Progress 10/01/12 to 09/30/15
Outputs
Target Audience:Primary target audiences for this project were farmers, roadside maintenance decision makers, and companies handling organic residuals. Project results were shared with farmers and agricultural service providers at the URI Vegetable twilight meetings in August 2013 and September 2014. Results were shared with RIDOT staff and others involved in decision making related to roadside maintenance at the URITC/RIDOT Transportation Research Forums on November 1, 2013, in a workshop for RIDOT Maintenance Superintendents on February 11, 2014, and at a regional workshop for DOT personnel hosted by the University of Connecticut on September 30, 2015. Project results were shared with residuals industry personnel at a field meeting in July 2013, at the Northeast Biosolids and Residuals Association industry conferences in October 2015, and via articles in the industry newsletter and reports sent directly to industry partners. Project results were shared with the scientific community through presentations at the 2014 and 2015 meetings of the American Society of Horticulture Science, and the 2014 and 2015 meetings of the Soil Science Society of America. THe secondary target audience for this project was University of Rhode Island students. Three graduate students in the Masters of Science program (BES-SAFS) used this project for their thesis research, a fourth MS student provided technical support for the project in 2013, and one undergraduate student worked on this project as a Coastal Fellow in 2014. Undergraduate students in the Fall 2013 section of PLS 324 and on the Agronomy Farm crews in 2013 and 2014 also contributed to this project. Students participating in this project learned about the importance of soil organic matter, and gained experience in conducting applied agricultural research. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?This project provided assistantships for two Masters students. A third Masters student and an undergraduate student gained research experience from the project. All of the graduate students attended and presented their work at national scientific meetings, and two of the students presented at regional industry meetings. Training field days and workshops were held for vegetable growers, residuals handlers, and roadside maintenance superintendents. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Results have been presented at conferences and published in industry newsletters. One thesis has been published, and two more are in progress. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Organic matter - decomposing remains - is essential to the ability of soil to support plant life and provide ecosystem services. The primary service provided by agricultural soils is production of food, feed, and fiber. Roadside soils, and the vegetation they support, prevent erosion, filter stormwater, trap dust, and reduce carbon dioxide levels. Soils in Rhode Island are often deficient in organic matter, leading to suboptimal performance of vegetation. Traditional methods of building soil organic matter include amending soils with farmyard manure and including grains or perennial forages in the crop rotation. However, neither approach is economically feasible in peri-urban agricultural systems based on specialty crop production. The objective of this project was to investigate the use of urban organic residuals as sources of organic matter and nutrients to improve soil health. The vegetable study concluded that all of the waste amendments tested could be effective sources of plant nutrients, and their use as fertilizers for vegetable production could provide a productive means of disposal while potentially increasing soil organic matter and soil quality. Effects depended on the specific combination of crop and amendment. Yardwaste compost and the biosolids-yardwaste co-compost resulted in the greatest increase in soil organic matter, likely due to the high percentage of degradation-resistant carbon in these amendments. The roadside study concluded that the best amendment for promoting growth of seeded cool-season turfgrass species would be a blend of yard waste compost and biosolids that provided 130 to 260 lbs of nitrogen per acre in the first year after incorporation, and resulted in at least 5% soil organic matter in the root zone. This recommendation has been communicated to RIDOT for inclusion in the specs for establishment of roadside vegetation. The method used to stabilize the biosolids has no effect on effectiveness in supporting plant growth, as long as products are applied based on first year available nitrogen. Yard waste compost alone provided insufficient nutrients to support growth in the first year, but biosolids alone provided insufficient soil organic matter to protect plants from severe drought stress in the second year. Application of more than 260 lbs of available nitrogen per acre resulted in leaching during the winter following seeding, and excessive grass growth in the first summer. While soil amendments were successful in increasing persistence of perennial grass species on most of the roadside, they were not successful within the area immediately adjacent to the pavement where disturbance is highest. That zone continued to be dominated by annual species.
Publications
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
Fava, Edwin, JA Amador, RN Brown, and A Possinger. The Use of Biosolid Amendments to Promote the Establishment and Persistence of Perennial Grasses Along Rhode Island Highways. Presented at the Soil Science Society of America conference in Long Beach, CA November 5.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2015
Citation:
Waggoner, Ashley, R. Long, A. Amador. Response of Agricultural Soil Greenhouse Gas Fluxes to Amendment with Residual Waste Materials: Effects of Temperature and Moisture. Presented at the Soil Science Society of America conference in Minneapolis, MN November 16
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2015
Citation:
Long, Rebecca, AR Possinger, JA Amador, and RN Brown.
