Land Application of Biosolids to Restore Disturbed Western Rangelands
Location
ECC 307/309
Event Website
https://water.usu.edu/
Start Date
3-31-2008 11:15 AM
End Date
3-31-2008 11:30 AM
Description
Biosolids land application represents a cost effective approach for enhancing the environmental health and productivity of marginal and disturbed rangelands in the western United States. The impact of land applying aerobically digested (ArD) and anaerobically digested (AnD) biosolids and beef cattle manure (BCM) to restore marginal rangelands was evaluated in the current study. While an average dry matter yield of 84.1 lbs/acre was recorded for rangeland control plots, the dry matter yield for rangeland plots receiving ArD, AnD and BCM ranged from 129.0 to 664.1 lbs/acre. Forage grown on biosolids-amended rangelands showed maximum crude protein contents of 19.67%, 15.26% and 14.22% for ArD, AnD and BCM land application sites, respectively, compared to 10.15% for the control plots. Field tests indicated an average moisture infiltration rate of 7.07 cm/hr for control plots compared to a maximum of 7.14, 9.98 and 9.56 cm/hr in plots receiving ArD, AnD and BCM, respectively. The increase in dry matter yield, forage nutritional value and moisture infiltration underscores the value of biosolids land application for both restoring disturbed rangeland and for supporting sustainable ranching activities.
Land Application of Biosolids to Restore Disturbed Western Rangelands
ECC 307/309
Biosolids land application represents a cost effective approach for enhancing the environmental health and productivity of marginal and disturbed rangelands in the western United States. The impact of land applying aerobically digested (ArD) and anaerobically digested (AnD) biosolids and beef cattle manure (BCM) to restore marginal rangelands was evaluated in the current study. While an average dry matter yield of 84.1 lbs/acre was recorded for rangeland control plots, the dry matter yield for rangeland plots receiving ArD, AnD and BCM ranged from 129.0 to 664.1 lbs/acre. Forage grown on biosolids-amended rangelands showed maximum crude protein contents of 19.67%, 15.26% and 14.22% for ArD, AnD and BCM land application sites, respectively, compared to 10.15% for the control plots. Field tests indicated an average moisture infiltration rate of 7.07 cm/hr for control plots compared to a maximum of 7.14, 9.98 and 9.56 cm/hr in plots receiving ArD, AnD and BCM, respectively. The increase in dry matter yield, forage nutritional value and moisture infiltration underscores the value of biosolids land application for both restoring disturbed rangeland and for supporting sustainable ranching activities.
https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/runoff/2008/AllAbstracts/8