Treatment of landfill leachate by irrigation of willow coppice - Plant response and treatment efficiency

Abstract

Landfill leachates usually need to be treated before discharged, and using soil-plant systems for this has gained substantial interest in Sweden and in the UK. A three-year field study was conducted in central Sweden to quantify plant response, treatment efficiency and impact on groundwater quality of landfill leachate irrigation of short-rotation willow coppice (Salix). Two willow varieties were tested and four irrigation regimes in sixteen 400-m2 plots. The willow plants did not react negatively, despite very high annual loads of nitrogen (<2160 kg N/ha), chloride (<8600 kg Cl/ha) and other elements. Mean annual growth was 1.5, 9.8 and 12.6 tonnes DM/ha during years 1-3. For one of two willow varieties tested, relative leaf length accurately predicted growth rate. Irrigation resulted in elevated groundwater concentrations of all elements applied. Treatment efficiency varied considerably for different elements, but was adequate when moderate loads were applied

Published in

Environmental Pollution
2010, volume: 158, number: 3, pages: 795-804
Publisher: Elsevier

SLU Authors

• Aronsson, Pär

  • Department of Crop Production Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Dimitriou, Ioannis

  • Department of Crop Production Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

Global goals (SDG)

SDG3 Good health and well-being
SDG6 Clean water and sanitation

UKÄ Subject classification

Fish and Aquacultural Science
Environmental Sciences related to Agriculture and Land-use
Renewable Bioenergy Research

Publication identifier

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2009.10.003

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/28029