Impact of Surface Drainage Landforming on Revegation of Capped Landfill

Nikki Sendall, Yeovil College

The research for this plot is being conducted for an MSc thesis in Environmental Rehabilitation through the University of Aberystwyth.

The substrate recommended for the encapsulation of waste is geological clay, provided to a depth of 1m. This recommendation is a suitable application where there are supplies of locally available clay. The substrate whilst providing an excellent encapsulation medium is a very poor substrate for rapid revegetation.

When rehabilitating waste disposal sites it is important to constructing landforms which are aesthetically compliant with the local landscape and has some additional function in terms of conservation or re-use at a later date.

This experimental plot is design to investigate the manipulation of surface substrate contours to provide a variety of soil microclimates. The objective of this research is to record germination and establishment rates of a herb rich grass mix sown directly onto the substrate. As the site progresses, the introduction of additional species through natural succession will also be recorded.

The manipulation of waste substrate into crescent shapes within Southern Australia has been shown to enhance the re-vegetation of poor substrates.

The field site Compartment 21 was divided up into 9 subplots of 30m x 50m (subplot 7 was slightly reduced in size due to the occurrence of a gas well within the proposed area). Each subplot was treated in one of 3 ways with the treatment to subplots being randomly allocated.

The 3 treatments are detailed as follows:

i)              surface tilled with a rotovator

ii)            ridge and furrows formed with a 25cm height   differential between bottom of ridge and top of furrow

iii)        ridge and furrow created with a 50cm height differential between bottom of ridge and top of furrow

For further information, please contact NikkiS@yeovil-college.ac.uk

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@ Carymoor Environmental Trust June 2003