Choi, Yuk Kam. / Thesis submitted in: December 2008. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2009. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 204-221). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Abstract --- p.i / Abstact (in Chinese) --- p.iv / Acknowlegement --- p.vi / Table of contents --- p.viii / List of tables --- p.xiii / List of figures --- p.xv / List of plates --- p.xvi / Chapter CHAPTER 1 --- INTRODUCTION --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- Research background --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2 --- Conceptual framework --- p.3 / Chapter 1.3 --- Research objectives --- p.10 / Chapter 1.4 --- Significance of the study --- p.10 / Chapter 1.5 --- Organization of this thesis --- p.11 / Chapter CHAPTER 2 --- LITERATURE REVIEW --- p.13 / Chapter 2.1 --- Introduction --- p.13 / Chapter 2.2 --- Hong Kong's forestry and use of native species in ecological restoration --- p.14 / Chapter 2.3 --- Factors limiting the use of native species in ecological rehabilitation --- p.17 / Chapter 2.4 --- The climate and soils in Hong Kong --- p.19 / Chapter 2.5 --- Soil physical properties --- p.22 / Chapter 2.5.1 --- Soil water and water holding capacity --- p.23 / Chapter 2.5.2 --- Penetration resistance --- p.26 / Chapter 2.5.3 --- Soil structure --- p.27 / Chapter 2.6 --- Soil amendment materials --- p.29 / Chapter 2.6.1 --- Compost --- p.30 / Chapter 2.6.2 --- Coconut meal --- p.32 / Chapter 2.6.3 --- Water absorbing polymer --- p.35 / Chapter 2.7 --- Summary --- p.39 / Chapter CHAPTER 3 --- EFFECT OF AMENDMENT MATERIALS ON PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF DECOMPOSED GRANITE AND THE GROWTH OF SCHIMA SUPERBA : GREENHOUSE EXPERIMENT I --- p.41 / Chapter 3.1 --- Introduction --- p.41 / Chapter 3.2 --- Materials and methods --- p.42 / Chapter 3.3 --- Experimental design --- p.43 / Chapter 3.3.1 --- "Amending DG with water absorbing polymer, coconut meal and compost" --- p.43 / Chapter 3.3.2 --- Watering treatment --- p.45 / Chapter 3.3.3 --- Post-planting treatment --- p.47 / Chapter 3.3.4 --- Monitoring of penetration resistance and soil moisture content --- p.48 / Chapter 3.4 --- Plant growth measurement --- p.49 / Chapter 3.4.1 --- Survival rate --- p.49 / Chapter 3.4.2 --- Height and basal diameter --- p.49 / Chapter 3.4.3 --- Chlorophyll fluorescence --- p.49 / Chapter 3.4.4 --- Aboveground biomass --- p.50 / Chapter 3.5 --- Laboratory analysis --- p.50 / Chapter 3.5.1 --- Texture --- p.50 / Chapter 3.5.2 --- Reaction pH and conductivity --- p.51 / Chapter 3.5.3 --- Organic carbon of soil and the amended substrates --- p.51 / Chapter 3.5.4 --- Total carbon of coconut meal and compost --- p.51 / Chapter 3.5.5 --- Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen --- p.52 / Chapter 3.5.6 --- Total phosphorus --- p.52 / Chapter 3.5.7 --- Exchangeable A1 and H and total exchangeable acidity --- p.53 / Chapter 3.5.8 --- "Total potassium, sodium，calcium and magnesium" --- p.53 / Chapter 3.5.9 --- Heavy metals --- p.53 / Chapter 3.5.10 --- Exchangeable cations --- p.53 / Chapter 3.5.11 --- Water absorbency of water absorbing polymer --- p.54 / Chapter 3.5.12 --- Water retention capacity --- p.54 / Chapter 3.5.13 --- Mean weight diameter --- p.54 / Chapter 3.6 --- Statistical analysis --- p.55 / Chapter 3.7 --- Results and discussion --- p.55 / Chapter 3.7.1 --- Properties of decomposed granite --- p.55 / Chapter 3.7.2 --- "Properties of water absorbing polymer, coconut meal and compost" --- p.58 / Chapter 3.8 --- Effects of amendment materials on DG --- p.60 / Chapter 3.8.1 --- Penetration resistance --- p.60 / Chapter 3.8.2 --- Soil moisture --- p.64 / Chapter 3.8.3 --- Water release characteristic curves and available water content --- p.69 / Chapter 3.8.4 --- Effect of amendment materials on soil organic carbon --- p.74 / Chapter 3.8.5 --- Relationship between SOC and water release characteristics --- p.77 / Chapter 3.8.6 --- Mean weight diameter --- p.78 / Chapter 3.9 --- Effects of amendment materials on the growth