building attractive, environmentally and
economically sustainable landscapes
Soil amendment field trials using recycled organics
Katrina Walton
Coastal Plain Soils
very sandy
usually acidic
well drained
low water holding capacity
very low nutrient contents
“poorly buffered”
tend to become hydrophobic
Case Study No.1
Encouraging the Golf Industry to Take Strategic Waste Initiatives
A Case Study : Soil amendment field trials on four Perth golf courses
Reduce
Re-Use
Recycle
Katrina Walton Dave Allen Dale and Associates
Project Objectives
Two Parts :
• Fairway Demonstration Trials – 4 courses
• Scientific Trial : Controlled Conditions Field Trial
• Questionnaire - 54 courses invited
• Course selection - 13
• Free soil and turf testing - greens, fairways,
tees, rough and water test
• Superintendents interviewed - management practices
and/or issues problems
• Test Reports Issued
• Full day workshop held
Typical Soil Amendments / Improvers
natural clays
green waste compost
gypsum
zeolites
Commercial and premium compost
Bio-solids Animal manures
soil conditioners
fly red mud
Biochar
Soil wetting agents
residue sand
Organic Amendments
Analyte
pH
Organic carbon
Nitrogen
C:N Ratio
Phosphorus
Potassium
Wettability
CEC
Ash
Water Holding
Capacity
PRI
Soil Conditioner
Premium Compost Green Waste Compost
7.7
13.7%
1.8%
7.6
0.99%
0.77%
7 min 8 sec
31 cmol(+)/kg
70.9%
6.9
43.5%
2.1%
20.7
0.89%
1.3%
1 min 16 sec
68 cmol(+)/kg
18.5%
8.4
11.8%
0.83%
14.2
0.22%
0.27%
4 min 39 sec
25 cmol(+)/kg
75.5%
52%
61%
61%
-1.8 mL/g
strongly desorbing
-3.4 mL/g
Inorganic Amendments
Analyte
pH
Clay
PRI
Organic carbon
CEC
MED
Brickies Sand
7.1
5.0%
9 mL/g
0.04%
1 cmol(+)/kg
0.0
Gingin Loam
Residue Sand
Fly Ash
6.8
6.0%
15 mL/g
0.05%
1 cmol(+)/kg
0.0
8.4
1.5%
15 mL/g
0.06%
2 cmol(+)/kg
0.0
6.6
3.0%
30 mL/g
2.2%
3.5 cmol(+)/kg
0.0
Demonstration Trials
YANCHEP
WANNEROO
40km (approx)
MIDLAND
Perth City
ROCKINGHAM
Sea View
Golf Course (Private)
Cottesloe
Fairway Soil Analysis
salinity low
slightly alkaline (pH 7.2)
low silt & clay (1.5%)
high organic matter (thatch over 100 years)
strongly hydrophobic (water repellent)
good nutrient balance
Soil Amendments Requirements
material with high fines to boost silt and clay contents, increasing water holding capacity and
reducing hydrophobicity
an acidic to neutral reaction to offset the natural alkalinity of the soil and irrigation water
Marri Park
Golf Course (Public)
Casuarina
Fairway Soil Analysis
salinity low
slightly acidic (pH 6.2), soils in rough
strongly acidic (pH 4.6)
moderate silt (2 - 3%) & clay (1.5 –2 %)
very high organic matter (thatch)
moderately hydrophobic (water repellent)
very good nutrient balance, low Mn
low Phosphorus Retention Index (PRI) in
conjunction with high levels of plant aval.P
Soil Amendments Requirements
material with high fines to boost silt and clay contents, increasing water holding capacity and
reducing hydrophobicity
an alkaline reaction to offset the slight acidity of the soil and irrigation water
material with moderately high phosphate adsorption capacity to reduce solubility of P in the
organic amendment
Maylands Peninsula
Golf Course (Public)
Fairway Soil Analysis
salinity low
slightly acidic (pH 5.6 – 6.3)
moderate silt (2 %) & clay (1.5 –2 %)
moderately high organic matter (thatch)
not hydrophobic (does not repel water)
low levels of P, due to proximity to Swan
river, potential concerns of P leaching are
managed by application very low levels of
water–sol P
moderately low PRI with requirement to
maintain these levels to minimise leaching
of P
Soil Amendments Requirements
an alkaline reaction to offset the slight acidity of the soil
material with a moderately high phosphate adsorption capacity to reduce the solubility of
phosphorous in the organic amendment
a material with low or very low fines and clay to improve drainage
Chequers
Golf Club (Public)
Bullsbrook
Fairway Soil Analysis
salinity low
slightly acidic (pH 5.8 – 6.3)
moderate silt (2 %) & low clay (1.0%)
moderately high organic matter
moderately hydrophobic (water repellent)
low levels of K & Mn
low PRI, with a requirement to maintain
these levels due to close proximity to Ellen
Brook catchment
Soil Amendments Requirements
additional organic matter with a moderate level of K and Mn
