in the U.S. with emphasis on use as topsoil. The Third International Congress for Dredging Technology Development in China, Tianjin, China. 18-19 November, 2008.
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Progress 01/01/07 to 12/31/07
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Examples from my research have been included in my classroom teaching. We presented our CO2 results at a national conference: Stohr, C., R.G. Darmody, I. Krapac, B. Wimmer, K. Hackley, A. Iranmanesh, D. Luman, D. Byers A. Stumpf, and S. Brown. 2007. Thermal infrared detection of simulated CO2 leakage in cropland above deep CO2 sequestration reservoirs. Sixth Annual Conference on Carbon Sequestration. May 7-10. Pittsburgh, PA.
PARTICIPANTS: John C. Marlin, WMRC and Chris Stohr, ISGS.
TARGET AUDIENCES: Professionals in the dredging and reclamation buisness and scientists studying CO2 sequestration approaches.
Impacts
We continue to monitor the demonstration of topsoil development at the brownfield site in south Chicago. As a beneficial use of sediments dredged from the Illinois River, we placed 3 feet on the abandoned USX steel mill. These sediments arise from erosion of farm fields and stream banks into the Illinois River. The deposition of sediments in the Illinois River lessens the quality of the aquatic resource. Sediments are dredged from the river bottom to improve navigation, wildlife habitat, and recreation potential in the Peoria Lakes region of the River. The purpose of this activity was to reclaim the brownfield site and make it suitable as a city park. The existing soils at the site are made up of rubble from demolished steel mill and waste materials form steel production, mostly slag. This urban "soil" is unsuitable for growing grass and utilization of the site as a park. Sediment makes a suitable soil for the intended use. This project solved two problems
simultaneously, officering a beneficial use of the sediment while reclaiming a brownfield for a higher use. We characterized the sediment, tested its plant growth potential in the greenhouse, and are following the soil development as it weathers and plant communities become established.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 01/01/06 to 12/31/06
Outputs
Human beings are increasingly important modifiers of the natural environment, these impacts are especially important with soils. This particular research demonstration project was designed to investigate these changes in soils and determine ways to improve man-influenced soils and landscapes. One thrust of the research is involved with beneficial use of sediments from the Illinois River. These sediments arise from erosion of farm fields and stream banks. The deposition of sediments in the Illinois River lessens the quality of the aquatic resource. Sediments are dredged form the river bottom to improve navigation, wildlife habitat, and recreation potential in the Peoria Lakes region of the Illinois River. What to do with the vast quantity of sediments is under investigation. We have moved 70 barge loads of sediments to the USX brownfield in south Chicago. The purpose of this activity was to reclaim the site and make it suitable as a city park. The existing soils at the
site are made up of rubble from demolished steel mill and waste materials form steel production, mostly slag. This urban 'soil' is unsuitable for growing grass and utilization of the site as a park. Sediment makes a suitable soil for the intended use. This project solved two problems simultaneously, offering a beneficial use of the sediment while reclaiming a brownfield for a higher use. We characterized the sediment, tested its plant growth potential in the greenhouse, and are following the soil development as it weathers and plant communities become established. Agriculture is the most common and extensive modification of the land surface in Illinois as it is in the rest of the world. Increasing productivity while lessening the inputs as well as the impacts of agriculture is an important area of research. Our work demonstrated the beneficial results to soils when cover crops are grown over winter in Illinois.
Impacts
We expect that the research involving human-altered environments will have multiple beneficial impacts. The project involving dredged sediment utilization from the Illinois River has demonstrated in the lab, greenhouse, and the field that the sediment will support plant growth and makes a quality topsoil substitute for reclamation of brownfields and other problem sites. It has the further benefit that topsoil borrow areas need not be created to supply material, while creating a beneficial use of dredged sediments that otherwise would need disposal.
Publications
- Marlin, J.C. and Darmody, R.G. 2006. Returning the soil to the land: The mud to parks project. Reclamation Matters 3:(1) 11-18.
- Marlin, J.C. and Darmody, R.G. 2006. Beneficial use of Illinois River sediment as topsoil. Paper presented at the International Conference on Rivers and Civilization. June 25-28, La Crosse, WI. Abstracts p. 89.
- Villamil, M.B., Bollero, G.A., Darmody, R.G., Simmons, F.W. and Bullock, D.G. 2006. No-till corn/soybean systems including winter cover crops: Effects on soil properties. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 70:1936-1944.
