Long‐Term Effects of Biosolids on Revegetation of Disturbed Sagebrush Steppe in Northwestern Colorado
Abstract
A study was conducted to evaluate the long‐term effects of biosolids amendment on restoration of disturbed sagebrush steppe habitat in northwestern Colorado. Twenty‐four years after biosolids amendment, soil fertility and plant community development were studied in replicated plots receiving various biosolids amendments on two different substrates. The two substrates used were a subsoil, determined to have low initial fertility, and a topsoil over retorted shale substrate, determined to have relatively high initial fertility. Results suggest that biosolids amendments have long‐lasting effects on soil fertility and plant community composition, but these effects vary between the two substrates that were utilized. Within the plots established on subsoil, the long‐term effect of biosolids was a reduction in plant species diversity and dominance by perennial grasses. On the topsoil substrate, there was a decrease in perennial grasses and an increase in shrub dominance with increasing biosolids. Results demonstrate the importance of considering initial soil conditions, seed mixture, and biosolids application rate when using biosolids for restoration of disturbed sagebrush steppe habitat. The long‐term effects of the biosolids treatments at this site demonstrate the need to consider restoration treatment effects over longer and more ecologically meaningful time frames.
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Raw biosolids can release nitrogen very rapidly, giving a burst of fertility that promotes annual weed species, which may dominate the vegetation and reduce biodiversity.
“Raw biosolids can release nitrogen very rapidly giving a burst of fertility that promotes annual weed species, which may dominate the vegetation and reduce biodiversity (Paschke et al. 2005).”
From The role of organic amendments in soil reclamation: A review (2012) · cites this paper as Paschke et al. 2005
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The role of organic amendments in soil reclamation: A review
Larney, F. J., & Angers, D. A. (2012) · Canadian Journal of Soil Science · doi:10.4141/cjss2010-064 · Cited by 519 · see citing works
- Authors
- Paschke, M. W., Topper, K., Brobst, R. B., & Redente, E. F.
- Affiliations
- Colorado State University (US)
- Colorado Mesa University (US)
- Environmental Protection Agency (US)
- Corresponding author
- Paschke, Mark W.
- ORCID
- Paschke, Mark W.
- Venue
- Restoration Ecology
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2005-08-15
- Volume
- 13
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 545-551
- ISSN
- 1061-2971 (ISSN-L)
- 1526-100X
- OpenAlex
- W2015733971
- Cited by
- 36
- References
- 15
- Citations by year
- 2025: 1 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 12 · 2020: 2 · 2019: 1 · 2018: 1 · 2017: 3 · 2016: 2 · 2015: 2 · 2014: 1 · 2013: 1 · 2012: 2
- FWCI
- 0.31
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Restoration Ecology (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Ecology › Rangeland and Wildlife Management
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Nature and Landscape Conservation › Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Soil Science › Soil Carbon and Nitrogen Dynamics
- Keywords
- sagebrush steppe, revegetation, habitat restoration, soil fertility, floristic composition, species diversity, perennial grasses, substrate effects, northwestern Colorado
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