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FIELD STUDIES ON PARAHO RETORTED OIL SHALE LYSIMETERS: LEACHATE, VEGETATION, MOISTURE, SALINITY, AND RUNOFF, 1977-1980
Citation:
Kilkelly, M., H. Harbert, III, AND W. Berg. FIELD STUDIES ON PARAHO RETORTED OIL SHALE LYSIMETERS: LEACHATE, VEGETATION, MOISTURE, SALINITY, AND RUNOFF, 1977-1980. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., EPA/600/7-81/131.
Description:
A disposal scheme for Paraho retorted shale utilizing lysimeters to simulate a low-elevation (dry site) and a high-elevation (moist site) was constructed. Objectives of the study were to investigate (1) vegetative stabilization of Paraho retored shale, as affected by leaching and soil cover treatments; and (2) moisture and soluble salt movement through the soil/shale profile. After intensive management and four growing seasons, only a sparse (2% to 3%) cover of perennial vegetation resulted on the Paraho retorted shale. In contrast, good to excellent cover was established and maintained on the soil control and soil-covered retorted shale treatments. Initial leaching and irrigation for plant establishment produced percolate from drains below the compacted shale zone. The percolate from the Paraho retorted shale treatment measured a maximum electrical conductivity (EC) of 35 mmhos/cm and pH of 11.4. The soil control produced percolate with a maximum EC of 8.5 mmhos/cm and a pH of 8.3. Each spring the high-elevation lysimeter received supplemental irrigation to simulate a zone of higher precipitation. Percolate produced from these irrigations exhibited a general overall reduction in both EC (33 to 11.4 mmhos/cm) and pH (11.4 to 8.6) by 1980 on the Paraho retorted shale treatment. The low-elevation lysimeters did not receive additional spring irrigations and no percolate was produced from the unleached treatments.