Out of the Landfill and Into the Field: Suitability of Wastes as Agricultural Amendments. presented at the American Society for Horticulture Science conference in New Orleans, LA on August 7.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2015
Citation:
Long, Rebecca, R. Bercaw, AR Possinger, JA Amador, and RN Brown.
Growing Food with Garbage: Waste Amendments for Vegetable Production. Presented at the American Society for Horticulture Science conference in New Orleans, LA on August 5.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2015
Citation:
Fava, Edwin, R Brown and J Amador. Use of Stabilized Biosolids and Composts to Promote Establishment & Persistence of Perennial Vegetation Along Rhode Island Roads. Presented at the Northeast Biosolids and Residuals Symposium in Dnavers, MA on October 19.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2015
Citation:
Long, Rebecca Unique Food Wastes As Agricultural Amendments presented at the Biocycle Refor15 conference in Danvers, MA on October 20.
- Type:
Theses/Dissertations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2015
Citation:
Long, Rebecca ORGANIC WASTE AMENDMENTS AS SOURCES OF CARBON AND FERTILITY FOR VEGETABLE PRODUCTION. Master of Science Thesis, University of Rhode Island
- Type:
Theses/Dissertations
Status:
Under Review
Year Published:
2016
Citation:
Fava, Edwin Biosolids as a Roadside Soil Amendment. Master of Science Thesis, University of Rhode Island
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Progress 10/01/13 to 09/30/14
Outputs
Target Audience: Results of the roadside experiments were shared with RIDOT engineers and researchers at the Transportation Research Forum on November 1, 2013. Approximately 50 people attended. That event led to a talk for the RIDOT Maintenance Superintendents on maintaining roadside vegetation on February 16, 2014. Approximately 16 people attended that talk. Results of the vegetable experiments were shared with vegetable growers and extension/NRCS/Conservation District staff at the Vegetable Twilight Meeting on September 12, 2014. Changes/Problems: A greenhouse gas study has been added to the vegetable study to determine if there are differences in CO2 and nitrous oxide emissions from plots amended with the different materials. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? This project provides support for two Masters students, and one undergraduate student received research training and experience as part of this project. A third graduate student is using the vegetable research plots to study nitrous oxide emissions. The graduate students each attended regional conferences in the fall/winter of 2013, and one student attended and presented at a national conference in July 2014. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Results were disseminated through extension meetings, and through presentation at the national meeting of the American Society for Horticulture Science. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? The field research protion of this study is complete, but laboratoy analysis of soil samples continues. The students will be completing the laboratory work and analyzing data over the winter, and preparing manuscripts in the spring. 2013 results for the roadside trial were presented at the Soil Science Society of America annual meeting on November 5. Final results of the vegetable study will be presented at the American Society for Horticulture Science in August 2015.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Vegetable Study: All amendments were reapplied in spring 2014, with the exception of gelcake, to reach a total application rate of 10,000 kg/ha of carbon cumulatively over the two years of the study. It was not necessary to reapply gelcake because the 2013 application had already reached that level. The control (20-20-20 mineral fertilizer) was reapplied at the same rate as the previous year. All amendments were reapplied to the same plots so data could be collected on two year's cumulative applications. Sweet corn, butternut squash and potatoes were also replanted in the same plots. Soil samples were collected monthly from all plots. Soil samples have been analyzed for moisture and organic matter content and nitrogen (nitrate and ammonium) extractions have been frozen for future analysis. The soil samples will also be analyzed for pH, and electrical conductivity. Data was collected on crop emergence and initial growth. This will be statistically analyzed to look for signs of potential amendment phytotoxicity. Yield data was also collected. Samples of the 2014 amendments were also collected and analyzed for pH, electrical conductivity, KCl extractable nitrate and ammonium, available P, total C, total N, and organic matter. The 2013 yields did not vary significantly from the mineral fertilizer control, indicating all amendments have the potential to replace mineral fertilizer. Plots amended with multisource compost were exceptionally high in nitrate approximately a month after 2013 amendment application, indicating either rapid mineralization or organic N, or the presence of nitrate in the compost itself. This has implications for the rate at which N could be expected to leach in heavy spring rains. Roadside Study: Progress Report for Roadside project Since January of 2013, research has primarily focused on data collection. Some laboratory analysis has taken place as well. Beginning in early May, monthly soil sampling has been carried out by graduate researcher Edwin Fava and, over the summer months, undergraduate assistant Robert Bearcaw. This sampling is currently ongoing and will continue into November 2014. After sampling the soils are sieved and kept refrigerated until analyzed. Additionally, day 0 extractions for nitrate and day 0 and day 7 extractions for ammonium are carried out. Turf quality ratings did not significantly differ between biosolid products applied at the same rate. However, there were significant differneces between the three rates of application (1, 3 and 6lbs/N/1000 ft2) with all three