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Reclaiming earthen drainage channels using organic soil amendments
Abstract
The Harris County Flood Control District (HCFCD) manages more than 4800 km of drainage waterways in and around Houston, Texas. It is difficult for the HCFCD to maintain channels due to poor vegetation establishment and accelerated erosion. The primary goal of this study was to determine the best combination of organic amendment and vegetation to stabilize and maintain these waterways. A site was selected that had surface soil textures ranging from fine sandy loam to silt loam. Soils at the site were essentially bereft of organic matter and macronutrients, had near neutral pH, and contained high levels of available micronutrients. Six different organic amendments were chosen and added to the soil in amounts that would increase the organic matter content by 0.5%, based on N content, in the top 15 cm of the soil. Nitrogen, P, and K were added to meet the soil test recommendations for common bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon (L) Pers.). A combination of sulfur-coated urea and (NH₄)₂SO₄ was applied as the nitrogen source. The amendment treatments were applied to three vegetation treatments: A control of indigenous vegetation; a common bermudagrass and bahiagrass mix; and the two grasses mixed with crimson clover. Vegetation treatments were broadcast seeded, culti-packed, and sprayed with a colored paper fiber mulch and tackifier to aid in coverage and seed retention. The effects of the organic amendments, fertilizer, and vegetation treatments were evaluated through soil chemical analyses, bulk density, cover, biomass, and plant tissue analyses. The statistical design was a split plot with three replications. Statistical analyses indicated that the vegetation treatments were not significant. Results of the laboratory and field measurements support opposing conclusions as to which organic amendments performed best. Soil extractable nutrients, nutrient content in plant tissue, biomass production, and cover were highest for the recycled newspaper and chicken litter; however, the moderately composted yard wastes exhibited comparable results as well as fewer signs of erosion over time. Sustainability of the cover was difficult to determine since the plots were in place for only two years.
Description
Due to the character of the original source materials and the nature of batch digitization, quality control issues may be present in this document. Please report any quality issues you encounter to digital@library.tamu.edu, referencing the URI of the item.Includes bibliographical references (leaves 82-85).
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Citation
Carpenter, Todd A (2000). Reclaiming earthen drainage channels using organic soil amendments. Master's thesis, Texas A&M University. Available electronically from https : / /hdl .handle .net /1969 .1 /ETD -TAMU -2000 -THESIS -C3685.
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