Material with moderately high phosphate adsorption capacity to reduce the solubility of
phosphorous in the organic amendment
Customised Soil Blends
Sea View
20 tonnes of ‘Rocla Clean Turf Sand’ per hectare
10 cubic metres of Organic product ‘D’ per hectare
5 tonnes of Fly Ash per hectare
Maylands
25 tonnes of ‘Carramar Fill Sand’ per hectare
10 cubic metres of Organic product ‘D’ per hectare
10 tonnes of Residue Sand per hectare
Marri Park
20 tonnes of ‘Wesco Fill Sand’ per hectare
10 cubic metres of Organic product ‘B’ per hectare
5 tonnes of Residue Sand per hectare
Chequers
25 tonnes of ‘Gingin Loam’ per hectare
10 cubic metres of Organic product ‘F’ per hectare
Preparation of Blends
Preparation of Blends
Preparation of Blends
Preparation of Blends
Amended 40m
Amended
Control
Control
2m
Demonstration Plot Design
Soil Amendment Application
Rate = 40 tonnes / ha
40 bags / strip
3 Fairways
Total 120 bags / course
Application
Soil Amendment Application
G.U.R = MINIMAL
Soil amendment
application
1 week after soil
amendment application
Seaview : 1st Hole +3 weeks
AMENDED
CONTROL
AMENDED
CONTROL
Water Holding Capacity : No water 4 days, +35 C Days
Reduced Water logging : Maylands GC 3rd Hole + 5months
CONTROL
AMENDED
BUFFER
Trial Still Visible + 12months : Maylands 2nd hole - Rough
Conclusions
• Slight
increase in clay content
• Slight improvement in pH
• Slight increase in phosphate retention
• Reduced water repellency
• Improved drainage in water logged soil (Maylands)
• Improved plant nutrition (mainly nitrogen)
• Affects of amendments still visible 12 months after application
Controlled Conditions Field Trial
Controlled Conditions Turf Response & Leachate
Evaluation
Two applications of a liquid fertiliser
Potassium phosphate and ammonium nitrate
For assessment of
1.Turf response
2. Leachate quality.
The fertiliser solution was prepared by
dissolving 1.098 kilograms of potassium
dihydrogen orthophosphate (KH2PO4) and
2.86 kilograms of ammonium nitrate
(NH4NO3) in 10 litres of water.
30cm buffer
30cm buffer
Application of 400 millilitres of the solution to
each plot supplied nitrogen and phosphorus
at rates on 40 and 10 kilograms per hectare
(i.e 40 g N/10 g P per plot), respectively, with
each application.
Dry Weight of Harvested Clippings
First Harvest (+ 5 months)
Second Harvest (+13 months)
Lysimeter Leachate Results
T r e a tm e n t
A n a ly te
pH
E le ctric al C o n d u c tiv ity
A m m o n iu m -N
N itra te -N
S o lu b le -P
S u lp h ate -S
A rse n ic
C opper
Iro n
P o ta ssiu m
M a g n e siu m
M a n g a n e se
S o d iu m
N ic k e l
L ead
Z in c
U n its
m S /m
m g N /L
m g N /L
m g P /L
m g S /L
m g /L
m g /L
m g /L
m g /L
m g /L
m g /L
m g /L
m g /L
m g /L
m g /L
C o n tr o l
O r g a n ic
In o r g a n ic
O r g a n ic p lu s
In o r g a n ic
6 .8
222
0 .3 0
0 .7 1
1 .3 7
48
< 0 .0 5
0 .0 0 8
6
19
16
0 .0 1 9
397
0 .0 2 0
0 .0 9
0 .0 2 5
7 .0
209
1 .8 5
1 .9 7
1 .9 5
60
< 0 .0 5
0 .0 3 5
14
23
15
0 .0 3 4
399
0 .0 9 0
0 .1 9
0 .0 4 1
7 .2
211
0 .5 2
0 .8 9
0 .3 4
58
< 0 .0 5
0 .0 1 5
12
16
12
0 .0 1 1
398
0 .0 1 5
0 .0 8
0 .0 3 0
7 .2
217
0 .9 1
1 .0 2
0 .5 4
49
< 0 .0 5
0 .0 0 7
7
23
14
0 .0 3 4
392
0 .0 3 5
0 .1 0
0 .0 2 1
Gravimetric Soil Moistures of Amended Soils
Conclusions
•
Organic amendment provided highest turf yields
•
Organic amendment does leach P on grey sands
•
Inorganic + organic provided highest quality leachate
•
Inorganic + organic will reduces nitrate leaching by reducing the amount
of leachate
•
A single application of organic supplies (at these rates) gives the
equivalent of 500 kg of P (equiv. 20 years worth)
•
Soil amendments indicate a fertiliser substitute for future years (except
for nitrogen and possibly manganese and eventually potassium)
•
Soil amendments can improve water holding capacity, reduce water use
(provides and extra 2-3 mm of rainfall/water)
•
Reduces waste going to landfill, lowers water usage, reduces impact on
environment (fossil fuels- fertilisers, nutrient leaching)
Case Study No.2
Field Evaluation of Municipal Solid Waste Compost for
Recreational Turf Establishment
Perth Esplanade Trial
Katrina Walton and Dave Allen
Objectives
•
Compare effectiveness of two MSWs for improving soil quality of
an unfertilised Spearwood sand.
