Dredged material benefits for crop production and environmental implications

Session: Soil Health: Role on Nutrient Losses from Agricultural Soils (1)

Angélica Vázquez-Ortega , Bowling Green State University, [email protected]
Shannon Pelini, Bowling Green State University, [email protected]
Russell Brigham, Bowling Green State University, [email protected]

Abstract

This study proposes to identify the effects of dredged material on crop yield, metal bioaccumulation and ecological dynamics in crops and their invertebrate consumers and mutualists, and water quality in Lake Erie watershed soils. The overall research objectives of this study are to: 1) identify the appropriate native soil to dredged material ratio to achieve the best crop yield, 2) use dredged material as a phosphate fertilizer source, 3) determine nutrient and metal release into soil solution, 4) determine metal bioaccumulation in crops and invertebrates in farm soils amended with dredged material, and 5) determine microcystin persistent in soils and bioaccumulation in corn grains. Dredged material supplies essential plant nutrients and provide organic matter to agricultural soils that can further reduce fertilizer application costs. However, in order to achieve these benefits, we need to determine the appropriate quantity and quality of added dredged material in such a way that minimizes negative environmental impacts while maximizing benefits to crop management. Our experimental design consists of mesocosms containing either 100% soil, 100% dredged, 10% dredged + 90% soil, or 20% dredged + 80% soil.