Chemical, microbial and physical properties of manufactured soils produced by co-composting municipal green waste with coal fly ash.
Increasing proportions of coal fly ash were co-composted with municipal green waste to produce manufactured soil for landscaping use. Only the 100% green waste treatment reached a thermophilic composting phase (50 degrees C) which lasted for 6 days. The 25% and 50% ash treatments reached 36-38 degrees C over the same period while little or no self-heating occurred in the 75% and 100% ash treatments. Composted green waste had a low bulk density and high total and macro-porosity. Addition of 25% ash to green waste resulted in a 75% increase in available water holding capacity. As the proportions of added ash in the composts increased, the organic C, soluble C, microbial biomass C, basal respiration and activities of beta-glucosidase, L-asparaginase, alkali phosphatase and arylsulphatase enzymes in the composted products all decreased. It could be concluded that addition of fly ash to green waste at a proportion higher than 25% did not improve the quality parameters of manufactured soil.
Belyaeva
O N
ON
School of Land, Crop and Food Sciences/CRC CARE, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia.
Haynes
R J
RJ
D001419:Bacteria / Q000378:metabolism*; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D018533:Biomass; D002244:Carbon / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D002947:Cities; D003031:Coal; D060729:Coal Ash; D018525:Germination; D031220:Lepidium sativum / Q000502:physiology; D008422:Materials Testing; D009566:Nitrates / Q000302:isolation & purification; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000032:analysis; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000378:metabolism*; D010944:Plants / Q000378:metabolism*; D000644:Quaternary Ammonium Compounds / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012037:Refuse Disposal; D012987:Soil; D012988:Soil Microbiology; D012995:Solubility; D013696:Temperature
D003031:Coal; D060729:Coal Ash; D009566:Nitrates; D052638:Particulate Matter; D000644:Quaternary Ammonium Compounds; D012987:Soil; D002244:Carbon; D009584:Nitrogen