Environmental Aging Effect and Geotechnical

Stabilization of Organic Waste on Soil

Nirali Bhaskar Hasilkar(&), M. Shweta, Mehul Parmar,

Pradeep Rathod, and Ravi Patel

Civil Engineering Department, Parul University,

Vadodara 391760, Gujarat, India
nironearth@gmail.com

Abstract. This study analyzes the aging effect of organic waste like sugarcane
bagasse on soil and its geotechnical stabilization. Our aim of this research is to
make economical use of sugarcane bagasse and to maintain environmental
balance by avoiding random disposal. Sugarcane bagasse is the major
by-product of the sugar industry. It has a great potential for the production of
bio-fuels and chemicals due to its considerable amount of cellulose and hemi-
celluloses. After crushing and milling the stalks, a fibrous residue called bagasse
remains. Bagasse is universally used as a fuel source for the milling and refining
plants and typically releases enough energy to power other parts of the power
grid as well.
Soil taken for this research was CL type as per Indian standard classification
system (ISCS) by performing basic tests in laboratory. The organic waste
material like sugarcane bagasses were added in different percentage (1 & 3%) in
black cotton soil and yellow soil. Also, geotechnical parameters were checked
on soil + organic waste material with and without vermi composting. The
performance of sugarcane bagasse stabilized soil was evaluated using strength
performance tests namely; California bearing ratio (CBR) and Unconfined
compressive strength test (UCS). From the results, it was observed that there
was significant increase in the strength after the addition of sugarcane bagasse
also the effect of organic waste on the yellow soil was quite more, as compared
to black cotton soil after vermi composting. It was noticed that the changes in
the environmental properties of soil with respect to time was of better quality in
yellow soil.

1 Introduction

Billions of dollars in damages are attributed to expansive soils in many countries each
year. Geotechnical design and analyses in/on/with expansive soils may involve addi-
tional complications that otherwise would not have to be dealt with if expansive soils
were not present. Traditional methods for chemical stabilization of soils include the
addition of lime, class-C or class-F fly ash, portland cement, or other industrial waste
by-products such as cement kiln dust, steel or copper slag. In building systems, every
displacement can be led to generate internal stresses which have not been predicted in
analysis and design of structures which should be anticipated. Generally, clayey soils
are very weak soils. So, they definitely need stabilization for the better usage.
© Springer International Publishing AG 2018
D.N. Singh and A. Galaa (eds.), Contemporary Issues in
Geoenvironmental Engineering, Sustainable Civil Infrastructures,
DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-61612-4_21
260 N.B. Hasilkar et al.

Sugarcane is the source of food for billion peoples across the world. Sugarcane
bagasse being agricultural waste dumped near the mills or burnt in open fields.
Numerous problems arises from corn straw disposal such as, methane generation due to
fermentation microorganisms, being light and fine particles causing breathing prob-
lems, bad effect on the health are reported such as acute and chronic effect affecting
eyes, skin and upper respiratory tract and allegoric response such as nasal catarrh,
asthma. Long periods required for decomposition are not appropriate for composting of
manure. Thus, proper and safe disposal of sugarcane straw is again a big problem.
Soils with low-bearing capacity can be strengthened economically for building
purposes through the process of “soil stabilization” using different types of stabilizers.
Soil bed should bear all generated stresses transmitted by shallows foundation or piles.
Also, the soil often is weak and has no enough stability in heavy loading. In this regard,
it is necessary to reinforce and or stabilize the soil.
Vermicompost is the product or process of composting using various worms,
usually red wigglers, white worms, and other earthworms to create a heterogeneous
mixture of decomposing vegetable or food waste, bedding materials, and vermicast.
Vermicast, also called worm castings, worm humus or worm manure, is the
end-product of the breakdown of organic matter by an earthworm. These castings have
been shown to contain reduced levels of contaminants and a higher saturation of
nutrients than do organic materials before vermi composting.

