INVESTIGATION OF THE UTILISATION OF CRUMB RUBBER AND

9,88
MB OTHER MATERIALS AS A WASTE-BASED SOlL AMENDMENT FOR

213
stron SPORTS TURF

5950
ID University of Guelph

1998
rok

Table of Contents

CHAPTER 1: Literature review of rubber crumb and its use as a soi1 amendment 1

1.1 Introduction 1

1.1.1 Generation of waste tires . 2

1.1.2 Reduce, re-use, recycle, and recover . 3

1.2 Pedologic applications of rubber fiom scrap automobile tires 5

1.2.1 Erosion control . 6

1.2.2 Lightweight aggregate 6

1. 2 .3 Landscaping mulch . 8

1.2.4 Soi1 amendment 9

1. 2 .4. 1 Agricultural uses of crumb rubber . 10

1.2.4.2 Rubber crumb in turf's management 11

1.2.4.3 Case study : The development of ~ e b o u n d.~~ . 14

1.3 Soi1 physical properties and plant growth 16

1.3.1 Mechanical impedance 18

1.3.2 Tillage and mechanical modification of soi1 . 20

1.3 -3 Preventative methods for compaction 22

1.4 Soi1 amendments and crumb rubber . 23

1.4.1 Soil conditioners 25

1. 4.2 Organic soi1 amenciments 27

1.4.3 Inorganic soi1 arnendrnents and rubber crumb 30

1.5 Physical properties of rubber amended soi1 34

1.6 Degradation and deterioration of mbber . 35

1.7 Chemistry of rubber tire cnunbs . 38

1.7.1 Zinc-soil-plant relatiomhips . 41

1.8 Waste products fkom the coconut industry . 44

1.8.1 Properties of coconut wastes . 45

1.8.2 Alternative uses for coconut waste 46

1.8.3 Benefits and drawbacks . 46

1.8.4 Coconut wastes as soil amendments and horticultural substrates 47

1.9 Wastes fiom the sugar refining industry 48

1.9.1 Altering soi1 hydrogen ion concentration with lime . 48

1.9.2 Industrial wastes as soi1 conditioners 49

1.9.3 Sugar lime as a soi1 amendment 51

1.10 Market and economic implications 51

1 .10 . 1 Social acceptance and market concerns 51

1. 1 0.2 Economics of crumb rubber 53

CHAPTER 2: Laboratory investigation of selected physical characteristics of a crumb rubber-based

soi1 amendment 55

2.1 Introduction . 55

2.2 Materials and methods . 59

2.2.1 Particle-size distribution 60

2.2.2 Pore-space 62

2.2- 3 Saturated hydraulic conductivity . 65

2.2.4 Maximum dry bulk density and critical water content 66

2.2.5 Compaction and rebound characteristics . 67

2.3 Results and discussion . 69

2.3.1 Particle-size distribution 69

2.3.2 Pore-space 71

2.3.2.1 Particle density . 72

2.3.2.2 Total porosity 73

2.3.2.3 Volumetric water content 7 6

2.3.2.4 Air-filled porosity 79

2.3.3 Sahuated hydradic conductivity . 81

2.3.4 Maximum dry buik density and critical water content 82

2.3- 5 Compaction and rebound characteristics . 87

2.4 Conclusions . 97

CHAPTER 3: Field investigation of the environmental impact assessrnent of a crumb rubber-based

soi1 amendment 100

3.1 Introduction 100

3.2 Methods and materials 101

3.2.1 Experimental design . 101

3 .2.2 I d l a t i o n procedure . 105

3.2.3 Data measurement and anal ysis . 106

3 .2.3.1 Detection lunits . 107

3.3 Results and discussion 108

3 .3.1 Plant tissue analysis . 108

3.3.2 Anal ys is of volatile organic compounds 116

3.3.3 BNA extractable compounds 118

3.3.4 Metals analysis . 119

3.4 Conclusions . 125

CHAPTER 4: Field investigation of the physical characteristics of a crumb rubber-based soi1

amendment . 128

4.1 Introduction . 128

4.2 Methods and materials 130

4.2.1 Experimental design . 130

4.2.2 Installation procedure . 132

4.2.3 Data measurement and analysis . 134

4.2.3.1 Soi1 surface hardness . 134

4.2.3.2 Soi1 shear strength . 134

4.2.3.3 Soi1 water content . 136

4.2.3.4 Turfgrass colour 137

4.2.3.5 Tissue d y s i s 138

4.3 Results and discussion 138

4.3.1 Soi1 surface hardness 138

4.3.2 Soil shear stcength 142

4.3.3 Soi1 water content . 144

4.3.4 TUTfgrass colour . 146

4.3 -5 Tissue analysis . 147

4.4 Conclusions . 150

CHAPTER 5: Summary and recommendations . 154

5.1 Summary . 154

5.2 Recommendations 155

REFERENCES . 158

APPENDICES 169