Water Resources Research Act Program

Details for Project ID 2015AR374B

Runoff Water Quality from Managed Grassland Amended with a Mixed Coal Combustion Byproduct

Institute: Arkansas
Year Established: 2015 Start Date: 2015-03-01 End Date: 2016-02-29
Total Federal Funds: $24,320 Total Non-Federal Funds: $49,860

Principal Investigators: David Miller, Kristofor Brye, Erik Pollock

Abstract: The overall goal of this proposed study is to determine whether or not a mixed coal combustion byproduct generated by the Turk plant in southeastern Arkansas, and similar to the one that will soon be produced by the Flint Creek plant near Gentry, can be safely and beneficially used as an amendment to managed grasslands in northwest Arkansas without negatively affecting runoff water quality. The first sub-objective is to determine how runoff water quality is affected by application of Turks MCCB to established fescue pasture. This will be accomplished in a field study using existing mixed grass plots outfitted with runoff collection equipment. The second sub-objective is to determine the liming potential of the MCCB from Turk. This will be accomplished in a laboratory incubation study. The third sub-objective is to determine the phytoavailability of calcium, sulfur, and environmentally sensitive metals contained in the mixed coal combustion byproduct (MCCB) generated by the Turk plant. This will be accomplished in a controlled greenhouse study.