From: -Daniel Stocks
Date: 17th May 1999
Organisation: Brackenhurst college, Nottinghamshire
Subject: Soil amelioration for slag waste sites

Request

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As part of National Diploma in Horticulture at Brackenhurst College, I have an assignment on site remediation and land reclamation. Basically it involves soil amelioration for slag waste sites, coal shale waste, builders rubble and pulverised fuel ash.

The assignment involves me looking at a variety of contaminated sites (slag waste sites, coal shale waste, builders rubble and pulverised fuel ash).

I have to look at and describe the characteristics of the growing media and perhaps offer a little background information regarding the origin of the noted contaminants, i.e where they came from, what industry produced them etc.

The main thing is the characteristics and ultimately the improvment of the media or remediation of a site in order that it be planted with amenity type plants, which would be

• initially legumes
• then grasses
• finally permanent types e.g. genista, gauze, lotus etc.

Many thanks

Daniel Stocks

Respond to this Query / Request

1st response

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1. The ICRCL tables - which deal with phytotoxicity etc.
2. The Kelly Indices - which focus on old gas-works.

   I suggest that you also have a look at the various pages on the site that deal with phytoremediation - you might get some clues as to what grows best.

3. BIORENEW Phytoremediation project
4. Phytoremediation
5. Phytoremediation - MSc project
6. Phytoremediation project - collaborators/funds sought
7. Phytoremediation - information needed
8. Biodegradation of explosives by transgenic plants

   And finally have a look at the various

9. DoE guidelines

cheers

Micky

2nd response

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I went to the Landscape show yesterday, and got quite a bit of useful information from the Voelker stand. They have just set up a soil exchange, which is designed specifically for the landscape sector, and will offer the following services:-

1. Soils available (by soil type, quantity and source)
2. Soils wanted (users can specify soil type required)
3. Soil suppliers (for suppliers who have constant soil stocks available)

Although they will not be vetting each entry to the data-base, they will encourage suppliers to provide soil analysis data along the lines of this set of parameters, in order to promote good practice in the industry.

For further details contact Dr Andrew Butler at Voelcker Science Ltd - which incidentaly is packed with all sorts of useful information.

Oh I nearly forgot they were handing out handy plastic memory jogger cards with extracts from 'A Guide to Specifying Topsoil' Parts 1 + 2 by R.M. Voelker et al (Landscape Design March + April 1989), which gave parameters for soil attributes needed to sustain healthy plant growth :-

1. Major Nutrients etc

   pH			     5.5 - 7.8
   Electrical Conductivity	     < 1500 uS/cm
   1:2.5 (w/v) Extract
   Organic Matter		     > 4.0%  (w/w) [1]
   Nitrogen (N)		     > 0.2%  (w/w) [2]
   Extractable Phosphorous	(P)  >  45 (mg/kg) [3]
   Extractable Potassium (K)    > 240 (mg/kg) [3]
   Extractable Magnesium (Mg)   >  80 (mg/kg) [3]
   
   	[1] BS 1377
   	[2] Kjeldahl
   	[3] MAFF Handbook RB 427
   

2. Phytotoxic Elements (not normally hazardous to health), based on values in ICRCL 59/83 where a pH value of 6.5 is assumed. If the pH value falls, the toxic effects and takeup of elements below will increase.

   Total Copper (Cu)	     < 130 (mg/kg)
   Total Nickel (Ni)	     <  70 (mg/kg)
   Total Zinc (Zn)		     < 300 (mg/kg)
   Water-soluble Boron (b)      <   3 (mg/kg)
   

3. Zootoxic Elements (which may pose hazards to health), based on trigger concentrations given in ICRCL 59/83 (open spaces etc)

   Total Arsenic (As)	     <  40 (mg/kg)
   Total Cadmium (Cd)	     <  15 (mg/kg)
   Total Chromium (Cr)	     <1000 (mg/kg)
   Total Lead (Pb)		     <2000 (mg/kg)
   Total Mercury (Hg)	     <  20 (mg/kg)
   

4. Stones

   Maximum size		    50mm
   Maximum Content (2-50mm)    35% by dry weight
   				(the 2-5mm part
   				is <20% dry wt)
   

5. Soil Texture

   Sand (0.05-2mm)		     Max 75%, Min 20%
   Sand (0.002-0.05mm)	     Max 60%, Min  5%
   Sand (<0.002mm)		     Max 30%, Min  5%
   

Micky