Gas permeability and emission in unsaturated vegetated landfill cover with biochar addition

Abstract

Plant–biochar interaction has been recognized to affect the hydraulic properties of landfill cover soils, while its influence on landfill gas emission is rarely studied. This study investigated the coupled effects of biochar and vegetation on gas permeability and emission in unsaturated landfill cover through an integrated theoretical modelling and laboratory investigation. First, a gas permeability model was developed for vegetated coarse-grained soils with biochar addition. Then, a well-instrumented laboratory column test and two tests from the literature, considering bare, grass, biochar and grass + biochar conditions, were used for model validation.