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ARS Home » Midwest Area » West Lafayette, Indiana » National Soil Erosion Research Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #128873
Title: USE OF CALCIUM-CONTAINING COAL COMBUSTION PRODUCTS AND ORGANIC MATTER TO REDUCE SOIL EROSION

Author
item TISHMACK, J - PURDUE UNIVERSITY
item PETERSON, J - PURDUE UNIVERSITY
item Flanagan, Dennis

Submitted to: International Ash Utilization Symposium
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/1/2001
Publication Date: 10/22/2001
Citation: Tishmack, J.K., Peterson, J.R., Flanagan, D.C. Use of calcium-containing coal combustion products and organic matter to reduce soil erosion. International Ash Utilization Symposium. 2001. p. 11.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Previous studies of gypsum and power plant byproducts applied to soil showed the improvement of infiltration and the reduction in runoff erosion. A laboratory rainfall simulation study examined two coal combustion byproducts (CCBP), a reclaimed, Class C fly ash marketed as Nutra-Ash and an organic sludge stabilized with alkaline Fluidized Bed Combustion ash called SoilerLime. Natural gypsum and turkey compost were included for comparison. A 2-hour rainstorm of 70 mm/h was applied to soil boxes amended with the test material. Total runoff was reduced under SoilerLime, gypsum, Nutra-Ash applications, but not turkey compost. Total sediment loss was reduced using gypsum, SoilerLime, Nutra-Ash and turkey compost. The SoilerLime reduced runoff more effectively than the Nutra-Ash, but it contained six times more calcium, which improved soil structure and increased water infiltration. The effectiveness of the Nutra-Ash at reducing sediment yield peaked at 30 minutes, and then decreased to levels comparable to the control. This may indicate a limited concentration of soluble calcium containing minerals. The effectiveness of the SoilerLime at reducing both runoff and sediment loss may be due to a combination of both soluble calcium and organic matter. Based on this work, it appears that calcium-containing coal combustion products can be effective amendments for reducing soil erosion, but their effects are dependent on the concentration and the solubility of the calcium containing minerals. A combination of soluble calcium minerals and organic matter provided the most erosion control benefit.