Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 14, 2026
06:27
Sandy Soil Improvement through Microbially Induced Calcite Precipitation (MICP) by Immersion
Published on: September 12, 2019
Remediation to improve infiltration into compact soils.
Nicholas C Olson1, John S Gulliver, John L Nieber
1St. Anthony Falls Laboratory, Department of Civil Engineering, University of Minnesota, 500 Pillsbury SE, Minneapolis, MN 55414, USA.
Journal of Environmental Management
|January 29, 2013
Summary
Compost addition effectively improved soil infiltration and reduced runoff in urban areas, outperforming tilling alone. This study guides urban stormwater management by assessing soil remediation techniques.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Soil Science
- Urban Hydrology
Background:
- Urban development compacts soil, increasing runoff, flooding, and water pollution.
- Low-impact development strategies, including improved soil infiltration, are crucial for urban areas.
- Effective soil remediation techniques are needed to mitigate urban hydromodification.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effectiveness of tilling and compost addition in improving soil infiltration rates.
- To assess the use of soil bulk density and strength as indicators for soil infiltration.
- To evaluate the impact of soil remediation on urban runoff volume.
Main Methods:
- Field study at three urban sites with three treatment plots: tilled, tilled with compost, and control.
- Measurement of saturated hydraulic conductivity (K(sat)) using a modified Philip Dunne (MPD) infiltrometer.
- Assessment of soil bulk density and soil strength as surrogate parameters for K(sat).
Main Results:
- Tilling alone showed minimal improvement in soil infiltration (K(sat) 0.5-2.3 times control).
- Compost addition significantly increased soil infiltration (K(sat) 2.7-5.7 times control) and reduced soil strength.
- Simulations indicated reduced runoff from treated soils compared to untreated soils.
Conclusions:
- Compost addition is a more effective method than tilling for improving urban soil infiltration and reducing runoff.
- Soil strength reduction was observed with tilling and compost addition, but correlation with K(sat) was weak pre-remediation.
- Findings provide guidance for urban hydromodification and stormwater management plans.
Related Concept Videos
00:46Bioremediation
Bioremediation is the use of prokaryotes, fungi, or plants to remove pollutants from the environment. This process has been used to remove harmful toxins in groundwater as a byproduct of agricultural run-off and also to clean up oil spills.
01:25Microbial Bioremediation of Uranium
Microorganisms play a critical role in the transformation and immobilization of uranium in contaminated environments through four main pathways: bioreduction, biosorption, bioaccumulation, and biomineralization. These mechanisms reduce uranium’s toxicity and prevent its migration through groundwater systems, offering sustainable approaches for in situ bioremediation.Bioreduction of UraniumBioreduction is driven by anaerobic bacteria such as certain strains of Geobacter and Shewanella, which use...
01:19Design Example: Maintaining Level of an Embankment
Constructing a roadway embankment over uneven terrain requires precise leveling to ensure stability and proper drainage. Surveyors use a leveling instrument and staff to calculate ground elevations and determine the required fill material at each point along the embankment alignment.The process begins by positioning a leveling instrument near a benchmark with a known elevation. A backsight reading establishes the instrument height, which serves as a reference for subsequent measurements. A...
01:17Placing Concrete
The concrete is placed as close as possible to its final position to avoid segregation. The placed concrete is then fully compacted to expel the entrapped air, and the next layer of concrete is laid while the underlying layer is still in the plastic state. The rate at which concrete is placed and compacted is kept equal.
While placing concrete, care is taken to ensure that the concrete is laid in uniform layers, and hand shoveling and moving concrete using poker vibrators is avoided. Also,...
While placing concrete, care is taken to ensure that the concrete is laid in uniform layers, and hand shoveling and moving concrete using poker vibrators is avoided. Also,...
01:29Preplaced Aggregate Concrete
Preplaced aggregate concrete is ideal for construction environments that are not easily accessible. The process begins by properly wetting the gap-graded coarse aggregates to remove the dirt, then placing it in the form and compacting it. Voids are filled with a mortar mix pumped under pressure through slotted pipes. This mortar typically consists of Portland cement, pozzolan, fine aggregates, water, and a fluidizing aid. The pozzolan helps reduce bleeding and segregation while improving the...
01:20Porosity and Absorption of Aggregate
Aggregates contain pores of varying sizes; while some are completely enclosed within the particles, others open onto the surface, allowing water to penetrate. The porosity of aggregates is a major factor contributing to the overall porosity of concrete, given that aggregates constitute about three-quarters of concrete's volume.
When all pores in an aggregate are filled with water, the aggregate is considered saturated and surface-dry. If left in dry air, water will evaporate until the aggregate...
When all pores in an aggregate are filled with water, the aggregate is considered saturated and surface-dry. If left in dry air, water will evaporate until the aggregate...