Growth and Heavy-Metal Uptake by Lettuce Grown in Soils Applied with Sewage Sludge Compost

A pot experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of sewage sludge compost (SSC) alone and applied with chemical fertilizer on growth and heavy-metal accumulations in lettuce grown on two soils, a Xanthi-Udic Ferralosol and a Typic Purpli-Udic Cambosol. The treatments included control; nitrogen–phosphorus–potassium (NPK) fertilizer; sewage sludge compost applied at the rates of 27.54 (SSC), 82.62 (3SSC), 165.24 (6SSC) t hm^–2; and coapplication treatment (1/2 SSC + 1/2 NPK), where the N, P, and K inputs from NPK fertilizer, SSC, and coapplication treatments were normalized to the local recommend rates. The SSC application increased the biomass; copper, zinc, and lead contents in lettuce; and soil total and diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA)–extractable metals. However, SSC alone at the recommended rate caused less plant biomass than NPK fertilizer alone. Coapplication treatment obtained greater or similar biomass to NPK fertilizer alone and did not increase heavy-metal accumulation in soils and plants. The results demonstrated that SSC should be applied to soils with chemical fertilizers.     

作物秸秆与城市污泥高温好氧堆肥产物对土壤氮矿化的影响

为揭示不同作物秸秆与污泥堆肥产物对土壤氮素矿化特征的影响,为科学施用城市污泥堆肥提供参考依据,通过室内培养试验研究了城市污泥与4种秸秆（小麦、水稻、玉米和油菜）高温好氧堆肥产物施入酸性紫色土、黄壤、石灰性紫色土后土壤氮矿化的差异。结果表明,4秸秆污泥堆肥均可显著提高3种土壤氮的潜在矿化势（N0）和矿化速度（k）,促进土壤氮的矿化,提高土壤NH4+-N、NO3--N质量分数,其中石灰性紫色土以油菜秸秆污泥堆肥和小麦秸秆污泥堆肥处理、黄壤以油菜秸秆污泥堆肥处理、酸性紫色土以小麦秸秆污泥堆肥处理提高幅度最大。作物秸秆与污泥堆肥施入土壤后,黄壤、酸性紫色土在培养60 d和30 d后趋于稳定,石灰性紫色土在培养60 d后仍有增高的趋势,但不同秸秆污泥堆肥对土壤氮矿化速度的影响无明显规律。结果说明秸秆污泥堆肥对土壤氮矿化的效应因土壤及秸秆类型的不同而异,根据研究结果提出了4种作物秸秆与城市污泥堆肥施用的建议。     

施用污泥堆肥对土壤环境及高羊茅生长的影响

以上海曲阳水质净化厂污泥堆肥为研究对象,采用盆栽和土柱模拟的方法研究了污泥堆肥土地利用对土壤环境和植物生长的影响。结果表明,污泥堆肥和滩涂土混配后可降低土壤pH值,提高土壤养分含量,增加高羊茅生物量,同时也增加了土壤Ph、Cu和Zn3种重金属元素含量,但各混合土壤中重金属含量均远低于土壤环境质量Ⅱ类标准。另外,污泥堆肥混配土壤基本不存在病原菌扩散的风险;土柱淋溶试验表明,污泥堆肥施用比例为10％时,不会导致地下水NO3-N和重金属含量超过地下水Ⅱ类标准。综上,污泥堆肥施用比例只要控制在10％以内,可安全进行土地利用。     

The effect of dairy sewage sludge amendment on repellency and hydraulic conductivity of soil aggregates from two depths of Eutric Cambisol

