Progress 10/01/12 to 09/30/16
Outputs
Target Audience:Students Coal-based electricity generation facilities United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) Bioenergy industry, including feedstock producers Changes/Problems:We initially planned to conduct all these experiments using eastern gamagrass (GG) as feedstock under investigation with switchgrass (SG) as the model bioenergy feedstocks. Logistical difficulties frequently interfered with complete adherence to our plans. In spite of its desirable qualities of high biomass productivity and environmental enhancement, GG possesses particularly stronger dormancy that other native warm season perennial grasses (WSPGs). This requires special treatment to break, including stratification for 6-8 weeks at low temperatures, with or without treatment with 15% hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) before planting. The very strong dormancy of GG can create difficulties, especially in side-by-side comparisons of the growth and performance of the WSPG versus the model SG. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Project trained a doctoral student in soil, plant, mycological and toxicological investigations How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Results are being disseminated through peer-reviewed publications. Conversations are ongoing between the PI and the Coal Residual Program Manager, Division of Solid Waste Management, Chattanooga (Tennessee) Environmental Field Office for the feasibility of a small field scale proof-of-concept investigation at a location yet to be determined. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
We previously reported enhancement of biomass productivities of eastern gamagrass (GG) and switchgrass (SG) grown in coal fly ash-amended soils containing poultry litter as organic amendment. Dzantor, E.K, Adeleke, E., Kankarla, V., Ogunmayowa, O., Hui, D., 2015, Using Coal Fly Ash Agriculture:Combination of Fly Ash and Poultry Litter as Soil Amendments for Bioenergy Feedstock Production. Coal Combustion and Gasification Products 7, 33-39, doi: 10.4177/CCGP-D-15-00002.1. Another objective of our project was to enhance biomass productivities of GG and SG grown in coal fly ash-amended soils through the mediation of arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM). We hypothesized that AM could neutralize potential toxic components that are invariably associated with coal fly ash (CFA) and thereby enhance both productivity and quality of biomass produced in soils amended with the byproduct. It has been suggested that biomass produced on contaminated soil could contain contaminants that could interfere with certain processes in the conversion of biomass to bioenergy. For this experiment, we investigated the AM isolates namedDentisculata heterogama(Dh), andClarodeoglomus etunicatum(Ce) and we used GG only as feedstock. We encountered problems with rising pH during this experiment. For this experiment, we used a different batch of CFA than previous experiment. We attributed the rising pH in this experiment to inadequate time to allow proper equilibration of CFA-soil admixture with aluminum sulfate that was used for pH adjustment. Still, results of this experiment revealed that although Dh slightly enhanced total biomass productivity of GG; there was up to 75% reduction of biomass when GG was grown in soil containing 10% CFA (w/w) amendment. Observations from this experiment caused to return attention on SG, the bioenergy model feedstock, to understand the molecular toxicological aspects of its production in CFA-amended soil. Specifically, experiments were conducted to determine oxidative stress responses of SG to different levels of CFA amendment with and without AM inoculation or fortification with glutathione, both implicated in molecular stress reduction of plants. Briefly, these results strongly suggested that for SG, soil amendment below 15% CFA could be a potential option for beneficial use of CFA as soil amendment when CFA-amended soil is also inoculated with AM, in this case,Rhizophagusclarus (Rc). It is recommended that similar evaluations be conducted with GG, or other bioenergy feedstock grown with Rc and/or more aggressive AM. Results of the molecular toxicology aspects of growing bioenergy feedstock in CFA-amended soil have been submitted for publication: Awoyemi O. M., Dzantor E. K.2016.Toxicity of coal fly ash and toxicological response of switchgrass grown on fly ashamended soil with or without arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi or exogenous glutathione.Journal of Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety.
