Engineered (bioretention) media amendments material properties and specifications
Engineered (bioretention) media amendments material properties and specifications.
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| Property | Biochar | Coir | Water treatment residuals1 | Spent lime | Compost | Peat | Iron | Wood chips |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phosphorus leaching | No | No to slight | ||||||
| Phosphorus retention | No to slight | No | ||||||
| Handling concerns | Potential explosive concerns in closed space situations; volatile compounds (depending on pyrolysis temperature) | Dust | ||||||
| Soil hydraulic properties | Significant improvement | Significant improvement | ||||||
| Soil physical properties | Significant improvement | Moderate improvement | ||||||
| Plant effects | Beneficial but varies with feedstock | Beneficial | ||||||
| Availability | Multiple distributors | Widely available | ||||||
| Specifications available | Limited due to variability with feedstocks | Yes | ||||||
| Cost | ||||||||
| Research needs | Feedstocks suitable for stormwater applications | Phosphorus fate in stormwater applications | ||||||
| Applications | [1] | [2] | ||||||
| Chemical and physical properties | [3] | [4] | ||||||
| Sustainability | Sustainable, but has current market constraints | Sustainable | ||||||
| Potential contaminants | Minor risk - metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) | Low risk - possible chloride depending on preparation method | ||||||
| Test methods | Not standardized but International Biochar Initiative widely used [5] | Not standardized but multiple methods available [6] | ||||||
| Effects of aging | Varies with production method [7] | Decomposes slowly unless nutrients are added [8] | ||||||
| Notes | Characteristics vary with feedstock and pyrolysis temperature | Coir must be composted or incorporated with compost, lime, fertilizer, and/or microbes |
1Exclusive of spent lime