Paper Mill Sludge as a Replacement for the Cellulosic Component of Hydroseed Mixtures

Paper Mill Sludge as a Replacement for the Cellulosic Component of Hydroseed Mixtures | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Paper Mill Sludge as a Replacement for the Cellulosic Component of Hydroseed Mixtures Brittany Ann MacDonald-MacAulay, Adam Donaldson, Margaret Walsh, and 1 more This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-3694743/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Published Journal Publication published 28 Jun, 2024 Read the published version in Waste and Biomass Valorization → Version 1 posted 5 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Pulp and paper mill sludge is composed of cellulosic waste and clay, and rich in microorganisms that can benefit horticulture. However, its application in horticulture has received less research attention.Field and greenhouse studies were carried out to determine if sludge from a case study industry can replace the typical cellulosic additive utilized in hydroseeding, and the ideal application rate of a sludge-soil-seed mixture. The treatments were 0 - 100% sludge and soil by mass with a consistent mass of embedded seeds of Kentucky Bluegrass ( Poa pratensis ), Creeping Red Fescue ( Festuca rubra) , Perennial ( Lolium perenne) and Annual Ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum ). Seeding with a top layer of soil and 5 to 75% sludge gave the best outcome using a cellulosic additive after 3 weeks of growth. Mixtures containing 5- 25% sludge resulted in the quickest seed germination rate. The cellulosic additive has the capacity to retain a higher volume of water but requires 15 times more material by volume. An increase in sludge increased water retention by 20%. Overall, the cellulosic additive in hydroseeding applications can be replaced by sludge without plant detriment. However, further testing is needed to determine long-term effects. Waste Valorization Pulp and Paper Sludge Waste Reuse Industrial Sustainability Hydroseed Full Text Cite Share Download PDF Status: Published Journal Publication published 28 Jun, 2024 Read the published version in Waste and Biomass Valorization → Version 1 posted Reviewers agreed at journal 17 Jan, 2024 Reviewers invited by journal 13 Jan, 2024 Editor invited by journal 06 Jan, 2024 Editor assigned by journal 01 Dec, 2023 First submitted to journal 30 Nov, 2023 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. 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Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-3694743","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":266964826,"identity":"5ba6779b-5e3e-4678-8284-b7589f9c491c","order_by":0,"name":"Brittany Ann MacDonald-MacAulay","email":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAZAAAAAyAQMAAABI0h/eAAAABlBMVEX///8AAABVwtN+AAAACXBIWXMAAA7EAAAOxAGVKw4bAAAAwklEQVRIiWNgGAWjYBACAwbmAwcSDCTk+BkSGA8QqYUt8cGDAgtjyYYEBmK18BgbPvhQkbjhALFazKUPmEkAHZa4+XjygwMMNXaEtVj2JaSBtBhvO/PM4ADDsWQiHHaG4RhIi+y2GwkGBxgbmInRwtgG0sK4eUb6B6CWemK0MDMbALUobpDIAdlymAi/9LAxPgD5ReLMm4IDCceOE9ZizsP/4eCPP3Vy/O3pGx98qKkmrAUVJJCqYRSMglEwCkYBdgAAdcw+9YvQJlYAAAAASUVORK5CYII=","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2351-6865","institution":"St Francis Xavier University","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"Brittany","middleName":"Ann","lastName":"MacDonald-MacAulay","suffix":""},{"id":266964827,"identity":"d4efac7d-e63e-47d3-8806-d28233e77e2c","order_by":1,"name":"Adam Donaldson","email":"","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9514-0342","institution":"Dalhousie University Faculty of Engineering","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Adam","middleName":"","lastName":"Donaldson","suffix":""},{"id":266964828,"identity":"dd5433c8-7699-4f4c-9352-2ea1e4474d35","order_by":2,"name":"Margaret Walsh","email":"","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4766-4691","institution":"Dalhousie University Faculty of Engineering","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Margaret","middleName":"","lastName":"Walsh","suffix":""},{"id":266964829,"identity":"fe4b50bf-e17c-492b-8fa0-47999e6e4d8e","order_by":3,"name":"Lord Abbey","email":"","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2219-1752","institution":"Dalhousie University Faculty of Agriculture","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Lord","middleName":"","lastName":"Abbey","suffix":""}],"badges":[],"createdAt":"2023-12-01 23:40:10","currentVersionCode":1,"declarations":"","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-3694743/v1","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-3694743/v1","draftVersion":[],"editorialEvents":[{"content":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s12649-024-02616-y","type":"published","date":"2024-06-29T00:24:37+00:00"}],"editorialNote":"","failedWorkflow":false,"files":[{"id":59446912,"identity":"1f54a33c-53d0-4d3f-bf81-cd00d6899f84","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2024-07-02 00:24:42","extension":"pdf","order_by":1,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":1452576,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"PaperMillSludgeforHydroseedingArticleBMMADMWLA.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-3694743/v1_covered_660051f7-3b48-4945-8d1c-a94b2bf7495f.pdf"}],"financialInterests":"","formattedTitle":"Paper Mill Sludge as a Replacement for the Cellulosic Component of Hydroseed Mixtures","fulltext":[],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":false,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":false,"hideJournal":false,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":true,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":true,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":true,"isPdf":true,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"waste-and-biomass-valorization","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"wave","sideBox":"Learn more about [Waste and Biomass Valorization](http://link.springer.com/journal/12649)","snPcode":"12649","submissionUrl":"https://submission.nature.com/new-submission/12649/3","title":"Waste and Biomass Valorization","twitterHandle":"","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"em","reportingPortfolio":"Springer Hybrid","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":false},"keywords":"Waste Valorization, Pulp and Paper Sludge, Waste Reuse, Industrial Sustainability, Hydroseed","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-3694743/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-3694743/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003cp\u003ePulp and paper mill sludge is composed of cellulosic waste and clay, and rich in microorganisms that can benefit horticulture. However, its application in horticulture has received less research attention.Field and greenhouse studies were carried out to determine if sludge from a case study industry can replace the typical cellulosic additive utilized in hydroseeding, and the ideal application rate of a sludge-soil-seed mixture. The treatments were 0 - 100% sludge and soil by mass with a consistent mass of embedded seeds of Kentucky Bluegrass (\u003cem\u003ePoa pratensis\u003c/em\u003e), Creeping Red Fescue (\u003cem\u003eFestuca rubra)\u003c/em\u003e, Perennial (\u003cem\u003eLolium perenne)\u003c/em\u003e and Annual Ryegrass \u003cem\u003e(Lolium multiflorum\u003c/em\u003e). Seeding with a top layer of soil and 5 to 75% sludge gave the best outcome using a cellulosic additive after 3 weeks of growth. Mixtures containing 5- 25% sludge resulted in the quickest seed germination rate. The cellulosic additive has the capacity to retain a higher volume of water but requires 15 times more material by volume. An increase in sludge increased water retention by 20%. Overall, the cellulosic additive in hydroseeding applications can be replaced by sludge without plant detriment. 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