Municipal solid waste heavy fraction for production of turfgrass sod

• Published in: HortScience Vol. 28; no. 9; pp. 914 - 916
• Main Authors: Flanagan, M.S, Schmidt, R.E, Reneau, R.B. Jr
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Alexandria, VA American Society for Horticultural Science 01.09.1993
• Subjects: Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; AMENDEMENT DU SOL; APROVECHAMIENTO DE DESECHOS; Biological and medical sciences; CAPA ARABLE DEL SUELO; CESPED; COUCHE ARABLE; CYNODON DACTYLON; DECHET SOLIDE; DENSIDAD DEL SUELO; DENSITE DU SOL; DESECHOS SOLIDOS; ENMIENDAS DEL SUELO; ENRACINEMENT; ENRAIZAMIENTO; FERTILIDAD DEL SUELO; FERTILITE DU SOL; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; GAZON; General agronomy. Plant production; MARYLAND; MATERIA ORGANICA; MATIERE ORGANIQUE; Other nutrients. Amendments. Solid and liquid wastes. Sludges and slurries; POA PRATENSIS; PRODUCCION VEGETAL; PRODUCTION VEGETALE; Soil-plant relationships. Soil fertility. Fertilization. Amendments; SOL; SOL SABLEUX; SUELO; SUELO ARENOSO; UTILISATION DES DECHETS; VIRGINIA; VIRGINIE; Monocotyledones; Waste utilization; Incorporation; Organic matter; Soil fertility; Urban waste; Ornamental crop; Household refuse; Inorganic element; Field experiment; Amendment; Cynodon dactylon; Gramineae; Angiospermae; Fertilization; Property of soil; Physical properties; Soils; Turf; Fertilizing value; Poa pratensis; Solid waste; Nutrient; Spermatophyta; Loamy sand soil
• ISSN: 0018-5345; 2327-9834
• DOI: 10.21273/HORTSCI.28.9.914

The "heavy fraction" portion of a municipal solid waste separation process was evaluated in field experiments as a soil amendment for producing turfgrass sod. Soil organic matter and concentrations of extractable NO3-N, P, K, Ca, and Zn in the soil increased with addition of heavy fraction. Soil incorporation of heavy fraction resulted in greater air, water, and total porosity and lower bulk density of a loamy sandy soil. Sod strength measurements taken 8.5 and 9.5 months after seeding were higher for Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) grown in heavy-fraction-amended topsoil than for turf grown in topsoil only. The use of this by-product may reduce the time required to produce a marketable sod. Soil incorporation of heavy fraction did not influence post-transplant rooting of Kentucky bluegrass sod but enhanced rooting of bermudagrass [Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.] sod at the highest rate evaluated. Results of these studies suggest that the use of heavy fraction for sod production may provide cultural benefits in addition to reducing the volume of solid waste deposited in landfills