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Effects of Biosolids as a Soil Amendment on Early-seral Grasslands
Effects of Biosolids as a Soil Amendment on Early-seral Grasslands |
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The recovery of late seral plant species on degraded grasslands may require
decades, even with the complete exclusion of grazing. A surface application of biosolids to
degraded native grassland has the potential to restore ecological integrity by accelerating
successional processes.
"Biosolids are produced from processed solids at wastewater treatment plants and have been used as an organic soil amendment on areas with poor soil, with the objective of improving soil structure and providing essential plant nutrients and minerals. During 2000, the Biosolids Recycling Program of the Greater Vancouver Regional District (GVRD) supplied 17,700 tonnes of biosolids for ranch fertilzation in British Columbia. A portion of this biosolid material was used to increase the productivity of degraded native rangeland." 8 
Biosolids may initiate the recovery process with an injection of nitrogen, which may boost
above- and below-ground biomass, leading
to improved water use efficiency, soil organic matter inputs, and increased litter.
The mulching
properties of biosolids also have potential to induce positive changes in soil properties.
A mulch of biosolids will reduce temperature extremes near the soil surface, protect exposed
mineral soil from erosion, reduce evaporative loss of water, reduce weedy species and
increase organic matter inputs. The resulting improvement in remnant plant vigour and
reproductive capacity may lead to increases in desirable species.
Alternatively, biosolids may lead to increased biomass of early-seral species or weeds. This may result in long-term competitive exclusion of later seral species. The objective of this project is to determine the effects of biosolid application on plant composition and production on degraded grassland plant communities.
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