34 City Trees
In their recent paper in Urban Forestry and Urban
Greening, "Long-Term
Remediation of Compacted Urban Soils
by Physical Fracturing and Incorporation of Compost,"
study
authors Miles Sax, Nina Bassuk, Harold van Es, and Don Rakow
published their findings after twelve years of applied research.
You can learn more about the technique in
a previous article in
City Trees
about Cornell Urban Horticulture Institute research.
From the Urban Forestry and Urban Greening paper's Abstract:
On the Cornell University campus a long-term study has mea-
sured the impacts of a soil remediation strategy on plant growth
and soil quality using the Cornell Soil Health Test. The Scoop &
Dump (S&D) process of soil remediation consists of physically
fracturing compacted urban soils, incorporating large quantities
(33% by volume) of compost with the use of a backhoe, and
annually top dressing with mulch. This study was designed to
investigate the impact of this remediation technique for the
amelioration of compaction and degradation of soils in the
urbanized environment.
From the Urban Forestry and Urban Greening paper's Conclusion:
The authors found that the Scoop & Dump method of soil reme-
diation showed improvement in soil quality indicators—bulk
density, resistance, aggregate stability, potentially mineraliz-
able nitrogen, active carbon and organic matter content—com-
pared to unamended sites. Over a period of 12 years, soil
quality indicators—bulk density, active carbon, and potentially
mineralizable nitrogen— improved over time showing long-term
beneficial effects of using the Scoop & Dump Technique.
The application of the Scoop & Dump soil remediation strategy
is an appropriate method for restoring soils damaged by heavy
equipment, building construction and urbanization impacts.
With minimal annual maintenance including the addition of
shredded bark mulch, these improvements in soil quality are
maintained or enhanced over time. This technique offers a
practical, research-based tool for green industry professionals,
arborists, and landscape contractors and has a strong potential
for improving soil quality using locally sourced materials and
sustainable methods.
Scoop & Dump Soil Remediation
Technique Validated by 12 Years of Research
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