flue gas desulfurization gypsum agricultural uses
TRANSCRIPT
Flue Gas Desulfurization Gypsum Agricultural Uses
USDA-ARS, J. Phil Campbell Sr.
Natural Resource Conservation CenterWatkinsville, GA
Dr. Harry H. Schomberg
What is Gypsum?
⢠CaSO4 . 2H2O (gypsum)⢠CaSO4 (anhydrate)⢠Used by Greeks and Romans⢠Fertilizer value recognized in 1800s⢠S and Ca â Plant nutrients
250 Îźm
Energy & Environmental Research Center
Lime slurry spray
Zimmer StationCinergy Corp.
Ohio State University Extension 2005
Flue Gas Desulfurization Process
Physical & Chemical Properties Gypsum Sources
Material Water Ca S As Hg Particlesize
Residue Price(2002)
% % % mg/kg mg/kg % $/tonFGD gypsum
5.55 23.0 18.7 0.56 <0.26 120 Îźm 0.4 7.00
Naturalgypsum
0.38 19.1 15.1 <0.52 <0.26 NA 12.9 12.75
Castgypsum
0.15 22.4 19.3 <0.52 <0.26 NA 0.2 NA
Drywallgypsum
10.1 21.9 18.1 0.98 <0.26 <0.5 in 2.2 11.00
EPA 503 41 17
Ohio State University Extension 2005
USDA Strategic Plan⢠Protect and enhance the
nationâs natural resource base and environment
⢠Protect watershed health to ensure clean and abundant water
⢠Enhance soil quality to maintain productive working cropland for food, feed, fiber and energy production
Effects of Gypsum on Soil
⢠Improve soil structure ⢠Improve water infiltration,
storage and use ⢠Improve crop yield and quality ⢠Remediate saline and sodic soils⢠Reduce movement of nutrients, sediment
and agricultural chemicals to water and air
Conservation Issues in the Southeastern US
⢠Many of the soils are of poor quality and highly susceptible to erosion
⢠Large number of water bodies in the region are impaired by contaminants (sediment, nutrients, agricultural chemicals)
⢠Many areas in the region are suffering from drought
Soil Degradation
⢠Accelerated soil erosion⢠Loss of organic matter⢠Soil compaction⢠Soil acidification⢠Buildup of soluble salts,
and toxic trace elements
Results of Soil Degradation
⢠Reduced crop yields⢠Greater inputs
required for crop production
⢠Greater risk of environmental damage
Gypsum Improves Yields
Sumner, 2007
Gypsum and Acid SoilsIncreases subsoil calciumReduces subsoil aluminum (toxic)Allows roots to penetrate subsoilsIncreases potentially available water
Al3+ Al3+ Al3+
Al3+ Al3+ Al3+
Al3+ Al3+
Al3+ Al 3+ Al 3+
Gypsum Application
Al3+ Al3+ Al3+
Al 3+ Al3+ Al3+
Ca2+ Ca2+ Ca2+ Ca2+ Ca2+ Ca2+
Ca2+ Ca2+ Ca2+ Ca2+ Ca2+ Ca2+
Crop
Soil Crusts
(Mark Licht)
(Palle Pedersen)
OSU Extension 2005
Gypsum Reduces Erosion
Gypsum Infiltration Runoff Soil LossMg/ha mm mm Mg/ha
0 7 50 213.6 13 44 136.7 21 36 8
13.4 24 32 5
Norton and Rhoton, 2007
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
Blount Catlin Fayette Miami
Tota
l inf
iltra
tion,
mm
ControlGypsum
Gypsum Increases Infiltration
USDA-ARS NSEL, West Lafayette, IN)
Georgiaâs Water Crisis
Uses 6.5 Billion gallons water per day!(22% by greater Atlanta)
Georgiaâs Water Crisis
⢠705 Billion gallons/year ⢠109 Days of Georgiaâs Total Annual Needs . . ⢠2.5X to 7X quantity of water used annually for
irrigation of row crops in Georgia. . ⢠1.37 years of Atlantaâs annual usage . .
