Riparian Soils - Properties, Structure, Fertility, Amendments

1. Riparian Soils - Properties, Structure, Fertility, Amendments University at Buffalo Engineering for Ecosystem Restoration Summer Workshop Series 2011 Workshop 2 Stream Restoration, Hydraulic Structure and Bioengineering Design June 13-17, 2011

2. Paul Fuhrmann Riparian Restoration Design Landscape Ecology 368 Pleasantview Drive Lancaster, New York 14086 Email: pfuhrmann@ene.com Tel: (716) 684-8060 Fax:(716) 684-0844 www.ene.com

3. Diagnosing Soil Erosion and Bank Instability

4. Stability and Function by Design Planting Zone 3 Planting Pockets Planting Zone 1 September 2003 Planting Zone 2

13. Pre Project Bank Failures, Channel Incision and Widening

14. Soil Instability, Erosion, Restoration and Soil Components • The Living (organisms) • The Dead (All that composes, decomposes) • Minerals • Atmosphere

15. Soil Functions (in one slide) In the absence of adverse physical, chemical or biological conditions, soil provides and modifies • Water (micropores) • Nutrients • Anchorage • Drainage • Aeration (macropores) • Filtration Calvin Ernst – Ernst Conservation Seedswww.ernstseed.com

16. Soil Problems = Restoration Problems • Compaction • Low Organic Matter • Fertility Levels • Soil pH (Anion/Cation Exchange - nutrient uptake) • Competition from invasive exotics • Salinity • Overproduction or Excessive Tilling • Chemical contamination • Anoxia in non-hydric soils

17. Soil Elements that Respond to Amendments • Organic Content (Humus, Compost) • Hydrology • Texture (Stability) • Consistency • Microbiology • pH • Fertility (N,P,K and Minor Nutrients)

18. Agronomy is an Evolving Science • Soil Food Web (Microbiology) • Soil Dynamics • Compost (Compost Tea) • Mulch • Geo Textiles • Geotechnical Engineering • Horticulture • Traditional Knowledge • Soil Analysis • Micro morphology • DNA, Micorrhizae • Contaminants

19. Soils and Restoration Design • Soil and Land have capacity to grow their own protection from • Erosion • Invasive Organisms • Herbivory • Biodegradation • Human Disturbance

20. Soil Function and Process in Natural and Managed Landscapes • Water Quality • Chemical Buffering • Nutrient Cycling • Plant Production • Micro Climate Modulation • Habitat • Energy Balance • Water • Land • Climate

21. Dynamics of Soil • Mechanical - Tilth, Erodiblity, Freeze/Thaw, Compaction, Sliding, Sloughing, Flowing • Chemical - Warehouse and Processing Plant • Biological – Microorganism Bank

22. Soil Inhabitants • Bacteria – Soil Makers • Decomposes Organic Matter • Filter and Biodegrade (anaerobic and aerobic) Pollutants

23. Fungi - Structural Workers • Decomposes Complex Carbon • Accumulation and Ecological Association with Organic Matter • Particle Binding • Competes with Pathogens • Micorrhizae Associations with Root Systems for Nutrient Uptake

24. Soil Chemistry and Microbiology Mycorrhizal Fungi Different types of mycorrhizal associations occur on native plants. They are symbiotic relationships between nearly all higher plants and soil fungi. The fungal partner increases uptake of nutrients while plant provides photsynthate to the fungus. (Hickman 1993)

25. Primary Types of Micorrhizal Root Associations • Arbuscular mycorrhizae (AM) , sometimes called endomicorrhizae or vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizae (VAM) • Grasses, perennial herbs and many trees/shrubs • Ectomycorrhizae (ECM) • most woody species and conifers

26. Mycorrhizal Benefits are Site Specific • Degraded Sites • Organic deficient soils • Disturbed soils • Dredged sediments • Urban soils • Nursery Grown Stock • Bare Root Transplants

27. Benefits of Micorrhizal Associations • Improved nutrient and water uptake • Improved root growth • Improved plant growth and yield • Improved disease resistance • Reduced transplant shock • Reduced drought stress • Parasitic nematode control

28. Protozoa - Chemists • Chemical Release of Nutrients • Increased rate of Decomposition

29. Nematodes - Doctors • Police and Regulate Other Organisms • Mineralize Nutrients • Consume/Neutralize Disease Organisms

30. Micro Arthropods - Farmers • Aerators • Shredders/Reducers of Course Organic Matter • Stimulate Micro Biotic Activity by preparing food

31. Geotechnical Attributes of Soil • Stability on Slope • Infiltration of Surface Water • Move water Down slope Internally, within Substrate • Protect Subsurface Soils from Erosion • Minimize Particulate Movement and Turbidity

32. Soil and Plant Associations • Water Quality - Filtering • Surface Water Attenuation and Availability • Workability/Tilth (Paul Sachs - North Country Organics) • Anchorage for vegetation • Nutrient Sinks • Phytoremediation and Bioremediation

33. Vegetation as Indicator of Soil Health • pH tolerance (Artemisia vulgaris > 8.5) • Salinity (Halophytes) • Hydrology/Soil Moisture (Hydrophytes) • Fertility (Legumes, N Fixation) • Contamination (Atrazine)

34. Lupines Gone Wild

35. Soil Amendments and Conditioners • Compost - Bio Active Organic Matter • Compost Tea – Aerated water extract brewed from compost containing • Soluble Nutrients • Growth Stimulants • Bacteria, Fungi, Protozoa, Nematodes Dr. Elaine Ingham – Compost Tea Brewing Manual 2001

36. Compost Tea Quality In - Quality Out • Compost • Filtration • Water Quality (Chlorinated) • Brewing Time • Aeration/Oxygenation • Micorrhizal Fungi Inoculation (post brewing)

37. Soil Nutrients and Bio Stimulants • N, P, K • Organic sources • Chemical Sources • Minor Nutrients/Trace Elements (16) • Bio or Natural Growth Stimulants • Seaweed Extract • Kelp Products • Compost Tea

38. Geo Textiles for Riparian Restoration • Wood Chips • Biodegradable materials (first choice) • Jute • Straw with tackifier or binder (weed seed free) • Coir • Open Weave Burlap (no preservatives) (All moisture retention and erosion control properties)

39. Structural Soil and Soil Amendments Hendrikus Schraven Soil Dynamics http://www.soildynamics.com/ Soil Foodweb, Inc. http://www.soilfoodweb.com/ Dr. Nina Bassuck Cornell University Urban Horticulture Institute http://www.hort.cornell.edu/UHI/