Publications
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2015
Citation:
Dzantor, E.K, Adeleke, E., Kankarla, V., Ogunmayowa, O., Hui, D., 2015, Using Coal Fly Ash Agriculture:
Combination of Fly Ash and Poultry Litter as Soil Amendments for Bioenergy Feedstock Production. Coal Combustion and Gasification Products 7, 33-39, doi: 10.4177/CCGP-D-15-00002.1
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Submitted
Year Published:
2016
Citation:
Awoyemi O. M., Dzantor E. K. 2016. Toxicity of Coal Fly Ash and Toxicological Response of Switchgrass Grown on Fly Ash Amended Soil with or without Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi or Exogenous Glutathione. Journal of Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety
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Progress 10/01/14 to 09/30/15
Outputs
Target Audience:Students Coal-based, electricity generation facilities The US Environmental Protection Agency Changes/Problems:There were no changes in implementation plans. However the project confirmed what is known about difficulties in or idiosyncrasies of using CFA as soils amendment. Our experiments showed that it is critical to properly equilibrate and/or properly age soil-CFA mixtures for experiments. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The project provided an opportunity to attend a workshop hosted by a prospective collaborator on microbial community analysis in contaminated soils. The workshop was also attended by a research assistant on the project. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Results from the project were disseminated through a peer reviewed journal publication. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Most of our previous studies have focused on use of FA as soil amendment under acidic soil conditions. Still, the pH of 8-10 could be too high to be lowered by Al-SO4 as we have done in the past, without creating greater potentials of Al toxicity. Accordingly, we are modifying our soil fortification protocols to use H2SO4 to attain pH ≥4.5, instead of Al-SO4. Elemental S is the practical method of choice for lowering soil pH in most field applications. However the procedure is very slow. Phosphoric and nitric acids have been suggested for the purpose as well. However, it is not clear how or how much P and N additions would complicate interpretation of our observations, given that P and N are variables that we investigate. Besides, both acids are slower acting than H2SO4. Screening experiments are underway using fresh with fresh inocula of Dentisculata heterogama, Clarodeoglomus etunicatun and commercial preparation of mixed AMF from Biovam™. For biomass assessments. These experiments also involves screening of different levels of paper mill sludge (PMS) as organic amendments that may be used alone of in in combination with AMF to enhance biomass production by GG. These experiments will be conducted at pH=4.5, using H2SO4 to make the required pH adjustments.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
During the reporting period, we conducted another treepot experiment, this time to evaluate mycorrhiza-assisted biomass productivity of eastern gamagrass in soils that were amended with coal fly ash (CFA). We tested two strains of arbuscular mycorrhizae (AM) namely, Dentisculata heterogama (formerly known as Scutellaspora heterogama) and Clarodeoglomus etunicatun (formerly known as Glomus etunicatum). Within days of the experiment we noticed stress symptoms on all treatments that contained CFA). At first sight the symptoms were similar to leaf tip browning and necrosis that is characteristic of K deficiency. We hypothesized that a relatively high level of Ca in CFA was causing competitive cation inhibition between Ca and K. However, we found out the end of the experiment that the batch of CFA that used in this experiment was more alkaline (pH ~10.0) than what we used previously (pH~7.5). Although we adjusted the pH to 4.5 at the beginning of the experiment, this pH evidently rose to about 8 by the end the experiment. We missed this phenomenon because we only took endpoint pH reading during the experiment.
Publications
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2015
Citation:
Dzantor, E.K, Adeleke, E., Kankarla, V., Ogunmayowa, O., Hui, D., 2015, Using Coal Fly Ash Agriculture: Combination of Fly Ash and Poultry Litter as Soil Amendments for Bioenergy Feedstock Production. Coal Combustion and Gasification Products 7, 33-39, doi: 10.4177/CCGP-D-15-00002.1
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Progress 10/01/13 to 09/30/14
Outputs
Target Audience: Graduate students through research training and teaching. Students’ engagement in research and formal classroom instruction involves ethnic (4 Asian and 4 blacks) and gender (5 female) minorities Changes/Problems: The project initially focused on bioaugmentation with arbuscular mycorrhizae (AM) to enhance biomass productivity by the GG, SG and BB. We experienced initial difficulties in propagating enough AM for the experiments; while we were trying to overcome this problem, we conducted the biostimulation experiments with poultry reported above in accomplishments. Because of logistical and practical considerations it was decided to remove BB from the initial plans; the WSPG will continue to be investigated in students’ thesis projects. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? One student defended a Master’s thesis on November 4, 2014, with a project that feedstock evaluation to indiangrass, another WSPG that we had previously evaluated for bio/phytoremediation of pesticide contaminated soils. The title of the thesis project is ‘Beneficial Utilization of Coal Fly Ash with Organic Amendments to Enhance Biofuel Feedstock Production of Indiangrass in Armour Silt Loam Soil’ Another student is preparing a Master’s proposal on the same theme but with mixed contaminant soils (FA, Cr and bifenthrin, an insecticide used in nursery production in Tennessee). One research associate and one Ph.D. student have started compiling current literature on contemporary approaches for enhancing biomass productivity of WSPGs in soils adversely impacted by FA in addition to mixed contaminants. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? There is ongoing dialog with representative from Tennessee Valley Authority, owner of the coal combustion facility that caused the coal spill, to explore feasibility for implementing out findings on a field scale. Issues pertaining to pollution from coal combustion products and their remediation approaches have been incorporated into classroom teaching of a class titled ‘Soil Technology (AGCS 7060). What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Three strains of mycorrhizae are currently being propagated to be used to investigate biomass enhancement in FA-amended soils with or without organic amendments. Experiments will also include use of mixed contaminants (e.g., Cr and bifenthrin, an insecticide used in nursery production in Tennessee).
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
The project started by evaluating biomass productivity of GG and SG in Armour silt loam soil (ASL) that was amended with 10% (w/w) of FA obtained from the historic Kingston, TN coal ash spill. Some treatments received poultry litter (75 mg N/kg soil) as biostimulation organic amendment. The experiments were conducted at soil pH=4.5 representing biomass response of WSPGs to soil acidity that is projected to afflict 30% of all arable lands in the world and pH=6.5 representing ‘agronomic’ soil conditions. Results of these experiments showed that at the lower pH, biomass productivity of GG was significantly enhanced by the combination of 10% FA and PL amendments. At pH=6.5, there were no differences in total biomass productivity among the treatments. Similarly, there was no difference in biomass productivity of SG regardless of pH. X-ray imaging and analysis of selected washed roots grown at pH 4.5 confirmed significant enhancements of root system architecture (RSA) in the 10FA/PL treatments over all others. This characteristic plays critical roles in plant responses to soil contaminant stressors.