2 Literature Review

M. Chittaranjan, M. Vijay, D. Keerthi Studied the agricultural wastes as soil stabilizers.

In this study agricultural wastes such as sugarcane bagasse ash, rice husk ash and
groundnut shell ash are used to stabilize the weak sub grade soil. The weak sub grade
soil was treated with the above three wastes separately at 0%, 3%, 6%, 9%, 12% and
15% and California Bearing Ratio (CBR) test is carried out for each percent. The
results of these tests showed improvement in CBR value with the increase in per-
centage of waste.
Kiran R.G., Kiran Lhad studied “the analysis of strength characteristics of black
cotton soil using bagasse ash and additives as stabilizer”. In this study the black cotton
soil was taken from Harihara, Davanagere district, Karnataka. Under this study labo-
ratory experiments are carried out for different percentages (4%, 8% and 12%) of
bagasse ash and additive mix proportions. The strength parameters like CBR,
Unconfined Compression Strength (UCS) are determined. It was observed that, the
blend results of bagasse ash with different percentage of cement for black cotton soil
gave change in density, CBR and UCS values. The density values got increased from
15.16 KN/m3 to 16.5 KN/m3 for addition of 8% bagasse ash with 8% cement.
Moses G., K.J. Osinubi studied the ‘influence of compactive efforts on
cement-bagasse ash treatment on expansive black cotton soil’. The dark grey soil used
in this study was obtained along Gombe-Biu road in Yamatu Deba Local Government
Area of Gombe State using the method of disturbed sampling. The index properties
were determined on the natural and treated soils with stepped percentages of cement
(i.e., 0, 2, 4, 6 and 8%) were admixed with 0, 2, 4, 6 and 8% of bagasse ash by dry
 Environmental Aging Effect & Geotechnical Stabilization 261

weight of soil. All the compactions involving moisture-density relationships, CBR and
UCS tests were carried out by using energies derived from the standard Proctor (SP),
West African Standard (WAS) and modified Proctor (MP) energies. Finally an optimal
blend of 8% OPC/4% BA was recommended for treatment of expansive black cotton
soil for use as a sub-base material.

3 Objectives

This paper mainly emphasizes on stabilization of expansive soil using locally available
sugarcane bagasse and to classify the soil according to Indian standard classification
system (ISCS). Also this research was aimed to study the aging effect of soil both
yellow soil as well as black cotton soil by adding sugarcane bagasse. The study was to
compare strength properties of soil + waste materials combinations i.e. soil + sugar-
cane bagasse. In addition to all above aims, soil + waste materials combinations were
compared for strength properties with and without vermi composting.

4 Material Used

In this study, both the soil (Yellow and Black Cotton Soil) under scrutiny is gathered
from “Vanadra Gaun” near to waghodia village, Vadodara. The black cotton soil has an
expansive surface zone because of level and lengthened molecule shapes that stick

Fig. 1. Comparative graph of MDD value (gm/cc)

262 N.B. Hasilkar et al.

together when wet, avoiding typical waste procedures. When it is wet it doesn’t get to
be dry soon. In like way, when completely dry, it is not soon wetted and shrinks
causing breaks. Sugarcane bagasse were used as a soil stabilizer and that sugarcane
bagasse were collected from one vender making sugarcane juice at Vadodara city.

5 Experimental Work

Virgin black cotton soil & Yellow soil were tested for its geotechnical classification
and test results shows that yellow soil was falling in CL type of soil, where black soil
taken for this research was having effect of impurities and therefore our results were
nearer to CL type of soil according to Indian standard classification system (ISCS). Soil
was replaced by sugarcane bagasse in 1 & 3 percentages of weight and then tested for
the comparative strength analysis as per IS code procedure. The test results of the
virgin soil, 1% & 3% of sugarcane with soil are as follows:

Fig. 2. Comparative graph of OMC value (%)

Table 1. Comparative data for the proctor test

Virgin soil Soil + 1% sugarcane Soil + 3% sugarcane
MDD (gm/cc) 1.75 1.65 1.49
OMC 22.14 19.39 18.45
 Environmental Aging Effect & Geotechnical Stabilization 263

Fig. 3. Comparative graph of cohesion value (kg/cm2)

Fig. 4. Comparative graph of angle of internal friction value

264 N.B. Hasilkar et al.

Compaction is a procedure by which the air in the pores of the dirt uprooted by
mechanical intends to accomplish the thickness necessities. Soil thickness is generally
measured in dry unit weight. Optimum moisture content (OMC) and maximum dry
density (MDD) values got decreased as the percentage of waste material increases as
shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and Table 1.
Unconfined compression strength (UCS) test give the strength parameters in the
form of cohesion and angle of internal friction. Figures 3 and 4 show that as the
percentage of waste material increases the cohesion value increases but for the angle of
internal friction the value increases for the one percentage of waste material and then it
decreases for the three percentage of waste material as given in Table 2.

