Premium
Regenerating Topsoil Functionality in Four Drastically Disturbed Soil Types by Compost Incorporation
Author(s) -
Curtis Matthew J.,
Claassen Victor P.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
restoration ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.214
H-Index - 100
eISSN - 1526-100X
pISSN - 1061-2971
DOI - 10.1111/j.1526-100x.2007.00329.x
Subject(s) - compost , environmental science , soil water , topsoil , revegetation , agronomy , tillage , green waste , nutrient , hydraulic conductivity , bulk density , amendment , soil conditioner , soil science , chemistry , land reclamation , biology , ecology , organic chemistry , political science , law
The low water‐holding capacity and low nutrient levels of roadcuts in northern California cause many of these disturbed areas to remain chronically barren. Yard waste compost was incorporated into four nonvegetated substrates found along roadcuts (decomposed granite [DG], lahar, serpentine, and sandstone) in order to regenerate topsoil infiltration, water‐holding capacity, and nutrient availability. Soil physical and chemical properties, as well as the vegetative response of a native perennial grass, were compared between treatments (non‐tilled, tilled, and tilled with compost amendment). Tillage and compost addition decreased soil bulk density compared to the non‐tilled treatment, and the compost treatment increased the soil carbon and nitrogen contents compared to the non‐tilled and tilled treatments. Tillage alone resulted in an increase in saturated hydraulic conductivity in soils that did not contain a large amount of coarse fragments. Tillage also reduced sediment loss in all soils except the DG. Foliar C 13 content did not predict water stress consistently between treatments. The incorporation of yard waste compost increased plant available water in coarse but not in fine‐textured soils, and aboveground plant biomass was significantly greater in the compost treatment than in either of the other treatments. Although the incorporation of yard waste compost generated the greatest revegetation success, tillage alone may be a sufficient treatment if residual soils have adequate nutrient levels.