of Schima superba --- p.81 / Chapter 3.9.1 --- Survival rate --- p.81 / Chapter 3.9.2 --- Height and basal diameter increment --- p.84 / Chapter 3.9.3 --- Aboveground biomass --- p.88 / Chapter 3.9.4 --- Chlorophyll florescence --- p.89 / Chapter 3.10 --- Summary --- p.91 / Chapter CHAPTER 4 --- EFFECT OF AMENDMENT MATERIALS ON PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF DECOMPOSED GRANITE AND THE GROWTH OF CASTANOPSIS FISSA: GREENHOUSE EXPERIMENT II --- p.94 / Chapter 4.1 --- Introduction --- p.94 / Chapter 4.2 --- Materials and methods --- p.95 / Chapter 4.2.1 --- Materials --- p.95 / Chapter 4.2.2 --- Experimental design --- p.96 / Chapter 4.2.3 --- Preparation of growth substrates --- p.96 / Chapter 4.2.5 --- Soil sampling --- p.98 / Chapter 4.2.6 --- Monitoring of soil moisture change and penetration resistance --- p.99 / Chapter 4.2.7 --- Plant growth measurement --- p.100 / Chapter 4.2.8 --- Laboratory analysis --- p.101 / Chapter 4.3 --- Results and discussion --- p.101 / Chapter 4.3.1. --- Properties of DG --- p.101 / Chapter 4.3.2 --- Water absorbency of ALCOSORB® --- p.103 / Chapter 4.3.3 --- Effect of amendment materials on physical properties of DG --- p.103 / Chapter 4.3.4 --- Effect of soil amendment on water release characteristic curves --- p.109 / Chapter 4.3.5 --- Soil evaporation test --- p.113 / Chapter 4.3.6 --- Soil organic carbon --- p.119 / Chapter 4.3.7 --- Mean weight diameter --- p.121 / Chapter 4.3.8 --- Effects of amendment materials on the growth of Castanopsis fissa --- p.123 / Chapter 4.3.8.1 --- Survival rate --- p.123 / Chapter 4.3.8.2 --- Height and basal diameter --- p.126 / Chapter 4.3.8.3 --- Aboveground biomass --- p.132 / Chapter 4.3.8.4 --- Chlorophyll fluorescence --- p.134 / Chapter 4.4 --- Summary --- p.136 / Chapter CHAPTER 5 --- CAN WATER ABSORBING POLYMER BENEFIT QUARRY REHABILITATION IN THE DRY SEASON? --- p.139 / Chapter 5.1 --- Introduction --- p.139 / Chapter 5.2 --- The study area --- p.142 / Chapter 5.2.1 --- The Anderson Road Quarry --- p.142 / Chapter 5.2.2 --- Rehabilitation of Anderson Road Quarry --- p.143 / Chapter 5.3 --- Experimental design --- p.145 / Chapter 5.3.1 --- Site preparation --- p.145 / Chapter 5.3.2 --- Selection of native species for planting --- p.147 / Chapter 5.3.3 --- The planting --- p.148 / Chapter 5.3.4 --- Data logging the growth environment --- p.150 / Chapter 5.3.5 --- Plant growth measurement --- p.150 / Chapter 5.3.6 --- Soil sampling and analysis --- p.151 / Chapter 5.4 --- Statistical analysis --- p.151 / Chapter 5.5 --- Results and discussion --- p.152 / Chapter 5.5.1 --- Properties of decomposed granite in ARQ --- p.152 / Chapter 5.5.2 --- Survival rate --- p.155 / Chapter 5.5.3 --- Height and basal diameter increments --- p.157 / Chapter 5.5.4 --- Major limiting factors for the establishment of seedlings --- p.160 / Chapter 5.5.4.1 --- Drought --- p.160 / Chapter 5.5.4.2 --- Soil erosion caused by rainstorm --- p.163 / Chapter 5.6 --- Summary --- p.165 / Chapter CHAPTER 6 --- EFFECT OF WATER ABSORBING POLYMER ON THE GROWTH OF NATIVE SPECIES IN A RESTORED QUARRY --- p.167 / Chapter 6.1 --- Introduction --- p.167 / Chapter 6.2 --- Study area --- p.168 / Chapter 6.3.2 --- Data logging the growth environment --- p.169 / Chapter 6.3.3 --- Plant growth measurement --- p.169 / Chapter 6.3.4 --- Spatial variation of irrigation water --- p.170 / Chapter 6.4 --- Statistical analysis --- p.170 / Chapter 6.5 --- Results and discussion --- p.170 / Chapter 6.5.1 --- Survival rate --- p.170 / Chapter 6.5.2 --- Height and basal diameter increments --- p.178 / Chapter 6.5.3 --- Growth environment in Anderson Road Quarry --- p.185 / Chapter 6.5.4 --- Weed competition --- p.189 / Chapter 6.6 --- Summary --- p.190 / Chapter CHAPTER 7 --- CONCLUSIONS --- p.191 / Chapter 7.1 --- Summary of major findings --- p.191 / Chapter 7.2 --- Implications of the study --- p.196 / Chapter 7.3 --- Limitations of the study --- p.199 / Chapter 7.4 --- Suggestions for further study --- p.200 / REFERENCES --- p.204 / APPENDICES --- p.222

