Use of Excess Manures for Mine Reclamation and Biofuel Production

The purpose of this award is for the grantee to expand, implement, monitor and evaluate a commercial scale mine land reclamation project using composted poutry manure as a soil amendment to cultivate switchgrass and high-diversity native grass, forb, and legume stands (HDNS) for biofuel production.The project partnership will implement a commercial-scale demonstration project using composted poultry manure from EQIP eligible poultry farms located in nutrient impaired watersheds in the Susquehanna Basin in Pennsylvania. Manure will be applied as a soil amendment on parallel plots on nutrient deficient mine lands in Schuylkill County Pennsylvania. The parallel plots will be used for the cultivation of switch grass and native grassland perennials for biomass production on a minimum of 40 acres. Nutrient and carbon sequestration fluxes and biomass production will be monitored throughout the 3-year term of the project.