Abstract
Automobile waste tires are cumbersome waste materials, but might be processed to be a beneficial materials. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of pulverized tires as a soil amendment to benefit plant growing. Our study focused on the effects of pulverized tire rubber on soil aeration, water retention, and plant nutrition. Three different amounts of 0% (control), 5% and 10% by weight of pulverized tires were used to determine their effects on soil water holding capacity and aeration in pots. Hydroponic experiment with cucumber plants was used for testing the effect of the pulverized material on plant nutrition. Our findings revealed that soil amended with pulverized tires had lower bulk density and higher water retention at low water suction (0-100 cm water head suction) as compared to non amended soil. Also, soil treated with pulverized tires showed a significant decrease in aeration in term of oxygen content as compared to the non-amended soil. The direct effect of pulverized tires on plant nutrition was due to zinc toxicity leading to significant decrease in plant growth compared to untreated plants. In future research, we recommend to assess particle size optimization of the pulverized tires to improve water retention and aeration in compacted and poorly aerated soils. We also recommend using it at rate that will not exceed proper zinc nutrition. However, in zinc deficient soils, the high zinc content from pulverized tires might be of importance as nutrient for the growing plants.
| Original language | American English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 161-167 |
| Number of pages | 7 |
| Journal | International Journal of Scientific & Engineering Research |
| Volume | 7 |
| Issue number | 6 |
| State | Published - Jun 2016 |