Title: Fabricated soils for landscape restoration: an example for scientific contribution by a public-private partnership effort

Authors: Valentine I. Kefeli, Margaret H. Dunn, Dave Johnson, Wilbur Taylor

Addresses: Biomost, Inc., 3016 Unionville Road, Cranberry Twp., 16066 PA, USA. ' Biomost, Inc., 3016 Unionville Road, Cranberry Twp., 16066 PA, USA. ' Jennings Environmental Education Center, 2951 Prospect Road, Slippery Rock PA 16057, USA. ' Jennings Environmental Education Center, 2951 Prospect Road, Slippery Rock PA 16057, USA

Abstract: Public-private partnership efforts are working towards creating green landscapes from abandoned industrial sites. Fabricated soils, potentially an essential element of such landscapes, are designed to substitute for top-soil on the areas free from ground cover and plant community. The aluminosilicate matrix and humus form the soil micelle – the primary unit of any soil complex. Humus formation is a process based on carbon–nitrogen interaction. Sources of carbon can be materials rich in easily composted products like cellulose and polyphenols (plant leaves) or aged lignin polymers (saw dust from different woody plants). The pathways of carbon–nitrogen complexes are discussed. Properties of the fabricated soil components were examined by bio-tests and plant models.

Keywords: fabricated soil; green landscapes; top soil; carbon–nitrogen interaction; woody plants; landscape restoration; public-private partnerships; industrial sites; aluminosilicate matrix; humus formation; soil micelle; environmental management; environmental remediation.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEP.2007.014227

International Journal of Environment and Pollution, 2007 Vol.29 No.4, pp.405 - 411

Published online: 26 Jun 2007 *

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