[USCC] Compost to support of recovery after forest fire

[Chaney, Rufus]

Dear Compost Folks:

Last week I noted that Bob Brobst had done a field demonstration of
using biosolids or compost after a forest fire in Colorado. I forwarded
the message to him and he wrote back with some information. The web page
he lists below shows the power of biosolids compost in their situation.

"We have looked at use of compost in areas following a stand replacing
fire for the last decade. I am not in the office but when I return
Tuesday I will sent a couple of research papers along. These papers were
completed early on the project (years 2-4 following the fire). We plan
to relook at the burn area in some detail next spring (11 years
following fire) I will keep you posted. Also Matt you many want to
discuss this with Greg Kester of CASA. Greg and I have talked about
putting on a workshop/meeting with forestery personel as well as the
researchers hopefully soon. I have become convinced that compost and or
biosolids should be used SOON after a fire to protect the water
resourse. In short in our study we were producing 3t/ac of grasses at
application rates of <40t/ac compost. 

see the web page for the photos

http://lamar.colostate.edu/~ippolito/biosolids/buffcrek/buffcrek.html

Bob

Robert B. Brobst, P.E.
US EPA 
P-W-WW
1595 Wynkoop Street
Denver Colorado USA 80202-1129
800-227-8917 Extension 6129
303-312-6129 Phone
303-312-6116 Fax
Brobst.bob at epa.gov
www.epa.gov/region8/biosolids"

            

 

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