Publications
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Progress 10/01/12 to 09/30/13
Outputs
Target Audience: Students Taught undergraduate class titled Advanced Soil Fertility Direct graduate students projects: 1. Enhancing biomass productivity of warm season perennial grasses through arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi symbiosis (thesis in preparation) –Virginia Moore 2. Beneficial utilization of fly ash as soil amendment during the production of Indian grass in problem (marginal) soils—Vanaja Kankarla 3. Coupling bio/phytoremediation with cellulosic herbaceous perennials (grasses) to the cleanup of mixed-contaminant soils and biofuel feedstock production—O. Ogunmayowa Coal-based, electricity generating utilities--Fly ash for teses studies is provided by Kingston TN Fossil Fuel Facility Federal/Regulatory agencies: USEPA, DOE, USDA Changes/Problems: Logistical difficulties necessitated limiting CHP comparison to one grass plus SG as control . We encountered some delay in acqusition ofnew stock of viable AM isolates and appropriate host to be usedfor large scale propogation of isolates for soilinoculatiionexperiments. The situation is under contol and propagation activities are expected to start within one month. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? One student is scheduled to defend a Master's thesis this summer on enhancement of biomass productivity by BBthroughAM symbioses. Anothergraduate student has been approved to continue athesis project on indiangrass, another CHP, and a third graduate student is preparing a proposal on the topic with emphasis on biomass production in mixed-contaminant soil.These are invariable the types of soils that need to be broght into productive use in the current focus on the use of degraded or marginal lands for biofuel feedstock production. The graduate students within our group work closely with two undergraduate students who are preparing senior reports on their training within our group.. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Initial findings from the project were presented at the World of Coal Ash (WOCA) Conference April 23-25 2013, in Lextington KY. The PI is scheduled to make prosentations in International Conference on New Approaches in Food Security and CValue Addition: Technological and Genetic Options in India, February 17-19. The Pi will also participate in a workhop to share information abou coal fly ash, of which India is the world's leading producer. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? As indicated above, the relatively large number of treatment combinations precluded evaluation of biomass productivities of all selected CHPs side-by-side. In the next reporting period attention will be focused on BB, again with SG serving as the model biofuel feedstock. In addition, more time will be devoted to the propagation of selected mycorrizalisolates to be used the test further enhancement of biomass productivities by CHPs under soil stressors.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Major Goal for Evans Allen The project addresses NIFA Strategic Goals on Natural Resources and Environment, and on Sustainable and Renewable Bioenergy. Our overall goal is to enhance biomass productivity by cellulosic herbaceous perennials (CHPs) in fly ash-amended soils to allow profitable biofuel feedstock production in such soils while cleaning up accumulations of the waste product. We poroposed to to address this goal through the following objectives: 1) Identify arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi that enhance biomass productivity by eastern gamagrass (GG), big bluestem (BB)and switchgrass (SG) in FA-amended soils; 2) Determine biomass productivity by AM-enhanced GG, BB and SG; 3) Characterize rhizosystem development of AM-enhanced GG, BB and SG; and 4) Train students to address issues of environmental sustainability and biofuel feedstock production. What was accomplished Initial experiments in this project evaluated biomass productivity by the CHPs following soil amendment with 0, 2.5 and 20 percent (w/w) of fly ash (FA). Results of those experiments showed that 1) shoot biomass productivity was in the decreasing order of SG, GG and BB, 2) root biomass productivity by SG and GG was similar but was lower than that for BB., 3) soil amendment with 2.5% FA did not affect biomass productivies; however, biomass productivity at 20% FA amandment declinedfor all the grasses. The initialexperiments identified the need to: 1) determine optimum levels FA amendment to produce desired biomass enhacements, 2) use organic amendments such as poultry litter (PL) to enhance biomass productivity. Combining FA with PL to enhance biomass productivityrepresents an undeniably appealingwaste-to-bioenergy strategy. Accordingly, experiments were conducted with FA (0, 10%) with or without PL (equivalent to 75 mg N/kg soil) to determine biomass productivities. Becase of the large number of treatments involved, it was decided to evaluate the grasses separately using SG as the model bioenergy feedstock. Results of the experiments showed clearly that combinations of FA and PL producedgreater biomass than either FA or PL alone. X-ray imaging of roots confirmed that all measures of root system architecture (length , area. size and distibution) were enahaced by the FA abd PL combination.Our observations are leading to a greater understanding of root systems, which could ultimately aide the develoment of strategies for tolerance of CHPs to abiotis stresses.
Publications
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