Warren: If you can provide some details, I'm sure those on this list can help you with the soil problem. I suspect that you have a structure/management problem, but can't address the rather vague goals you've stated. I don't know about the recycling, but there must be a better way. Someone? Anyone?
Where is the styrofoam coming from? WT At 01:27 PM 1/23/2006, David Bryant wrote: >Warren, > >I've read this thread with some consternation as a soil scientist. I >know this may sound like recycling of styrofoam but it's really >putting xenobiotics (highly recalcitrant synthetics) into the soil. >I'm not really sure if it would meet your other goal either. While >quantitatively decreasing soil bulk density, as does soil organic >matter (SOM) I doubt that it provides any of the other benefits of >SOM. Styrofoam is a closed cell material, so even with a high >surface area (internally and externally) I doubt that soil solution >or nutrients can interact with these surfaces to provide cation/anion >exchange or enhance soil aeration as the cells are generally filled >with a synthetic gas (previously these were CFCs). > >Also, there is increasing evidence that plastics release synthetic >compounds, the effects of some are known others unknown. Moreover, >organic chemistry of the SOM and plastics degradation are not well >understood. > >If you have any data or literature on these questions I would be very >interested. In lieu of any evidence of benefits/hazards I would >strongly advise against the practice. > >David > >David M Bryant Ph D >University of New Hampshire >Environmental Education Program >Durham, NH 03824 > >[EMAIL PROTECTED] >978-356-1928 > > > >On Jan 23, 2006, at 2:44 PM, Warren W. Aney wrote: > > > I hope to solve two problems: > > --recycling of styrofoam > > --improving the texture of of high clay content soils > > > > Warren Aney > > (503)246-8613 > > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: Wayne Tyson [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > > Sent: Sunday, 22 January, 2006 22:51 > > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]; [email protected] > > Subject: Re: Birds and styrofoam pellets > > > > > > What do you hope to accomplish, and what led you to do it? > > > > WT > > > > At 01:21 PM 1/22/2006, Warren W. Aney wrote: > > > > I have been using small (<5 mm) styrofoam pellets as a soil > > additive. > > Since > > they tend to accumulate on the soil surface, these whitish > > pellets might > > easily be ingested by ground foraging birds. I've done a quick > > Google > > search and found little information indicating whether or not this > > material > > might be ingested or, if ingested, that it will have adverse > > effects. > > Does > > anyone have any information regarding this? > > > > Warren Aney > > (503)246-8613
