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Effect of Vegetation on Landfill Stabilization
Author(s) -
Molz Fred J.,
Browning V. Douglas
Publication year - 1977
Publication title -
groundwater
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.84
H-Index - 94
eISSN - 1745-6584
pISSN - 0017-467X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1745-6584.1977.tb03187.x
Subject(s) - leachate , lysimeter , environmental science , vegetation (pathology) , evapotranspiration , vegetation cover , hydrology (agriculture) , groundwater , environmental engineering , soil science , soil water , environmental chemistry , geology , geotechnical engineering , ecology , chemistry , land use , medicine , biology , pathology
Six types of vegetation were established successfully on lysimeters containing sanitary landfill materials. The vegetation grew well with the roots penetrating several refuse layers within one year. Leachate analysis indicated that vegetation and evapotranspiration (ET) reduced leachate volume and increased the rate of refuse decomposition. This was accompanied by production of a more potent leachate and a substantial increase in cumulative chemical oxygen demand. Therefore, this study suggests more potential ground‐water pollution in a shorter period of time when vegetation is planted on a landfill. The net effect of ET on the stabilization of any particular landfill will be the result of a complex interaction involving climate, vegetation, soil type, cover material, landfill geometry, and other variables. This makes extrapolation of our results to a particular field situation rather difficult.