SLSC 350.3 Lecture Notes - Lecture 8: Soil Conditioner, Biochar, Soil Ph

• School: U of S
• Department: Soil Science
• Course: SLSC 350.3
• Professor: Kathrine Steward

Document Summary

Often there is low ph, which leads to issues around bioavailability of metals. Soil amendments improves the soil quality and soil health. Soil amendments that you can use on site are a better option. Soil amendments are used to deactivate the contaminant through precipitation sorption and complexation and the purpose of this is to prevent leaching. Also want to prevent bioavailability and reduce movement into plants (exposure pathway). There will be some contaminants moving in the soil solution, which will sore onto root surfaces of plants, or taken up by roots (phytoremediation). The contaminant can precipitate into the cells within the roots (phyto stabilization) which will reduce translocation. You want over 2. 5% organic matter in a soil you are trying to restore. With something with a contaminant you want more than 5% of organic matter. High c:n ratio limits nitrogen to the plants. Bioremediation is good with a lot of phosphorous. Biosolids: often contaminated with heavy metals and pharmaceuticals.