•
Compare effectiveness of two MSWs for promoting healthy turf
growth based on visual assessment over a 12 months period.
•
Identify potential nutrient deficiencies, toxicities or imbalances
resulting from the use of MSWs as the principal source of nutrients
for turf establishment.
•
Provide an indication of the required application rates to maximise
plant nutrition and water-holding capacity of amended soil.
•
To determine the potential for nutrients to leach from soil amended
with MSWs.
Laboratory Analysis
Compost Quality (AS4454-2003)
Quality Parameter
Moisture
Ash
Loss on Ignition (LOI)
pH
Electrical Conductivity (EC)
Total nitrogen
Total carbon
C : N ratio
Ammonium-N
Nitrate-N
Soluble phosphorus
Particle size grading
Wettability
Foreign matter:
o Glass, metal, hard plastic
o Light plastic
o Stones, clay clods
Units
% as received
% dry basis
% dry basis
dS/m
% dry basis
% dry basis
mg N/L
mg N/L
mg P/L
% retained on
16 mm sieve
minutes/seconds
% as received
% as received
% as received
Product A
30.6
74.9
25.1
8.2
4.3
0.93
10.5
11
<0.1
39
4.0
1.5
Product B
15.0
52.0
48.0
8.2
6.0
1.21
28.0
23
49
0.89
1.1
<0.1
8 / 46
>40
1.9
<0.1
1.4
1.3
<0.1
<0.1
Product B
Product A
Existing
Turf
Trial
Surface after a Perth Arts Festival
8th Feb - 2nd March
Recovery – 3 weeks later
30th March 2008
Total P in soil (0-40cm)
Total Phosphorus
Concentration (%)
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
0
5
10
Depth (cm)
A 10 mm
15
B 10 mm
20
Control
25
A 30 mm
30
35
40
B 30 mm
Plant available (extractable) P in soil (0-40cm)
Extractable Phosphorus
Concentration (mg/kg)
0
50
100
150
200
0
5
Depth (cm)
10
15
A 10 mm
B 10 mm
20
Control
A 30 mm
25
30
35
40
B 30 mm
PRI Concentration (0-40cm)
Phosphorus Retention Index
PRI (mL/g)
-2
0
2
4
6
8
0
5
Depth (cm)
10
15
A 10 mm
B 10 mm
20
Control
A 30 mm
25
30
35
40
B 30 mm
Sodium / EC Levels
Sodium in soil
Concentration (mg/kg)
350
300
A 10 mm
250
B 10 mm
200
Control
150
A 30 mm
100
B 30 mm
50
Mar-09
Feb-09
Dec-08
Oct-08
Sep-08
Jul-08
Jun-08
Apr-08
Feb-08
0
Sampling Date
50
45
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
A 10 mm
B 10 mm
Control
A 30 mm
Sampling Date
Mar-09
Feb-09
Dec-08
Oct-08
Sep-08
Jul-08
Jun-08
Apr-08
B 30 mm
Feb-08
EC (mS/m)
Electrical Conductivity
Sodium Levels
Sodium in soil
Concentration (mg/kg)
350
300
A 10 mm
250
B 10 mm
200
Control
150
A 30 mm
100
B 30 mm
50
Mar-09
Feb-09
Dec-08
Oct-08
Sep-08
Jul-08
Jun-08
Apr-08
Feb-08
0
Sampling Date
Sodium in turf
0.70
0.60
A 10 mm
0.50
B 10 mm
0.40
Control
0.30
A 30 mm
B 30 mm
0.20
0.10
Sampling date
Mar-09
Feb-09
Dec-08
Oct-08
Sep-08
Jul-08
Jun-08
Apr-08
0.00
Feb-08
Concentration (%db)
0.80
Case Study No.3
My Place : Banjup
Bassendean Sand - Joel series
“silver loam”
general soil properties
pH – acid
PRI – low to saturated
organic matter – very low
clay content – very low - none
really “crappy” soil
Home Experiment
Total Area to be amended = 1000 m3
Application Rate = 100 m3 / ha
10 m3 Premium Compost
20 m3 Yellow “Brickies” sand
Mixed
1 part compost : 2 parts sand
Incorporation
depth 5-6cm
very lightly hoed
Turf Variety
soft leaf buffalo
(Sir Walter – stolons)
+ 1 week
+ 12 months
+ 2 years
…yesterday
Acknowledgements
FLYASH
AUSTRALIA
SMRC
Dale and Associates
building attractive, environmentally and
economically sustainable landscapes
Thank you
www.zerowastewa.com.au
www.chemcentre.wa.gov.au