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FIELD STUDIES ON PARAHO RETORTED OIL SHALE LYSIMETERS: LEACHATE, VEGETATION, MOISTURE, SALINITY AND RUNOFF, 1977-1980

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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 restored 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. When the constructed lysimeters were filled with freshly retorted shale a high temperature (60C) was maintained at a 1m depth for 30 days. Prolonged elevated temperatures of retorted shale disposal piles could significantly affect both the amount and composition of vegetative cover. This report deals mot specifically with the collection, measurement, and interoperation of data from 1978 through 1980. A more detailed description of all measurements and analyses for 1976-1977 was reported in Harbert et. al. (1979)

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Last Updated September 29, 2016, 17:05 (LMT)
Created September 29, 2016, 17:05 (LMT)
Citation M.K. Kikeny, H.P. harbert, W.A. Berg ---- Roy Long, FIELD STUDIES ON PARAHO RETORTED OIL SHALE LYSIMETERS: LEACHATE, VEGETATION, MOISTURE, SALINITY AND RUNOFF, 1977-1980, 2016-09-29, https://edx.netl.doe.gov/dataset/field-studies-on-paraho-retorted-oil-shale-lysimeters-leachate-vegetation-moisture-salinity-and
Netl Product yes
Poc Email Roy.long@netl.doe.gov
Point Of Contact Roy Long
Program Or Project KMD
Publication Date 1981-10-1