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Progress 01/01/05 to 12/31/05
Outputs
Human beings are increasingly important modifiers of the natural environment, these impacts are especially important with soils. This particular research demonstration project was designed to investigate these changes in soils and determine ways to improve man-influenced soils and landscapes. One thrust of the research is involved with beneficial use of sediments from the Illinois River. These sediments arise from erosion of farm fields and stream banks. The deposition of sediments in the Illinois River lessens the quality of the aquatic resource. Sediments are dredged form the river bottom to improve navigation, wildlife habitat, and recreation potential in the Peoria Lakes region of the Illinois River. What to do with the vast quantity of sediments is under investigation. We have moved 70 barge loads of sediments to the USX brownfield in south Chicago. The purpose of this activity was to reclaim the site and make it suitable as a city park. The existing soils at the
site are made up of rubble from demolished steel mill and waste materials form steel production, mostly slag. This urban soil is unsuitable for growing grass and utilization of the site as a park. Sediment makes a suitable soil for the intended use. This project solved two problems simultaneously, officering a beneficial use of the sediment while reclaiming a brownfield for a higher use. We characterized the sediment, tested its plant growth potential in the greenhouse, and are following the soil development as it weathers and plant communities become established. Illinois has a large reserve of coal and has always supported a coal industry that if not managed properly leaves devastation in its wake. Reclamation of mined lands and evaluation of man-made reclaimed soils is another research area involving human-altered environments. In Illinois, the goal of mine land reclamation is to get the soils to grow common agricultural crops with the same yields as similar soils did before
mining. Research we have conducted proves that mine reclamation has the potential to restore minelands to their initial productivity if done properly. The natural landscape in Illinois really does not exist anymore in much of the state. To increase agricultural productivity much of the state has been drained by means of ditches and drain tiles. While being greatly successful in its goal of increasing agricultural productivity, this human alteration of soil properties has resulted in the loss of vast acreages of wetlands. With the growing appreciation for the importance of wetlands, some areas that were formerly drained for agriculture are being converted back to wetlands by the destruction of the agricultural drainage system. For regulatory reasons, it is important to assess if soil morphology in the thick, dark topsoils in Illinois is useful in predicting soil hydrology. Our work shows that a proposed hydric soil indicator, TF7, has utility as a predictor of hydric soil hydrology.
Impacts
We expect that the research involving human-altered environments will have multiple beneficial impacts. The project involving dredged sediment utilization from the Illinois River has demonstrated in the lab, greenhouse, and the field that the sediment will support plant growth and makes a quality topsoil substitute for reclamation of brownfields and other problem sites. It has the further benefit that topsoil borrow areas need not be created to supply material, while creating a beneficial use of dredged sediments that otherwise would need disposal. The mine reclamation work demonstrated that surface mining for coal need not have a long-term serious deleterious effect on agricultural soils. The hydric soil research has proven that hydric soil hydrology can be inferred from the thick, dark soils in Illinois, thus helping to defray costs associated with monitoring hydrology at suspected hydric soil sites.
Publications
- Dunker, R.E. and Darmody, R.G. 2005. Rowcrop response to topsoil replacement on high traffic vs. low traffic soil reconstruction systems. 2005 National Meeting of the American Society of Mining and Reclamation, Breckenridge CO, June, 19-23. Abstracts p.11.
- Dunker, R.E. and Darmody, R.G. 2005. Rowcrop response to topsoil replacement on high traffic vs. low traffic soil reconstruction systems. 2005 National Meeting of the American Society of Mining and Reclamation, Breckenridge CO, June, 19-23. Proceedings (on CD) p. 302-327.
- Darmody, R.G., and Bramstedt, M. 2005. Linking soil morphology with hydrology: Hydric soils and TF7 in Illinois. SSSA Annual Meeting Nov. 6-10, Salt Lake. Agronomy Abstracts.
- Darmody, R.G. and Marlin, J.C. 2005. Illinois River sediment as topsoil: Current assessment of suitability. 2005 Governor's Conference on the Management of the Illinois River System. Oct. 4-6, 2005, Peoria IL. p. 38-39.
- Machesky, M.L., Slowikowski, J.A., Cahill, R.A., Bogner, W.C., Marlin, J.C., Holm, T.R. and Darmody, R.G. 2005. Sediment quality and quantity issues related to the restoration of backwater lakes along the Illinois River waterway. Aquatic Ecosystem Health and Management 8:33-40.
- Marlin, J.C. and Darmody, R.G. 2005. Returning the soil to the land: The mud to parks project. The Illinois Steward 14:(1)11-18.
- Marlin, J.C. and Darmody, R.G. 2005. Investigation of the excavation, transport, and beneficial use of Illinois River dredged material. Proceedings of World Water and Environmental Resources Conference. American Society of Civil Engineers. May 15-19. Anchorage, Alaska. Proc. 173, 589.
