Initial Success in Design and Initial Success in Design and Modeling of a Landfill Cover using Modeling of a Landfill Cover using SalixSalix on the Solvay Waste Beds in on the Solvay Waste Beds in

Syracuse, NYSyracuse, NY

Presented at the Third International Presented at the Third International PhytotechnologiesPhytotechnologies ConferenceConference

April 20April 20--22, 2005 Atlanta, GA22, 2005 Atlanta, GA

D. DaleyD. Daley11, T. Volk, T. Volk22, A. Johnson, A. Johnson11, J. Mirck, J. Mirck22, L. Abrahamson, L. Abrahamson22

11 Faculty of Environmental Resources and Forest EngineeringFaculty of Environmental Resources and Forest Engineering22 Faculty of Forest and Natural Resources ManagementFaculty of Forest and Natural Resources Management

State University of New State University of New York,York, College of Environmental Science and College of Environmental Science and ForestryForestry, Syracuse, NY 13210 , Syracuse, NY 13210 www.esf.eduwww.esf.edu

Presentation OutlinePresentation Outline

Site historySite historyProject goal and objectivesProject goal and objectivesVegetation selection and managementVegetation selection and managementModel selection and calibrationModel selection and calibrationSummarySummary

Site HistorySite History

Soda ash manufacturing Soda ash manufacturing using the Solvay process using the Solvay process (1887 (1887 –– 1986)1986)Raw materials locally Raw materials locally availableavailable

limestone, brine (limestone, brine (NaClNaCl) and ) and waterwater

1907 1907 –– Solvay began Solvay began operation of settling basins operation of settling basins along Onondaga Lakealong Onondaga LakeProcess residues Process residues discharged as a slurry (5% discharged as a slurry (5% solids)solids)

Solvay Process Company Facility and Erie Canal, early 1900s

Site LocationSite Location

N 43o 04’ 26” W 076o 14’ 58”

Onondaga Lake

Syracuse, NY

Solvay Process Residues Solvay Process Residues Waste Beds 9 to 15Waste Beds 9 to 15

15 to 21 m deep 15 to 21 m deep 270 ha (662 acres)270 ha (662 acres)

Primarily a nonPrimarily a non--hazardous hazardous mixture of calcium, mixture of calcium, magnesium and sodium magnesium and sodium compoundscompoundsStressful growing Stressful growing conditions in shallow soil conditions in shallow soil (<1m depth)(<1m depth)

pH (8.0 pH (8.0 –– 12.3)12.3)Electrical conductivity Electrical conductivity

(0.5 (0.5 –– 9.2 9.2 dS/mdS/m))Organic matter (0 Organic matter (0 -- 3.9%)3.9%)

Waste Beds 13 Waste Beds 13 -- 1515

Project Goal and ObjectivesProject Goal and Objectives

•• Determine the feasibility Determine the feasibility of using willow shrubs as of using willow shrubs as part of a multipurpose part of a multipurpose landfill closure project.landfill closure project.

•• Screen varieties suitable for Screen varieties suitable for wastebedwastebed environment.environment.

•• Evaluate transpiration by Evaluate transpiration by willow shrubs.willow shrubs.

•• Model the effect of Model the effect of evapotranspiration on evapotranspiration on leachate generation.

•• Evaluate the feasibility of Evaluate the feasibility of largelarge--scale willow biomass scale willow biomass crop production on the crop production on the waste beds.waste beds.

•• Determine the value of the Determine the value of the willow biomass crops for willow biomass crops for green fuel, green fuel, bioproductsbioproducts and and recreation.recreation.

leachate generation.

