Authors: Venkatraman, Kartik¹; Ashwath, Nanjappa¹; Su, Ninghu²

Source: International Journal of Environmental Technology and Management, Volume 14, Numbers 1-4, March 2011 , pp. 269-281(13)

Publisher: Inderscience Publishers

Abstract:

An alternative landfill capping technique called 'Phytocapping' was trialled in Rockhampton, Australia. In this technique, trees were used as 'bio-pumps' and 'rainfall interceptors' and soil cover as the 'storage' of water. The performance of this system was measured based on its ability to minimise water percolation into waste. The percolation rate was modelled using HYDRUS 1D for two main scenarios (with and without vegetation) for the thick and thin caps respectively. Results from the measurements and modelling showed that percolation rates of 16.7 mm/year in thick cover and 23.8 mm/year in thin phytocaps are markedly lower than those expected from a clay cap. Both scenarios point to one direction stating the efficiency of phytocaps in restricting water percolation into the buried waste.

Keywords: ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT; Environment and Sustainable Development; MANAGEMENT AND BUSINESS; Technology Management

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1504/IJETM.2011.039274

Affiliations: 1: Centre for Plant and Water Science, Central Queensland University, Rockhampton 4701, Queensland, Australia. 2: School of Earth and Environmental Science, James Cook University, Cairns 4870, Queensland, Australia

Publication date: 2011-03-01

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