Table 2. Comparative data for the UCS test

Virgin soil Soil + 1% sugarcane Soil + 3% sugarcane
Cohesion (kg/cm2) 0.6 0.61 0.65
Angle of internal Friction 28 33.67 26.14

California bearing ratio (CBR) test is led to focus the CBR estimation of the
specimens, this test did in light of the standard system given in (IS: 2720 Part-16)
(Bureau of Indian Standard 1979). The CBR values got increased as the percentage of
waste material increased as shown in Fig. 5 and Table 3.

Fig. 5. Comparative graph of CBR value

 Environmental Aging Effect & Geotechnical Stabilization 265

Table 3. Comparative data for the CBR test

Virgin soil Soil + 1% sugarcane Soil + 3% sugarcane
CBR VALUE 0.178 0.455 0.714

Both the soils were kept for vermi composting for the maturing time periods of one
week and one month as shown in Fig. 6. The reading of nitrogen, phosphorous &
potash (N P K) values checked at these time periods are as given in Tables 4 and 5.
Figures 7 and 8 give the comparative graph of cohesion and angle of internal friction
value, with and without vermi composting.

Fig. 6. Soil placed for Vermi composting

Table 4. Comparative data for the N P K value for Black cotton soil
Type of soil: Black cotton soil 9/3/2016 15/3/2016 14/4/2016
Sr Test Result Quality Result Quality Result Quality
no
1 Total Nitrogen/Organic 1.07 More 1.17 More 1.43 Excess
Carbon (OC)%
2 Phosphorous/(P2O5,Kg/Ac) 50.00 Excess 60.00 Excess 210.00 Excess
3 Potash/acre (K2O,Kg/Ac) 503.00 Excess 553.00 Excess 640.00 Excess
4 PH 6.49 Acidic 7.04 Neutral 7.05 Neutral
5 Conductivity ds/m (EC 1:2) 1.4 Soluble salt 1.08 Soluble salt 1.68 Soluble salt
more more more
6 S,ppm 26.9 More Nil Nil 31.00 More
7 Zn 3.48 More Nil Nil 6.04 More
8 Fe 30.60 More Nil Nil 36.40 More
(continued)
266 N.B. Hasilkar et al.

Table 4. (continued)
Type of soil: Black cotton soil 9/3/2016 15/3/2016 14/4/2016
Sr Test Result Quality Result Quality Result Quality
no
9 Mn 33.10 More Nil Nil 33.40 More
10 Cu 2.78 More Nil Nil 6.10 More

Table 5. Comparative data for the N P K value for Black cotton soil
Type of soil: Yellow soil 9/3/2016 15/3/2016 14/4/2016
Sr Test Result Quality Result Quality Result Quality
no
1 Total Nitrogen/Organic 1.17 More 1.17 More 1.38 Excess
Carbon (OC)%
2 Phosphorous/(P2O5,Kg/Ac) 83.00 Excess 55.00 Excess 216.00 Excess
3 Potash/acre (K2O,Kg/Ac) 558.00 Excess 520.00 Excess 565.00 Excess
4 PH 7.46 Neutral 7.54 Neutral 6.97 Neutral
5 Conductivity ds/m (EC 1:2) 1.36 Soluble salt 1.07 Soluble salt 2.30 Soluble salt
more more more
6 S, ppm 20.10 More Nil Nil 29.70 More
7 Zn 3.32 More Nil Nil 5.42 More
8 Fe 11.20 More Nil Nil 24.60 More
9 Mn 30.30 More Nil Nil 34.20 More
10 Cu 1.16 More Nil Nil 3.86 More

Fig. 7. Comparative graph of cohesion value with and without vermi composting
 Environmental Aging Effect & Geotechnical Stabilization 267

Fig. 8. Comparative graph of angle of internal friction value with and without vermi composting

6 Conclusions

• After adding sugarcane bagasse in the soil, cohesion value get increases with
increase in the percentages of waste material.
• Angle of internal friction reading shows increased value for the one percentage of
waste material but it got decreased for the three percentage of waste material.
• The CBR value get increased with increase in the percentage waste in the soil.
• One can effectively utilized the organic waste material for the soil stabilization.
• After vermi composting cohesion value get decreased compared to original soil
approximately half the value.
• From the N P K value one can see that environmental effect of such a organic waste
on soil increases with increase in time.

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