Early Stage Humification During Amendment Decomposition and its Influence on Cu-Binding Capacity of Dissolved Organic Carbon

Author

Karen A. Merritt

Date of Award

2002

Level of Access Assigned by Author

Open-Access Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Plant, Soil, and Environmental Sciences

Advisor

M. Susan Erich

Second Committee Member

Tsutomu Ohno

Third Committee Member

Christopher Cronan

Abstract

This thesis monitored the progression of early-stage humification during the decomposition of four soil amendments and analyzed the effect of hurnification on the copper (Cu) binding capacity of amendment-derived dissolved organic carbon (DOC). Amendments chosen for the 8-week incubation were: wheat straw (Triticum aestivium L.), crimson clover (Trifolium incamaturn L.), a primary papermill residue (PPR), and a primary papermill residue mixed with secondary wastewater treatment sludge (PPR+SS). Specific attention was given to the