Landfill Gas, What it Does to Trees and How its Injurious Effects May Be Prevented

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Figure 1.
Cross section of a refuse landfill.
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Figure 2.
Dead corn in the Hunter Farm Field.
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Figure 3.
Experimental tree growth experiments at the Edgeboro Landfill, New Jersey.
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Figure 4.
Dead trees next to a landfill killed by migrating landfill gases.
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Figure 5.
Glass fumigation chamber with gas inlet on bottom right and gas outlet on upper left.
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Figure 6.
Five experimental landfill gas barrier systems.
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Figure 7.
Vegetation island and background planting at Sea View Square Mall.
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Figure 8.
Gas protection for vegetation planting island in a paved parking lot located over a former refuse landfill.

Table 1.

Relative Tolerance of Species to Landfill Conditions.

Species	Rank^a
Black gum	1
Japanese yew	2
Japanese black pine	3
Ginkgo	4
White pine	5
Bayberry	6
Norway spruce	7
American basswood	8
American sycamore	9
Red maple	10
Hybrid poplar (rooted cuttings)	11
Pin oak	12
Sweet gum	13
Honey locust	14
Green ash	15
Euonymus	16
Hybrid poplar (saplings)	17
Weeping willow	18
Rhododendron	19

↵a Rank 1 = best growth when landfill plot is compared to the control plot, i.e., most tolerant to landfill conditions.

Table 3.

Measures That Can Be Taken to Aid Tree Growth on Landfills.

Landfill Construction
1. Provide proper slope and compaction, adequate depth and quality of cover soil.
2. Possibly remove refuse from under areas of cluster tree planting.
Gas Extraction
Consider gas removal by induced draft. May be able to burn gas from heat recovery.
Soil Amendments
Cultivate and/or mulch with suitable organic matter to loosen compacted cover soils.
Select Suitable Species
Such as those trees which:
1. Normally grow shallow roots
2. Can withstand generally adverse growing conditions.
Cultural Methods
Provide adequate cover soil quality and quantity, fertilizer, pH and water.
Planting Techniques
1. Use tree planting mounds, gas barriers, and/or gas pressure release systems.
2. Check tree planting locations individually for soil condition.
3. Plant small trees.
4. Plant balled rather than bare-rooted trees.
5. Adequately stake the trees.