An estimated two to four million acres of irrigable saline and alkali soils of the United States return very little income to land owners (17,19). Increased needs for forage crops, and the relatively high salt and alkali tolerance of some improved forage species, once established, suggests a way of increasing revenue from some of these lands without costly reclamation.

As the numbers of installed greenroofs continue to grow internationally, designing greenroof growing media to reduce the amount of nutrients in the stormwater runoff is becoming essential. Biochar, a carbon-net-negative soil amendment, has been promoted for its ability to retain nutrients in soils and increase soil fertility. This study evaluated the effect on water quality of greenroof runoff after adding biochar to a typical extensive greenroof soil. Prototype greenroof trays with and without 7% biochar (by weight) were planted with sedum or ryegrass, with barren soil trays for controls. The greenroof trays were subjected to two sequential 2.9 in/hr rainfall events using a rainfall simulator. Runoff from the rainfall events was collected and evaluated for total nitrogen, total phosphorus, nitrate, phosphate, total organic carbon, and inorganic carbon. Greenroof trays containing biochar showed lower quantities of nutrients in the stormwater runoff compared to trays without biochar. Biochar-amended soil with and without plants showed a 3- to 25-fold decrease in release of nitrate and total nitrogen concentrations, as well as a decrease in phosphate and total phosphorus concentrations release into the rainfall runoff. Phosphorus results from trays planted with sedum indicate that sedum interacted with both soils to cause a decrease of phosphorus in the greenroof runoff. In correlation with a visual effect in turbidity, biochar-amended soil showed a reduction of total organic carbon in the runoff by a factor of 3 to 4 for all soil and plant trays. Inorganic carbon was similar for all tests showing that inorganic carbon neither reacted with, nor was retained by, biochar in the soil. The addition of biochar to greenroof soil is an effective way to retain nutrients in a greenroof soil, reduce future fertilizer demands, and improve the water quality of the stormwater runoff by reducing nitrogen, phosphorus, and total organic carbon concentrations in the runoff water.

