[USCC] Using composts or biosolids for burned forest revegetation

[Chaney, Rufus]

Dear Matt Cotton et al.:

 

Tests have clearly supported use of compost and biosolids amendments in
burned forests to aid rapid revegetation and limit erosion, especially
of typical sloping forest soils. If one has enough compost and $, one
can cover the whole burned area and get excellent soil protection. But
even strips across the slope can protect burned sites. Two particular
examples I know of:

 

1. Chuck Henry at University of Washington led a team who used to
compost to revegetated logging roads in the Seattle region. Highly
sloping. Rapidly and effectively revegetated.

 

2. Bob Brobst (EPA, Region 8, Denver) cooperated in testing use of
biosolids to aid revegetation of several burned areas in Colorado
several years ago. The highly sloping soils were susceptible to erosion.
Placing bands of compost at reasonable distances perpendicular to slope,
and seeding the amended soil, gave rapid revegetation and reduction in
erosion. You can contact Bob at Brobst.Bob at EPA.gov As I recall, he
prepared a bulletin or leaflet describing the study. It could even be
one of the example in Dr. Green's examples for beneficial use of compost
at their web site. It took a bulldozer to make the path for application
of the biosolids or compost in the burned forest, but that worked
nicely.

 

Regards,

 

Rufus Chaney

Beltsville, MD

 

Rufus L. Chaney, Ph.D.

USDA-Agricultural Research Service

Environmental Management & By-Product Utilization Lab

Bldg. 007, Room 013, BARC-West

Beltsville, MD  20705-2350

Phone: 301-504-8324

Fax: 301-504-5048