An evaluation of stabilized, water-based drilled cuttings and organic compost as potential sediment sources for marsh restoration and creation in coastal Louisiana

Abstract The influence of various substrate types (drilled cuttings, compost, 50/50 mixture drilled cuttings/compost, and marsh sediment control) and soil fertilizers (macronutrients, micronutrients, and unfertilized control) on growth of Spartina alterniflora and Sagittaria lancifolia and on soil chemistry were evaluated in greenhouse experiments. Substrate type and fertilizer amendment had significant effects on plant growth, with the two marsh species responding similarly. Substrate interstitial water pH levels appeared to have a direct effect on nutrient availability and subsequent plant growth. Poorest plant growth was observed in drilled cuttings, which had the highest pH level of the four substrates (mean = 10.4). Addition of compost to drilled cuttings decreased pH (mean = 8.4) and resulted in significantly greater total plant biomass. Compost and control sediments had the most neutral pH levels (combined mean = 7.3) and produced greatest total plant biomass. Separate additions of macronutrients and micronutrients stimulated growth of both plant species. However, the simultaneous addition of macronutrients and micronutrients resulted in significantly greater plant biomass than macronutrient fertilization alone or unfertilized control substrates. These experiments demonstrated that when drilled cuttings were amended with organic compost, and especially macronutrient and micrnutrient fertilizers, plant growth levels were comparable to those observed in natural estuarine sediments.

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