Infiltration through Disturbed Urban Soils and Compost-Amended Soil Effects on211 Runoff Quality and Quantity

摘要

The project examined a common, but poorly understood, problem associated with211u001eland development, namely the modifications made to soil structure and the 211u001eassociated reduced rainfall infiltration and increased runoff. The project was 211u001edivided into two separate major tasks: (1) to test infiltration rates of impacted 211u001esoils, and (2) the enhancement of soils' natural ability and to prevent runoff by 211u001eamending with compost. The first part of this project examined this problem by 211u001econducting more than 150 infiltration rates through sandy soils, while compaction 211u001ewas generally just as important as soil moisture at sites with predominately clay 211u001esoils. Moisture levels had little effect on infiltration rates at sandy sites. 211u001eThe other series of tests examined the benefits of adding large amount of compost 211u001eto a glacial till soil at the time of development. Compost-amended soils were 211u001efound to have significantly increased infiltration rates, but increased 211u001econcentrations of nutrients in the surface runoff.