The effect of organic amendments on shrub willow growth in Solvay waste material

An evapotranspiration (ET) cover using shrub willows is an attractive alternative to a conventional landfill cover for the Solvay Wastebeds near Syracuse, NY. A greenhouse experiment examined the effect of three organic amendments and two depths of incorporation on the growth of three willow varieties (SV1, 9871-31, 9882-34). Total aboveground biomass of the three varieties grown with the Anheuser Busch biosolids (ABB) and Bristol-Meyers Squibb biosolids (BMS) amendments were significantly greater than willow grown in Metro biosolids (MBS) or unamended Solvay waste. The pH of MBS was 12.3 compared to 5.6 for ABB and 6.1 for BMS. Depth of incorporation of ABB or BMS did not affect above or belowground biomass for 9871-31 or 9882-34. Above and belowground biomass of SV1 was lower for the shallower mixing depth of BMS. SV1 produced more aboveground biomass than 9871-31 and 9882-34 when grown with ABB or BMS at either depth of incorporation.