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Spreader Performance Evaluation for Forest Land Application of Wood and Fly Ash

Agricultural Eng. Dep., Alabama Agric. Exp. Stn., Auburn Univ., Auburn, AL 36849-5417.

^* Corresponding author (jwilhoit{at}eng.auburn.edu).

ABSTRACT

Land application is an important disposal alternative for ash, but materials handling and spreading difficulties are obstacles to increased utilization of this alternative, especially in forest situations. A horizontal spinner-type spreader mounted on a forwarder, a specialized tractor for hauling logs out of the forest, was used to conduct distribution pattern trials spreading wood ash and fly ash in a pine (Pinus sp.) plantation stand. The materials were spread at two conveyor speeds, and the results were analyzed for application rate and spreading uniformity, as indicated by coefficient of variation (CV), at different simulated swath widths. Spreader uniformity was generally poor in comparison to standards for spreading fertilizer, and the uniformity results were inconsistent from one trial to the next. Both of the materials exhibited similar trends, however, with best uniformities (indicated by minimum CV values) occurring at both narrow (5.5–7.3 m) and wide (10.9–12.8 m) simulated swath widths. At the 19 cm s^–1 speed, fairly high application rates were achieved with fly ash, which was dry and uniform in consistency. The wood ash, which was wet and mud-like in consistency, could only be spread satisfactorily at a lower application rate (7.1 cm s^–1 conveyor speed). For the operating conditions used in these tests, estimated costs (for spreading only) at an application rate of 10 Mg ha^–1 ranged from $1.31 Mg^–1 ($1.35 m^–3) to $2.62 Mg^–1 ($2.70 m^–3), depending on loading and travel time requirements.

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				R. M. Pitman Wood ash use in forestry - a review of the environmental impacts Forestry, December 1, 2006; 79(5): 563 - 588. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]