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Progress 01/01/04 to 12/31/04
Outputs
Demonstration Project, Mud to Parks, a proposed brownfield reclamation technique is a large demonstration involving reclamation of the USX steel mill brownfield site in Chicago, initiated in May 2004. The area was once the site of the largest steel mill in the world and now is composed of demolition rubble, slag, and other solid byproducts of the still mill activities. The city of Chicago wants to turn the site into a lake front park and needs to cover it with topsoil to support vigorous plant growth. The project involved moving 70 barge-loads of sediment dredged from the bottom of the Illinois River near Peoria to the brownfield in Chicago. The sediment was in a fluid state upon dredging and was placed at the site as a semi-liquid with end dump trucks. It was allowed to dewater and dry somewhat as a thin layer before being pushed up into level piles of roughly 3 feet thick. It was rough graded, then seeded with grasses and legumes, and now supports a thin stand of
the plants. We took grab samples of the sediment to assess initial conditions including texture, water content, and shrinkage upon drying. We plan to follow soil development at the site as weathering, plant growth, and time convert the sediments into soil. Greenhouse Project: Sediment and Biosolid Mixtures as Topsoil Substitutes. We grew plants in the greenhouse in mixtures of sediments and biosolids. Plants grew well in all the mixtures with the exception of the 100% biosolid treatments which suffered from excess salts. Adding sediments to biosolids decreased the salt damage and minimized metal uptake. Results were published in a publication in Journal of Envernomental Quality.
Impacts
The Illinois River is filling up with sediments that are degrading the wildlife habitat and decreasing the recreational potential of the river. A proposed dredging project to restore some of the uses of the river will generate vast amounts of sediments. We are investigating ways to put these sediments to good use. Our idea is to use the sediments as topsoil. We intend to put the sediments on land that is damaged or degraded by industry and other overuse. Our work is in the early stages and so far we have successfully grown plants in the greenhouse in sediments. What was once lying on the bottom of the Illinois River was put into flower pots in the University of Illinois greenhouse and used to grow plants. We now know that there in nothing in the sediments that will prevent plants from growing. What is left to do is to find out if there are any pollutants in the sediments that might cause problems. Another project we are working on concerns the changes that have
happened to our soils over the last 100 years. We want to establish what impact our agriculture practices are having on soil chemistry. Long term sustainability of our soils is of the utmost importance and this work will establish the changes that have happened as soils are cultivated.
Publications
- Darmody R.G., Marlin, J.C., Talbott, J., Green, R.A., Brewer, E.F. and Stohr, C. 2004. Dredged Illinois River sediments: Plant growth and metal uptake. J. Env. Qual. 33:458-464.
- Darmody R.G. 2003. A pronunciation guide to soil classification. Soil Survey Horizons 44:115-116.
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Progress 01/01/03 to 12/31/03
Outputs
Proposed dredging of the Peoria Lakes region of the river to improve habitat and recreation will generate vast amounts of sediment that will have to be dealt with in an ecologically responsible manner. Utilization of the sediment as topsoil is an avenue of research we are perusing. We have successfully grown snapbeans and barley in the greenhouse in mixtures of sediments and other materials including municipal compost, horse manure, and biosolids. Biosolids are a byproduct of sewage treatment and the disposal is a big issue. Crop growth in biosolids was greatly improved when it was mixed with sediments. Because of their high nutrient content, biosolids potentially could serve as a good plant growth medium, but their high salt content damages many plants. Mixing the biosolids with sediment dilutes the salts and makes a much more fertile plant growth medium. We are also following changes in Illinois soils caused by modern agriculture. We have resampled sites originally
investigated by Hopkins early in the last century. Preliminary findings indicate that the soils have not changed very much over that time.
Impacts
The Illinois River is filling up with sediments that are degrading the wildlife habitat and decreasing the recreational potential of the river. A proposed dredging project to restore some of the uses of the river will generate vast amounts of sediments. We are investigating ways to put these sediments to good use. Our idea is to use the sediments as topsoil. We intend to put the sediments on land that is damaged or degraded by industry and other overuse. Our work is in the early stages and so far we have successfully grown plants in the greenhouse in sediments. What was once lying on the bottom of the Illinois River was put into flower pots in the University of Illinois greenhouse and used to grow plants. We now know that there in nothing in the sediments that will prevent plants from growing. What is left to do is to find out if there are any pollutants in the sediments that might cause problems. Another project we are working on concerns the changes that have
happened to our soils over the last 100 years. We want to establish what impact our agriculture practices are having on soil chemistry. Long term sustainability of our soils is of utmost importance and this work will establish the changes that have happened as soils are cultivated.
Publications
- Omonode, R.A., McIsaac, G.F., David, M.B. and Darmody, R.G. 2002. Long-term changes in organic carbon and total nitrogen in Illinois soils. Poster presented at American Society of Agronomy National Meeting, November 10-14. Indianapolis, IN.
- Ruiz Diaz, D.A., Darmody, R.G. and Marlin, J.C. 2003. Dredged sediment and biosolid use as soil in greenhouse mixtures. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Soil Science Soc. Am. Denver CO, Nov. 2-6, 2003.