Common root rot is a major disease of commercially grown snap bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) on the irrigated sandy soils of central Wisconsin. The objective of this study was to determine the relationships between soil properties and suppressiveness to common root rot of snap bean (causal agent Aphanomyces euteiches) in soils. The soils had been annually amended for three years in a field trial on a Plainfield sandy loam in Hancock, WI. Soils were amended each year from 1998 to 2001 with three rates of fresh paper-mill residuals (0, 22 or 33 dry Mg ha�����) or composted paper-mill residuals (0, 38 or 76 dry Mg ha�����). Soil was removed from each treatment in April (one year after last amendment) and brought to the laboratory. This was repeated with a field soil sample taken in September, 2001. The soils from the two samplings were incubated at room temperature and periodically assayed (days 9, 44, 84, 106, 137, 225 and 270 for April sampling) (days 13, 88 and 174 for September sampling) for suppressiveness of snap bean root rot (0 to 4 where 0=healthy and 4=dead plant). The same days, incubated soils were characterized for ��-glucosidase, arylsulfatase and fluorescein diacetate activities; microbial biomass C (by chloroform fumigation); water stable aggregation (WSA) and total C. In the first incubation, there were large differences between field amendment treatments in terms of snap bean root rot incidence. The disease was suppressed by both fresh and composted amendments, but compost was most suppressive at high compost rates with disease incidence <40% which are considered healthy plants that can reach full yield potential. In the second incubation, disease severity difference among treatments were similar to the first incubation. This would indicate the suppression was induced prior to initiation of this experiment. Disease severity of bean plants grown in unamended field soil was high but in amended soils tended to decrease in intensity over time. Root rot severity was negatively related to ��-glucosidase, and microbial biomass at the beginning and the end of the first incubation period, respectively. FDA hydrolysis was not correlated with disease severity and WSA moderately correlated with disease. The best indicator of disease severity was arylsulfatase which was significantly and negatively correlated with disease severity in 4 of 5 sampling periods. / Graduation date: 2003

Thesis (doctoral)--Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 2002. / Abstract inserted. Appendix reprints four papers and manuscripts co-authored with others. Includes bibliographical references. Also partially issued electronically via World Wide Web in PDF format; online version lacks appendix.

No description available.

Phytoextraction is an innovative method that can be implemented to remove lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), and zinc (Zn) from contaminated soil. A two-year field and growth chamber study was conducted to determine the effectiveness of several soil amendments in the phytoextraction or stabilization of Pb, Cd and Zn. Field plots were established at the Memorial Drive Dump site (Muncie, IN). Amendments included composted municipal solid waste (MSW) (25 Mg/ha), dried sewage sludge (SS) (25 Mg/ha), citric acid (2 mmol/kg soil), ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) (2 mmol/kg soil), and a control. A mixed grass crop was capable of survival and growth in the contaminated soil; in contrast, Helianthus annuus (sunflower) and Ambrosia artemisiifolia (ragweed) failed to become established. Soil Pb and Zn occurred primarily in the carbonate, organic-bound and residual forms (23.1%, 31.8%, and 44.4%, Pb, respectively and 11.4%, 26.5%, and 60.2% Zn, respectively). Soil Cd occurred primarily in the soluble, carbonate, and residual forms (21.8%, 21.3%, and 27.4%, respectively). In a growth chamber leaching study, soil Pb was most rapidly leached from the 0.1 M EDTA treatment (51.7 mg Pb over 200 pore volumes); the 0.001M resulted in the lowest leaching. Soil Pb was most rapidly leached using 0.1 M HEDTA (52.1 mg Pb over 200 pore volumes). The 0.001 M HEDTA rate resulted in lowest Pb leaching. Addition of an NPK solution resulted in minimal Pb leached. The MSW and dried sludge treatments resulted in the greatest dry matter production on the plots. Dry matter production was significantly (p >0.05) higher in the MSW (1.09 MT/ha) and SS (95 MT/ha) treatments. Addition of EDTA, citric acid and MSW significantly (p < 0.05) increased the amount of Cd uptake into plant tissue. The study also demonstrated the ability of vegetation to establish and grow on toxic soil and to uptake Pb, Cd, and Zn. / Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Management

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Western Australia, 2005.

Thesis--Auburn University, 2008. / Abstract. Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Michigan State University. Crop & Soil Sciences, 2008. / Title from PDF t.p. (viewed on Aug. 17, 2009) Includes bibliographical references. Also issued in print.