Submission Type
Poster
Abstract
Wetlands provide vital ecosystem services, but widespread destruction has led to a significant loss in these services. In response, created wetlands have been implemented to offset these impacts, yet they often lack the ecological function of natural wetlands. One proposed method to improve restoration outcomes is the addition of soil amendments to accelerate succession. This study evaluates whether five years of leaf litter compost additions have improved soil characteristics in a created wetland. Soil samples were collected in Fall 2024 from the Mill Seat Wetland Restoration Area in Riga, NY, and analyzed for soil moisture (SM), soil organic matter (SOM), total carbon (TC), and total nitrogen (TN). SM and SOM were measured using drying ovens, with SOM quantified via loss-on-ignition (LOI). TC and TN were analyzed with a PerkinElmer Elemental Analyzer at the Rochester Institute of Technology’s Aquatic Ecology Lab. Results show that natural reference wetlands had the highest levels of soil organic matter (SOM). However, SOM levels in the compost-amended wetland have increased over five years, indicating that the compost is promoting soil development. Total carbon (TC) and total nitrogen (TN) levels have also increased in the amended wetland, following the same upward trend as SOM. This comparison between reference wetlands and compost treated wetlands supports the objective that leaf litter compost improves soil quality and accelerates wetland succession. These findings suggest that soil amendments can be a valuable tool in improving the ecological function of restored wetlands and enhancing ecosystem services.
Recommended Citation
Dawes, Eliza; De Jong, Pippa; and Chang, Joelle, "095 - Compost to Carbon: Boosting Wetland Restoration with Soil Amendments" (2025). GREAT Day Posters. 26.
https://knightscholar.geneseo.edu/great-day-symposium/great-day-2025/posters-2025/26
095 - Compost to Carbon: Boosting Wetland Restoration with Soil Amendments
Wetlands provide vital ecosystem services, but widespread destruction has led to a significant loss in these services. In response, created wetlands have been implemented to offset these impacts, yet they often lack the ecological function of natural wetlands. One proposed method to improve restoration outcomes is the addition of soil amendments to accelerate succession. This study evaluates whether five years of leaf litter compost additions have improved soil characteristics in a created wetland. Soil samples were collected in Fall 2024 from the Mill Seat Wetland Restoration Area in Riga, NY, and analyzed for soil moisture (SM), soil organic matter (SOM), total carbon (TC), and total nitrogen (TN). SM and SOM were measured using drying ovens, with SOM quantified via loss-on-ignition (LOI). TC and TN were analyzed with a PerkinElmer Elemental Analyzer at the Rochester Institute of Technology’s Aquatic Ecology Lab. Results show that natural reference wetlands had the highest levels of soil organic matter (SOM). However, SOM levels in the compost-amended wetland have increased over five years, indicating that the compost is promoting soil development. Total carbon (TC) and total nitrogen (TN) levels have also increased in the amended wetland, following the same upward trend as SOM. This comparison between reference wetlands and compost treated wetlands supports the objective that leaf litter compost improves soil quality and accelerates wetland succession. These findings suggest that soil amendments can be a valuable tool in improving the ecological function of restored wetlands and enhancing ecosystem services.
Comments
Sponsored by Wendy Owens Rios