Appropriate management of sewage sludge is an important worldwide issue due to the still growing amount of wastewaters. In the study we examined to what extent the addition of dairy sewage sludge compared with mineral fertilization affects porosity, repellency index, and hydraulic conductivity of variously sized aggregates from two soil depths of Eutric Cambisol derived from loess: 5–15 cm and 25–35 cm. The repellency index was calculated as a ratio of ethanol and water sorptivity. Data on water and ethanol sorptivities of initially air‐dry soil aggregate fractions were obtained from steady state flow measurements using an infiltration device. Hydraulic conductivity was determined by measuring water infiltration at five pressure heads: –8, –6, –4, –2, and 0 cm of water column with the same device as for sorptivity determination. Addition of sewage sludge to the soil decreased the soil repellency index by an average of 27% in topsoil and 32% in subsoil for both aggregate sizes, respectively, and increased hydraulic conductivity about four times in both layers. Smaller aggregates (15–20 mm diameter) from soil amended with sewage sludge, in comparison with larger ones (30–35 mm diameter), had a higher repellency index by 36 and 24% in topsoil and subsoil, respectively. As for aggregates from soil with mineral fertilization, those differences were smaller and equal to 15% in subsoil, in topsoil smaller aggregates even had slightly lower repellency index (by 5%). Aggregates taken from the upper soil layer were more water repellent and had smaller hydraulic conductivity than those taken from subsoil, regardless of soil treatment and aggregate size.     

Influence of compost amendments on the hydraulic functioning of brownfield soils

This study assessed the impact of compost on the hydraulic properties of three soils (sandy loam, clay loam and diesel‐contaminated sandy loam) with relatively poor physical quality typical of brownfield sites. Soils were amended with two composts at 750 t/ha. Samples were also collected from a clay‐capped brownfield site, previously amended with 250, 500 or 750 t/ha of compost. Water‐release characteristics and saturated hydraulic conductivity were determined for all soils and physical quality indicators derived. Unsaturated flow in field profiles after compost application with two depths of incorporation and two indigenous subsoils was simulated using Hydrus‐1D. Compost generally increased water retention. Hydraulic conductivity tended to decrease following compost application in sandy loam but increased in clay and clay loam, where compost addition resulted in a larger dominant pore size. Although compost improved physical quality indicators, they remained suboptimum in clay and clay loam soil, which exhibited poor aeration, and in the contaminated sandy loam, where available water capacity was limited, possibly due to changes in wettability. Increasing application rates in the field enhanced water retention at low potentials and hydraulic conductivity near saturation but did not alter physical quality indicators. Numerical simulation indicated that the 500 t/ha application resulted in the best soil moisture regime. Increasing the depth of incorporation in the clay cap improved drainage and reduced waterlogging, but incorporation in more permeable subsoil resulted in prolonged dry conditions to greater depths.     

The quantitative changes of nutrients in two contrasting soils amended with sewage sludge compost evaluated by various statistical tools

Introduction: The application of organic fertilisers to replenish soil organic matter and improve soil fertility and productivity has become common agricultural practice.

Aim of the study: This research deals with the effects of soil amendment with sewage sludge compost (SSC) on organic carbon, nitrogen total, nitrogen mineral and available P, K, S and Mg mineralisation in two contrasting soils. The various statistical tools used in this study have allowed us to present another conceptualisation of nutrient increments or losses as an effect of SSC applied. In order to distinguish groups of nutrients which are similar, a cluster analysis was used. A two-way analysis of variance was applied to compare the increments of the content of nutrients in the soils.

Material and Methods: A 3-year pot experiment was conducted, employing a randomised, factorial design with two soils (light and medium) and one amendment treatment as a compost at a rate equivalent to 6 Mg ha^?1. The following parameters of chemical soil properties were determined: contents of organic carbon (Corg), total nitrogen (Ntot), amounts of available P, K, Mg, S and mineral nitrogen (Nmin).

Results: The SSC showed a similar influence on the fertility of both soils. It was affirmed that application of SSC results in a statistically significant increase in the contents of soil organic carbon. The amounts of total and mineral N, as well as available P and S were subjected to different patterns of quantity changes expressed by both increase and loss. Moreover, a statistically significant loss of available K amounts was observed in both soils.