Willow Biomass Crop Management Willow Biomass Crop Management ChallengesChallenges

Water:Water:Select willow varieties that are productive on this site Select willow varieties that are productive on this site Promote evaporation and transpiration to decrease deep percolatiPromote evaporation and transpiration to decrease deep percolation on (leachate generation)(leachate generation)

Vegetation interceptionVegetation interceptionLow water use efficiencyLow water use efficiencyPlanting density and designPlanting density and designUnderstoryUnderstory vegetation managementvegetation management

Soils:Soils:Overcome harsh growing conditionsOvercome harsh growing conditionsIncorporate organic matter to :Incorporate organic matter to :

Enhance survival, growth and productivityEnhance survival, growth and productivityImprove soil water availability and capacity Improve soil water availability and capacity Provide longProvide long--term beneficial use option for generators of biosolids and term beneficial use option for generators of biosolids and organic mulch organic mulch

Vegetation Selection Vegetation Selection Why willow?Why willow?

one of the first woody one of the first woody species to establish species to establish naturally naturally tolerant of harsh tolerant of harsh conditionsconditionshigh transpiration rateshigh transpiration rateshigh growth rateshigh growth ratesgenetic diversitygenetic diversity

Naturally established willow and poplar on the Solvay waste beds.

Greenhouse Screening TrialsGreenhouse Screening Trials

Greenhouse screening trial of 40 willow and hybrid poplar varieties.

Screened 40 varieties of Screened 40 varieties of willow and hybrid poplar willow and hybrid poplar from SUNYfrom SUNY--ESF collectionESF collectionUsed biosolids amended Used biosolids amended waste, unamended waste waste, unamended waste and a controland a controlUsed aboveground and Used aboveground and belowground growth belowground growth results to select 10 results to select 10 varieties to test in field varieties to test in field trialstrials

Growth and Yield TrialsGrowth and Yield Trials

Two plots (2004)Two plots (2004)biosolidsbiosolids--amended amended (1986)(1986)unamended wasteunamended waste

Two cutting lengths Two cutting lengths (25 and 50 cm)(25 and 50 cm)Planting densityPlanting density

15,000/ha (6,000/ac)15,000/ha (6,000/ac)First-year growth of willow on biosolids-amended Solvay waste

FirstFirst--year Survival of Willow on year Survival of Willow on BiosolidsBiosolids--amended Solvay Wasteamended Solvay Waste

Salix varieties

98101-66

9837-779870-23

9871-269871-31

S 365 SV1SX 61

SX 64

Sur

viva

l (%

)

0

20

40

60

80

100

120 25 cm50 cm

80.1% survival on unamended waste (Field 2)

First Year Growth of Willow on First Year Growth of Willow on BiosolidsBiosolids--amended Solvay Waste amended Solvay Waste

Salix varieties

98101-66

9837-779870-23

9871-269871-31

S 365 SV1SX 61

SX 64

Bas

al a

rea

(cm

2 /plo

t)

0

20

40

60

80

10025 cm50 cm

Average basal area on Field 2 (unamended waste) (1.2 cm2/plot)

Conceptual Hydrologic ModelConceptual Hydrologic Model

Provided by Honeywell and O’Brien & Gere

PPT = (E + T) + RO + PPT = (E + T) + RO + ∆∆S + DS + D

Conceptual Heat and Water Model Conceptual Heat and Water Model for a Willow Biomass Cropfor a Willow Biomass Crop

ClimateClimatePPT = 1,018 mm annuallyPPT = 1,018 mm annuallyPPT = 560 mm (Nov PPT = 560 mm (Nov –– Apr)Apr)Average temp. = 8.3Average temp. = 8.3oo CC

Crop ManagementCrop Management33--year harvest rotationyear harvest rotationSoil modifications with Soil modifications with organic amendments & organic amendments & tillage tillage

Determine effect on Determine effect on percolation (leachate percolation (leachate generation)generation)

(Figure supplied by USDA)

The Simultaneous Heat and Water The Simultaneous Heat and Water (SHAW) Model(SHAW) Model

OneOne--dimensional model developed to simulate dimensional model developed to simulate soil freezing and thawing. soil freezing and thawing. Simulates snow accumulation and snowmelt, Simulates snow accumulation and snowmelt, transpiration and actual evaporation.transpiration and actual evaporation.Incorporates biomass and other crop Incorporates biomass and other crop management practices as input parameters.management practices as input parameters.

