Physical and Chemical Soil Properties of Ten Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) Mitigation Wetlands

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dc.contributor.authorFajardo, Gabriela Isabelen
dc.contributor.committeechairDaniels, W. Leeen
dc.contributor.committeememberAust, W. Michaelen
dc.contributor.committeememberPerry, James E. IIIen
dc.contributor.committeememberWhittecar, G. Richarden
dc.contributor.committeememberGalbraith, John M.en
dc.contributor.departmentCrop and Soil Environmental Sciencesen
dc.date.accessioned2014-03-14T20:32:03Zen
dc.date.adate2006-03-09en
dc.date.available2014-03-14T20:32:03Zen
dc.date.issued2006-01-30en
dc.date.rdate2006-03-09en
dc.date.sdate2006-02-21en
dc.description.abstractIn 1998, the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) adopted standards for soil handling and amendments to improve created non-tidal wetland soil conditions. This study was conducted in sites where these new reconstruction practices were supposedly being implemented. Specific objectives were (i) to determine the relative effects of soil reconstruction practices on mitigation site soils, (ii) to assess the degree to which hydric soil indicators were present, and (iii) to evaluate the relative edaphic potential of mitigation site soils. Soil physical, chemical and morphological properties were analyzed in ten mitigation wetlands located in Virginia's Piedmont and Coastal Plain. Surface soil pH was high due to liming, although some sites demonstrated low subsoil pH, indicating the presence of sulfidic materials. Nutrient levels varied, while C:N ratios were low (<25:1), suggesting a high quality organic matter complex. Organic amendments were generally applied at a rate of 4% soil organic matter content. Actual measured carbon content was <2.6% (<50 Mg ha⁻¹). Sites not receiving organic materials and associated tillage had root-limiting bulk densities at the surface, while the majority of sites had root-limiting subsoil (30 cm) bulk densities due to weakly developed soil structure and a lack of deep ripping practices. Many sites also contained high sand content (>50%), which may negatively affect other soil properties. Nine sites had confirmed Hydric Soil Indicators, with their occurrence in a site as high as 70%. Soil reconstruction methods need to incorporate higher organic amendment rates and/or routine disking/ripping practices to improve mitigation wetland soil conditions.en
dc.description.degreeMaster of Scienceen
dc.identifier.otheretd-02212006-173715en
dc.identifier.sourceurlhttp://scholar.lib.vt.edu/theses/available/etd-02212006-173715/en
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10919/31304en
dc.publisherVirginia Techen
dc.relation.haspartGIF_ETD.pdfen
dc.rightsIn Copyrighten
dc.rights.urihttp://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/en
dc.subjectRedox Featuresen
dc.subjectHydric Soilsen
dc.subjectBulk Densityen
dc.subjectOrganic Amendmenten
dc.titlePhysical and Chemical Soil Properties of Ten Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) Mitigation Wetlandsen
dc.typeThesisen
thesis.degree.disciplineCrop and Soil Environmental Sciencesen
thesis.degree.grantorVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State Universityen
thesis.degree.levelmastersen
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Scienceen

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