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Land application of biosolids
(solid wastes from municipal and industrial waster water treatment)
has the potential to be an inexpensive alternative to traditional
engineered waste treatment options and can substantially improve soil
moisture and nutrient qualities with economic benefits in farming
and forestry applications. However, inappropriate applications
can lead to environmental degradation and potential health risks.
I have conducted research on the effects of biosolid loading rates
on nutrient uptake by vegetation uptake and loss through soil leaching,
in both the Northeast, USA and in New Zealand. The key finding
from this research was that mechanisms that limit nitrate leaching
losses will typically tend to limit the losses of other solutes that
might be of concern in surface and ground water. With careful
attention to the nature of the material being applied and the characteristics
of the target environment, land application of biosolids can be a
safe and economical alternative.
Key papers and reports
Smith, C.T., W.B. Bowden, L. Medalie.
1988. Forest utilization of pulp and paper mill sludge and biomass
boiler ash: a literature review and research assessment. Final
report submitted to S.D. Warren Paper Co., Inc. a division of Scott
Paper Co., Inc.
Bowden, W.B., C.T. Smith, and
L. Medalie. 1988. Forest utilization of pulp and paper
mill sludge and biomass boiler ash: an annotated bibliography.
Final report submitted to S.D. Warren Paper Co., Inc. a division of
Scott Paper Co., Inc.
Bowden, W.B., and C.T. Smith. 1992. Forest utilization
of wood ash: soil chemical changes and effects on forest vegetation.
Final project report to North Country Resource Conservation and Development,
Inc.
Bowden, W.B., C.T. Smith, W.H. McDowell, and C. Catricala. 1992.
Assessing potential water quality impacts of creating synthetic topsoil
from pulp and paper mill residuals. Final report submitted to
S.D. Warren Paper Co., Inc. a division of Scott Paper Co., Inc.
Smith, C.T., S.D. McMahon, D.R.
Devoe, and W.B. Bowden. 1992. Silvicultural and environmental
aspects of wastewater sludge utilization. Proceedings of a workshop
on "The use of wastes and by-products as fertilizer and soil
amendments for pastures and crops". Massey University,
Fertilizer and Lime Research Centre, Palmerston North, New Zealand.
19-20 February 1992.
Smith, C.T., W.B. Bowden, T.E. Howard. 1993. Matching
forest soils research with northeastern land use trends.
Chapter 7 in T. Sims (ed.) Agricultural research in the northeastern
United States: a critical review. Proceedings of the Northeast
Branch of the American Society of Agronomy, 1992. American Society
of Agronomy. Madison, Wisconsin.
Medalie, L., W.B. Bowden, and C.T. Smith. 1994. Nutrient
leaching following land application of municipal sewage sludge in
a mixed northern hardwood forest. J. Env. Qual. 28:130-138.
Catricala, C., W.B. Bowden, C.T. Smith, W.H. McDowell. 1996.
Chemical characteristics of leachate pulp and paper mill residuals
used to reclaim sandy soils. Water Air and Soil Pollution 89:1-21.
Hallet,R., C.T. Smith, and W.B. Bowden. 1999. Nitrogen
dynamics in forest soils after municipal sludge additions. Water,
Air and Soil Pollution. 112: 259-278.
Watson, A.J. T.J.A. Davie, W.B. Bowden, and J.J. Payne. 2004. Drainage
to shallow groundwater under a closed-canopy Radiata pine plantation
on the Canterbury Plains, South Island, New Zealand Journal of Hydrology
(NZ) 43(2): 111-122.
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