gypsum use in agriculture: impact on the environment · s. b/a . treated . not treated . ... o ~...
TRANSCRIPT
Dr. Darrell Norton
USDA-ARS, National Soil Erosion Research Laboratory Purdue University
John A. Andersen, Jr. Greenleaf Advisors
Gypsum Use in Agriculture: Impact on the Environment
August 23, 2011
Global Environmental Stresses: Soil Degradation
• Depleted soils threaten economies and human health
• Water and food security issues
• 23% of global disease attributable to environment
• 13 million annual deaths from environmental causes can be prevented (WHO)
Environmental Benefits of Gypsum
Water Quality Water Conservation
Enhanced Crop Yields
Soil Nutrient Retention
Reduced Toxicity
Greenhouse Gas
Sequestration Gypsum
Surface Sealing inhibits penetration of water and oxygen into soils
• Rainwater: Naturally distilled and low in electrolytes
• Physical and chemical processes occur at raindrop impact
• These processes lead to surface sealing
Many Soils Are Degraded
Healthy Soil Degraded Soil
Effect of Degradation by Erosion on Crop Productivity
Soil Nutrient Retention: Seedling Emergence Improves With Gypsum
Not treated
Treated
Treated Not treated 1-40 41-80 81-120 121-160 161-200
0.1 0 0.1 0.2 Miles
Corn Yields, 1T/A Gypsum (1997)
N
EW
S
B/A Treated Not treated
Soil Nutrient Retention: Agricultural Yields Increased with Gypsum Treatment
Nutrient Loading Contributes to Hypoxic And Anoxic Zones
Dead zone: Gulf of Mexico (Approximately the size of New Jersey) Hypoxic zones in the Great Lakes
Sediment Loading from Maumee River Basin to Western Lake Erie
Friday, March 13, 2009
3 Days After Storm
Sediment Loading from Lower Fox River Watershed into Green Bay
Agriculture 65.80%
0.40%
3.20%
0.80%
Urban (regulated)
22.30%
1.70% 5.00%
0.90%
Agriculture
General Permits
Urban (nonregulated)
Municipal WWTFs
Urban (regulated MS4)
Industrial WWTFs
Construction
Natural Background
Sources of baseline TSS loading in the LFR Basin. The Cadmus Group
Nutrient Runoff Causes Algae Blooms
Don’t Be Depressed We Can Do Something About Erosion And Runoff
Gypsum Reduces Detachment of Sediment and Loss to Runoff
Treated vs Not treated
Runoff Pace without treatment
0.00
0.10
0.20
0.30
0.40
5 10 5 20 30 40 50 60
Duration [min]
0.00
20.00
40.00
60.00
80.00
mm
/h
soil
loss
[g/m
^2*s
]
0.00 0.05 0.10 0.15 0.20 0.25 0.30 0.35 0.40
5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60
Duration [min]
0.00
20.00
40.00
60.00
80.00
mm/h
soil
loss
[g/m
^2*s
]
Runoff Pace with treatment (PAM+FBCBA)
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
Control Gypsum
Runoff (mm)Soil Loss (g/10 sq m)SRP (mg/sq m)
Effect of Gypsum on Runoff and Soil Loss
Gypsum Effect On N And P In Manure Rich Soils
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
No-Till Gypsum Manure Man+Gyp
SRP (mg/L * 10)TP (mg/L)Nitrate (mg/L)TN (mg/L)
Water Quantity Depletion
Water use of agriculture o ~ 70% of water use is for agriculture
Water levels are fallings worldwide o Ogallala Aquifer water levels drop 150 feet o Waukesha Aquifer is 600 feet below
original level
“Water is the oil of the 21st century” –Andrew Liveris, CEO Dow Chemical
Water Level Decline in The Ogallala Aquifer
Severe Cracking Wastes Water Gypsum Reduces Cracking
Treated
Not Treated
Water Stress Reduced with Gypsum and PAM
Not treated Treated
Improved Infiltration/Drainage By Amending Soil with Gypsum
Treated w/ FGD Gypsum No Treatment
• Greenhouse gases contribute to climate change
• Nitrogen-based fertilizers are energy intensive
• Damaged soils process less nitrous oxide - (NO2 traps 310 times more heat than CO2)
Degraded Soils Increase Greenhouse Gases
Marian Koshland Science Museum of the Natural Academy of Sciences
Treated Not Treated
Improved Nitrogen Efficiency
Increased Root Mass
Treated vs. Not treated with Perched Water Table
Natural Toxins and Pathogens Are Present in Soil
•Natural toxins and pathogens occur in geology and soils
•Mercury •Arsenic
•Bioaccumulation threatens humans
Toxins are less bio-available to plants with
gypsum
Pathogens are neutralized by
gypsum-enhanced
natural plant processes
Healthier food,
animals and people
Gypsum Treatment Reduces the Impact of Toxins and Pathogens
RCRA Total Elements in Materials Added (USEPA 3051)
Material As Ba Cd Cr Hg Pb Se
ppm ppm ppm ppm ppm ppm ppm
FGD #1
<1.3
22.2
0.39
7.2
0.1635
<0.77
3.5
FGD #3
1.4
20.4
0.55
6.8
0.2320
<0.77
<2.3
Mined Gypsum
<1.3
46.6
0.11
2.2
0.0001
<0.77
<2.3
Soil
9.4
170.8
1.47
30.3
0.0261
16.06
3.5
Gypsum Does Not Increase Mercury Levels in Shallow Groundwater
Date Rate (lbs) Product ppt Hg
7/18/2008 2000 FGD 17.09
7/23/2008 2000 FGD 19.54
7/18/2008 0 None 28.37
7/23/2008 0 None 67.98
7/18/2008 2000 Mined 65.32
7/23/2008 2000 Mined 18.96
Mercury Uptake in Corn Shoots After Six Weeks with and without a Perched Water Table
Treatment
Drainage Hg ppb
Freely Drained
Control 4.57 a FGD Gypsum 3.75 a Glyphosate 6.43 a FGD Gyp.+Glyph. 4.13 a
Perched water table (-5cm)
Control 55.92 b FGD Gypsum 61.88 b Glyphosate 61.98 b FGD Gyp.+Glyph. 64.54 b
• Markets support improved agricultural land management – Water quality (nutrient trading
e.g. Chesapeake’s Bay Bank) – Watershed conservation
Williamette Partnership -Ecosystem Credit A/C Systems
– Climate change mitigation (carbon offsets)
– Food safety and nutrition
Ecosystem Markets can provide Monetary Incentives for Farmers
Some landowners in Oregon are paid to enhance salmon habitat
Can a Nutrient Trading Scheme help reduce Sediment Loading from Lower Fox into Green Bay ?
Agriculture 65.80%
0.40%
3.20%
0.80%
Urban (regulated)
22.30%
1.70% 5.00%
0.90%
Agriculture
General Permits
Urban (nonregulated)
Municipal WWTFs
Urban (regulated MS4)
Industrial WWTFs
Construction
Natural Background
Sources of baseline TSS loading in the LFR Basin. The Cadmus Group
Conclusion
Gypsum’s Environment Contributions are many
Greater agricultural yields and healthier
soils
Healthier food
Reduced greenhouse
gas emissions
Use of less water and fertilizers
Cleaner water
The Presenters Thank You for Listening Questions?