The Beneficial Use of Biosolids from the City Of Grand Rapids: A Second-Year Assessment of Its Impact on Shallow Soil Water

Abstract

This report, which presents the results of year-two of a proposed three-year study, is part of a biosolids utilization project sponsored by the City of Grand Rapids at the North Central Experiment Station (NCES). The project was coordinated by the NCES, with technical assistance provided by the Natural Resources Research Institute (NRRl). The overall purpose of the project is to determine if biosolids could be used in a beneficial manner, alone, or in combination with wood ash, in the management of the reforestation of timber land in northern Minnesota. The purpose of this component of the project is to evaluate the impact of applying biosolids, with and without wood ash, on soil water in the unsaturated zone. Biosolids from the City of Grand Rapids were applied by NCES staff on research plots planted with tree seedlings in the summer of 1995. The biosolids were applied at two rates, 15 and 30 ton/acre, with and without wood ash applied at a single rate of 10 ton/acre. This report presents the second year results for soil water monitoring during the summer/fall of 1996.