⢠FGD Gypsum on 3.5 million acres ⢠Assume 15% increase in infiltration of
annual rainfall
FGD Gypsum to Remediate High Soil P
⢠Top five - GA AR AL MS & NC⢠5.2 billion broilers⢠7.8 million tons broiler litter⢠233,000 tons N⢠116,000 tons P
High Soil P
Percentage of SamplesP > 450 lb / acre
0% - 10%10% - 30%
University of GeorgiaSoil, Plant and Water LabSoil Phosphorus Levels1999-2002
FGD Gypsum to Remediate High Soil P
Franklin et al., 2007
Broiler LitterFiltered
NO3-N P PO4-P
Run
off (
mg
L-1 )
02468
102530354045
GypsumNone
76% reduction in
Dissolved TP!
Agronomic Unknowns FGD-Gypsum
⢠Optimal application rates ⢠Effects on macro and micronutrients⢠Influence on P availability from manures⢠Crop response â moisture stress
Environmental Unknowns FGD-Gypsum
⢠Long-term effects â crop and animal ⢠Bioaccumulation potential of Hg⢠Rate of vertical movement of Hg in soils ⢠Potential volatilization of adsorbed
emissions
Metal Uptake by Peanuts â GA (EPA3052)
0
0.1
0.2
0.3
0.4
0.5
0.6
0.7
As 0.1Cr 0.1Cu Cd Hg Pb Se
mg/
kg in
Pea
nut s
eed
ControlGypsum
What if?⢠1 acre of soil is 1,000 tons (6 ž inch depth)⢠250 - 500 ppb Hg FGD gypsum ⢠Hg in typical soil â
100 ppb ⢠1 to 4.5 tons/acre ⢠17 ppm Hg limit
EPA 503
0102030405060708090
100
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10Applications
Soil
Hg
ppb
6 ton4 ton2 ton1 ton
Research Activities
⢠Determine benefits and risks of FGD gypsum⢠Develop management practices and
technologies to â (1) improve soils for crop production and
environmental protection and â (2) remove agricultural contaminants from
water⢠Document benefits to support USDA
Conservation Programs and Environmental Credit Trading
ARS FGD Gypsum Research in SE
Coastal Plains
PiedmontMississippi Valley
Loess Plains
Oxford
AuburnWatkinsville
Field Experiments
⢠Develop guidelines for specific uses of FGD gypsum â where to use, rates, method of application,
frequency of application, etc.)⢠Assist USDA Natural Resources
Conservation Service in process to accept practices as eligible for Conservation Program funding
Field Experiments
⢠3-4 years⢠Sites with different soils, climate, cropping
systems⢠Comparison of FGD gypsum to mined
gypsum
Field Experiments
⢠Soil propertiesâ soil structure, â water infiltration, â storage of water â reduced runoff and erosion
⢠Document movement of trace elements such as Hg to surface and ground water
Watkinsville, GA
Co-application⢠Improve P management⢠Improve soil structure and
increase water availability⢠Reduce runoff and losses
of soil and nutrients
FGD-Gypsum & Poultry Litter
Watkinsville, GA
Rainfall Simulation
Total Runoff and Sediment
Nutrients in Runoff
Nutrients in Sediment
Expected Outcomes
⢠Guidelines for use of FGD gypsumâ Water conservationâ Water qualityâ P management
⢠Support for adoption of FGD gypsum as BMP â Conservation Security Programâ Environmental Quality Incentives Program$$
Partnerships
⢠Cooperation among a variety of groups including: ARS, EPA, NRCS, Universities, Southern Company, TVA, Duke Energy, EPA, EPRI, and FGD Gypsum Network
⢠No single group has resources to document beneficial agricultural uses of FGD gypsum