Model Calibration Using Sap FlowModel Calibration Using Sap Flow

Stem heat balance Stem heat balance methodmethod

ThreeThree--year old willow on year old willow on mineral soilmineral soilSensor sizes range from Sensor sizes range from 10 10 -- 35mm35mm

Measure: sap flow Measure: sap flow (g/hr/stem) and stem (g/hr/stem) and stem diameter distribution diameter distribution (stem/ha)(stem/ha)Compute: StandCompute: Stand--scale scale sap flow (l/day)sap flow (l/day)

Stem Size Differences in Late Stem Size Differences in Late Season Sap Flow for One VarietySeason Sap Flow for One Variety

00.5

11.5

22.5

33.5

4

9/16/20 049/19/20 049/22/20 049/25/20 049/28/20 0410 /1/20 0410 /4/20 0410 /7/20 04

10 /10 /2 00410 /13 /2 00410 /16 /2 00410 /19 /2 00410 /22 /2 00410 /25 /2 00410 /28 /2 00410 /31 /2 004

11 /3/20 0411 /6/20 0411 /9/20 04

11 /12 /2 00411 /15 /2 004

Time (day)

Sap

flow

(l/d

ay)

SX64, 16mm sap flow l/daySX64, 25mm sap flow l/daySX64, 35mm sap flow l/day

Stem Diameter Distribution to Stem Diameter Distribution to Determine StandDetermine Stand--level Sap Flow level Sap Flow

0

2000

4000

6000

8000

10000

12000

14000

16000

18000

20000

<1010

_ 13

13_1

616

_19

19_2

222

_25

25_2

828

_31

31_3

434

_37

37_4

0

>40

S25SV1SX64

Num

ber

of s

tem

s ha

-1

Diameter class (mm)Sensor sizes (16, 25, 35 mm)

Projected Late Season Sap FlowProjected Late Season Sap Flow

SalixSalix VarietyVariety Sap Flow Sap Flow (mm)(mm)

Sap Flow Sap Flow ((l/d/plantl/d/plant))

S25S25 180180 3.43.4

SV1SV1 6565 1.21.2

SX64SX64 131131 2.52.5

October 8 – November 15, 2004

SummarySummary

Willow (Willow (SalixSalix) can be successfully established ) can be successfully established when organic amendments are incorporated into when organic amendments are incorporated into wastebedswastebedsLate season transpiration by willow is important Late season transpiration by willow is important to the water balanceto the water balanceGrowth rates and transpiration rates vary Growth rates and transpiration rates vary amongst willow varietiesamongst willow varietiesEarly modeling indicate that Early modeling indicate that SalixSalix minimizes minimizes deep percolationdeep percolation

Future Activities Future Activities -- 20052005

Monitor key soil and vegetation characteristics Monitor key soil and vegetation characteristics on the waste bedson the waste bedsBegin trials on the waste beds with different Begin trials on the waste beds with different organic amendments organic amendments Quantify sap flow over entire growing seasonQuantify sap flow over entire growing seasonComplete initial model runs and identify key Complete initial model runs and identify key variablesvariablesCalibrate and verify model outputCalibrate and verify model output

AcknowledgementsAcknowledgements

Honeywell InternationalHoneywell InternationalO’Brien & O’Brien & GereGere CompaniesCompanies

Selection of Selection of SalixSalix for Field Trialsfor Field TrialsSelection criteria:Selection criteria:

SurvivalSurvivalBelowBelow--ground biomass ground biomass (consider root : shoot (consider root : shoot ratio)ratio)High water use High water use “efficiency” (e.g. high “efficiency” (e.g. high water use : biomass water use : biomass ratio)ratio)Greenhouse screening trial of 40

willow and hybrid poplar clones.