- Machesky, M.L., Slowkowski, J.A., Cahill, R.A., Bogner, W.C., Marlin, J.C., Holm, T.R. and Darmody, R.G. 2002. Sediment quality and quantity issues related to the restoration of backwater lakes along the Illinois River. 5th International Symposium on the Sediment Quality Assessments (SQA5). Aquatic Ecosystem Health and Management Society. October 16-18, 2002. Hotel Allegro Chicago, Illinois.
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Progress 01/01/02 to 12/31/02
Outputs
We have successfully grown both corn and soybeans on dredged sediments. The yields were comparable to those on the reference natural sandy soils under natural rainfall. This year an additional treatment was added. It is 7 cm of sediment mixed to 15 cm. This brings three plots into out experimental design. We plan to continue growing the crops next year, alternating between corn and soybean between the two sets of subplots. A new experiment was initiated in the greenhouse to test plant response to sediment mixes. Materials included in the mixes are dredge sediments from the Illinois River, horse manure, composted yard wastes, and class A biosolids from the Chicago Sanitary District. Ryegrass and bush snap beans will be grown. Plant yield and soil chemistry will be monitored.
Impacts
The utilization of dredged sediment to improve problem soils will be a beneficial use of the large volume of sediments to be dredged out of the Illinois River. At the same time, it will prevent the loss of land to indefinite storage if beneficial uses cannot be developed.
Publications
- Darmody, R.G., Dunker, R.E. and Barnhisel, R.I. 2002. Reclamation of prime agricultural lands after coal surface mining: the Midwestern experience. p. 900-915. In: R. Barnhisel and M. Collins (eds.) Reclamation with a Purpose. Proceedings of the American Society of Mining and Reclamation. Annual Meeting, Lexington KY, June 9-13, 2002.
- Darmody, R.G., Dunker, R.E. and Barnhisel, R.I. 2002. Reclamation of mined lands to higher agricultural uses. p. 43-50 In Z. Agioutantis (ed.) International Workshop, New Frontiers in Reclamation: Facts and Procedures in the Extractive Industry. 19-21 September, 2001. Milos Island, Greece.
- Darmody, R.G. and Marlin, J.C. 2002. Sediments and sediment-derived soils in Illinois: pedological and agronomic assessment. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment. 77: 209-227.
- Oelze, M.L., O'Brien Jr., W.D. and Darmody, R.G. 2002. Measurement of attenuation and speed of sound in soils. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 66:788-796.
- Tandarich, J.P., Darmody, R.G., Follmer, L.R. and Johnson, D.L. 2002. The historical development of soil and weathering profile concepts. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 66:335-346.
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Progress 01/01/01 to 12/31/01
Outputs
A research project has been initiated to determine the impact of applied dredged sediments to problem soils. It is a replicated randomized field plot design with three depths of sediments added to a sandy soil. The plots were established in the spring of 2001 and the soils and sediments characterized as to fertility, heavy metals, bulk density, and penetration resistance.
Impacts
The utilization of dredged sediment to improve problem soils will be a beneficial use of the large volume of sediments to be dredges out of the Illinois River.
Publications
- DARMODY, R.G. and MARLIN, J.C. 2002. Sediments and sediment-derived soils in Illinois: pedological and agronomic assessment. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment (In Press).
- DARMODY, R.G. 2001. Dredged sediment in Illinois: What to do? p. 353. In Agronomy Abstracts. ASA, Madison, WI.
- DARMODY, R.G. 2001. Sediment to soil. Governor's Conference on the Management of the Illinois River System, Proceedings of the Eighth Biennial Conference, Oct. 2-4, 2001, Peoria, Illinois (In Press).
- DARMODY, R.G. 2001. Sediment to soil. Governor's Conference on the Management of the Illinois River System. Abstracts of the Eighth Biennial Conference, Oct. 2-4, 2001, Peoria, Il. p. 27.
- OELZE, M.L., DARMODY, R.G. and O'BRIEN, W.D. 2001. Measurement of attenuation and speed of sound in soils for the purposes of imaging buried objects. J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 109(5) 2287.
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Progress 10/01/00 to 12/31/00
Outputs
This project has just been funded. However, samples of soils from landscapes made from placement of dredged spoils have been retrieved for analyses and for growth trials in greenhouses. Objectives of this project include determination of the efficacy of dredged spoil utilization in reclamation of disturbed landscapes and soils and monitoring alterations in these materials over time.
Impacts
Because of siltation into reservoirs and lakes in Illinois, vast quantities of dredged spoils will be generated in the process of improving the capacity and utility of the lakes and reservoirs. These materials may prove to be beneficial in reclaiming altered and disturbed soils and landscapes.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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