Comparison of Compost and Proprietary Soil Amendments for Vegetation Establishment

Post-construction roadside soils often suffer from compaction, low fertility, and poor structure, challenging vegetation establishment and stormwater management. This study evaluates the effectiveness of organic amendments (OAs) and proprietary amendments as alternatives to traditional methods. The study involves greenhouse experiments (pot and mesocosm) and field experiments to evaluate vegetation growth and water quality across different amendment and soil applications. Results show that compost amendments significantly improve vegetation growth, with yard-waste compost outperforming others. Biochar shows early growth potential but requires nutrient supplementation for sustained performance. Proprietary amendments support rapid vegetation establishment, enhanced root density, and reduced nutrient leaching, with Sustane 4-6-4 exhibiting consistent growth across application rates. The field study validates greenhouse findings and shows increased biomass and root density with compost amendments, while proprietary amendments result in high nutrient retention and runoff quality. This study highlights the potential use of OAs and PAs to reduce erosion and support long-term vegetation growth. The findings provide practical guidelines, benefits and implementation steps for managing roadside soils after construction activities.

Language

  • English

Project

  • Status: Completed
  • Funding: $260000
  • Contract Numbers:

    1036336 WO#1

  • Sponsor Organizations:

    Minnesota Department of Transportation

    395 John Ireland Boulevard
    St Paul, MN  United States  55155

    Local Road Research Board

    395 John Ireland Boulevard
    St. Paul, Minnesota  United States  55155-1899
  • Managing Organizations:

    Minnesota Department of Transportation

    395 John Ireland Boulevard
    St Paul, MN  United States  55155
  • Performing Organizations:

    Michigan State University, East Lansing

    East Lansing, MI  United States  48824
  • Principal Investigators:

    Cetin, Bora

  • Start Date: 20210514
  • Expected Completion Date: 20250331
  • Actual Completion Date: 20250421

Subject/Index Terms

Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 01762350
  • Record Type: Research project
  • Source Agency: Minnesota Department of Transportation
  • Contract Numbers: 1036336 WO#1
  • Files: RIP, STATEDOT
  • Created Date: Jan 19 2021 3:53PM