producing significantly better quality ratings than the control. The differences between the rates decreased towards the end of the growing season. Average turf quality for 2013 differed significantly between both compost amendments and the control. Both amendments had a significantly greater average rating than the control, with the biosolid compost having a significantly greater average rating than the yard waste compost. Average soil nitrate levels for the biosolid amended plots were only significantly different for the WRB anaerobically digested biosolids plots. Those plots produced significantly lower values than the others. All biosolid and compost amended plots produced greater, on average, soil nitrate levels than the control plots. It should be noted that, independent of product, the amendment application rate did not strictly correlate with soil nitrate levels. Average soil nitrate levels for 2013 differed significantly between both compost amendments and the control. Both amendments had a significantly greater average soil nitrate than the control, with the biosolid compost having a significantly greater average soil nitrate level than the yard waste compost. Soil collected after the initial incorporation of amendments in Sept. 2012 was sieved and stored for later analysis. It was also analyzed for ph and EC levels. Both levels were found to be within agronomically viable ranges. Furthermore, soils sampled and analyzed for pH and EC in May 2013 were found to have no significant difference between treatments and the control. In addition to soil collection and analysis, biomass sampling occurred after the first mowing in early summer of 2014. That data has not yet been analyzed. Also, three vegetation surveys took place within the roadside experiment area. In early summer (to account for cool season varieties) and late summer (to account for warm season varieties) and a mid-summer sampling of the swale. The early and late summer samplings counted species presence within a 1m x 1m quadrat, surveys occurring in three locations (near road, middle of plot, near swale) within each treatment plot. These surveys were conducted with the help of Noah Conway and Carl Sawyer. The swale survey counted species presence within a 10cm x 1m quadrat at 2m intervals from the drainage entrance within the swale. A nearby unamended swale was used as a control area and surveyed in the same manner. Results from the cool-season vegetation survey have indicated the top 10 dominate species based on counts within the quadrats as: Bentgrass, Crabgrass, Quackgrass, Path Rush, Ryegrass, Kentucky Bluegrass, Black Medic, Broadleaf Plantain, Sandspurry and White Clover. The three factors of type of amendment, rate of amendment application and relative location within the plot were significant ( p<.05) factors on the presence of each of them as indicated below - Bentgrass - Relative location Crabgrass - rate of application and relative location Quackgrass - type of product and relative location Path Rush - rate of application and relative location Ryegrass - Rate of application and relative location Kentucky Bluegrass - rate of application Black Medic - Rate of application Broadleaf Plantain - rate of application, product and relative location Sandspurry - rate of application and relative location White Clover - rate of application and product
Publications
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Accepted
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
Soil Organic Matter Solutions for Peri-Urban Market Farms presented at the American Society for Horticultural Science conference July 28-31, Orlando, FL.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Accepted
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
Long, R., E. Fava, A. Possinger, J. Amador, and RN Brown. (2014) Local Fertility: Municipal and Industrial Waste as a Source of Organic Matter and Nitrogen, and Its Effect on Vegetable Yields. Hortscience in press [abstr.]
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Progress 10/01/12 to 09/30/13
Outputs
Target Audience: The target audiences for this project are DOT planning and maintenance staff, members of the waste management industry who process and sell residuals, and farmers and landscapers who use residuals as sources of soil fertility. A field day in July 2013 attracted about 15 people from the waste management industry and one DOT employee; attendees toured both the roadside trial and the on-farm trial. The on-farm trial was also featured in our August 2013 twilight meeting for vegetable growers. A report on the project was presented to a large group of DOT employees and academic researchers at the URI Transportation Center research forum on November 1. The project has also been featured on the websites of waste management companies who provided residuals for testing, and in the newsletter of the Northeast Biosolids and Residuals Association. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? This project provided support for three graduate students, two of whom are using components of the project as the basis for their Master's thesis work. Five undergraduate students assisted with the field work, and one gained research experience through assisting with soil analysis. Ten students in the Vegetable Crop Production class learned about field research and production of sweet corn and potatoes by assisting with harvest. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? A field day in July 2013 attracted about 15 people from the waste management industry and one DOT employee; attendees toured both the roadside trial and the on-farm trial. The on-farm trial was also featured in our August 2013 twilight meeting for vegetable growers. A report on the project was presented to a large group of DOT employees and academic researchers at the URI Transportation Center research forum on November 1. The project has also been featured on the websites of waste management companies who provided residuals for testing, and in the newsletter of the Northeast Biosolids and Residuals Association. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Analysis of soil amples continues for both studies. Data collection will resume for the roadside trial in April 2014, and continue through the growing season. The crop production study treatment plots were tilled under and planted to a cover crop of cereal rye in October. The plots will be re-established in April of 2014 and the experiments will be repeated. Results of the first year will be presented at scientific meetings in 2014, and the trials will again be highlighted in field days for target audiences.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Impact Statement Urban areas produce large quantities of nutrient-rich organic residuals; disposal of these residuals has become increasingly challenging. Residuals include biosolids from wastewater treatment, waste from food processing and manufacturing, yard waste, and food scraps from retail markets, restaurants, institutions, and homes. At the same time much of the increase in agricultural production and construction of new buildings and highways is occurring in urban and peri-urban areas. These activities require a supply of nutrients and soil organic matter to support the growth of plants, whether vegetables, landscape plants, or roadside vegetation. Use of urban organic residuals to supply nutrients can provide an environmentally friendly means of disposing of residuals, while reducing the costs and carbon footprint associated with transporting traditional manures from rural areas. The objective of this study is to evaluate the use of a range of urban organic residuals as soil amendments in two systems: a market vegetable production system and a roadside grassland. In each system we are evaluating both the plant and the soil components, seeking amendments and application rates which provide sufficient nutrients for healthy plant growth while not resulting in environmental pollution. The project is expected to result in guidelines for DOT contractors, farmers, and landscapers on safe and effective use of residuals. Accomplishments – Roadside The roadside trial was established in September 2012 in the median of a limited-access section of RI 138 between North Kingstown and Jamestown. The trial included seven residuals, each applied at three rates, as well as a plain soil control treatment. Residuals were applied by hand to the treatment plots, and incorporated into the existing roadside soil; the entire area was then hydroseeded with a standard roadside grass mix. Maintenance is provided by RI DOT and is limited to mowing a few times during the summer. Most of the residuals used in the roadside trial were processed biosolids; biosolids are the most abundant and nutrient-rich residual in urban areas but public sentiment prevents their widespread use in food production and recreational landscapes. Biosolids were applied based on their nitrogen content, with target rates of 1, 3, or 6 pounds of nitrogen per 1000 square feet. Two of the residuals were yard waste composts; these were applied based on a percent mixture as is commonly specified for landscaping uses. Soil samples were collected at trial establishment in September 2012, and then monthly from April through November in 2013. Samples were analyzed for potentially mineralizable nitrogen, organic matter content, and other parameters. Resin capsules were installed in the plots from October 2012 through April 2013 to monitor leaching of nitrate and phosphate. Turf quality was evaluated in December 2012 and monthly from April through November in 2013. Biomass measurements were collected in May 2013 prior to first mowing. The plain soil control plots exhibited nutrient deficiency symptoms beginning in December 2012. Amendments at the lowest rate did not differ significantly from the plain soil control. Application of most biosolids formulations at the highest rate produced excessive grass growth and some nutrient leaching. Preliminary results suggest that application of biosolids at 3 pounds of nitrogen per 1000 square feet provides sufficient nutrients for survival of perennial grasses. Application of composts based on percent mixture was not effective; recommendations should be changed to apply all products based on nitrogen content. Accomplishments – Agriculture The on-farm trial was established in April 2013. Treatments consisted of seven amendments: dehydrated food waste, yardwaste compost, mixed compost, yardwaste-biosolids co-compost, paper fiber waste, gelcake, and synthetic fertilizer (control). Three crops were used: sweet corn, butternut squash, and potatoes. All organic amendments were applied at rates sufficient to increase soil organic matter by two percentage points; the synthetic fertilizer was applied at recommended rates. Soil samples were evaluated for pH, soil moisture, organic matter, and electrical conductivity. Addition of the mixed compost significantly increased soil pH relative to the control, while addition of dehydrated food waste reduced soil pH. However, all plots had soil pH within the acceptable range. Soil organic matter increased in all plots over the course of the season. However, there were significant differences in soil organic matter between all replications that obscured any differences between treatments. No significant differences in soil moisture or electrical conductivity were observed. The effectiveness of amendments as fertility sources for crops was primarily measured using yield, although data was taken on stand establishment, vegetative growth, and insect and disease damage. Potato yields were significantly higher than the control for gel cake, yard waste – biosolids cocompost, and mixed compost. Corn yields were significantly higher than the control for dehydrated food waste, gel cake, and yard waste – biosolids cocompost. None of the amendments produced higher squash yields than the control. Yard waste compost produced the lowest yields in both sweet corn and potatoes.
Publications
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