Conclusions: The findings of the study indicated that mature SSC becomes a long lasting fertiliser, slowly subjected to decomposition processes. Therefore, it may influence small increases in nutrient amounts in soils, in relation to the contents obtained for the control soil.     

毛管埋深和层状质地对番茄滴灌水氮利用效率的影响

为了确定不同质地土壤中地下滴灌的适宜毛管埋深,通过两年日光温室滴灌施肥灌溉试验,研究了毛管埋深、土壤层状质地和施氮量对番茄产量、品质及水分利用效率（WUE）、氮肥表观利用率（AFUE）和氮肥偏生产力（PFP）的影响。研究结果表明,均质壤土中,毛管埋深、施氮量及其交互作用对番茄产量和WUE影响不显著,地下滴灌番茄Vc含量比地表滴灌低;番茄AFUE随毛管埋深增加而降低,施氮量由150 kg/hm2增加到225 kg/hm2时,番茄PFP显著降低。对均质壤土,建议毛管埋深15 cm、施氮量150 kg/hm2,以获得较高的PFP。土壤的层状质地结构明显降低番茄的产量、WUE和PFP,与均质壤土处理相比,上砂下壤和砂土夹层处理WUE分别低32%和11%,产量和PFP分别低33%和12%,从提高水氮利用效率的角度出发,建议在上粗下细（上砂下壤）的层状土壤中慎重使用地下滴灌。     

Denitrification activity in the root zone of a sludge-amended desert soil

Summary We evaluated potential NO _inf3 ^sup- losses from organic and inorganic N sources applied to improve the growth of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) on a Pima clay loam soil (Typic Torrifluvent). An initial set of soil cores (April 1989) was collected to a depth of 270 cm from sites in a cotton field previously amended with anaerobically digested sewage sludge or an inorganic N fertilizer. The denitrification potential was estimated in all soil samples by measuring N₂O with gas chromatography. Soils amended with a low or high rate of sludge showed increased denitrification activity over soil samples amended with a low rate or inorganic N fertilizer. All amended samples showed greater denitrification activity than control soils. The denitrification decreased with soil depth in all treatments, and was only evident as deep as 90 cm in the soils treated with the high sludge rate. However, when soils collected from depths greater than 90 cm were amended with a C substrate, significant denitrification activity occurred. These date imply that organisms capable of denitrification were present in all soil samples, even those at depths far beneath the root zone. Hence, denitrification was C-substrate limited. A second series of soil cores taken later in the growing season (July 1989) confirmed these data. Denitrification losses (under laboratory conditions) to a soil depth of 270 cm represented 1–4% of total soil N depending on treatment, when the activity was C-substrate limited. With additional C substrate, the denitrification losses increased to 15–22% of the total soil N.     

Influence on Polychlorinated Biphenyls Content Using Three Types of Biowastes As Fertilizers In Agricultural Soils

A 4-year field study was carried out to investigate the effects of three types of biowastes application on PCB accumulation in agricultural soils. This study was based on the experiments designed for four soils in two areas of Palencia province (Spain) (Cerrato and Tierra de Campos) for non irrigated and irrigated land after applying biowaste. The amounts of the three different types of biowastes added were determined according to the fertilization needs of nitrogen for the crop. The concentrations of PCBs in soils were determined before and after biowaste application. The three biowaste treatments raise the concentration of PCBs in the soil, sewage sludge compost (SC) treatment produced the main increase in PCBs concentration, followed by municipal solid waste compost (MC) treatment and the dehydrated sewage sludge (SD) treatment. The values of biowaste treated areas were 3.7-11.5 times higher than the respective values of the non treated areas. Changes observed in the congener distribution also suggest the influence of the biowaste on the soil. The biowaste used had an average PCBs concentration of 63.16 ng g^?1 with a range from 34.08 ng g^?1 to 118.93 ng g^?1, which are values below the EEC recommended limit (800 ng g^?1). In the soils without treatment was found an average concentration 0.206 ng g^?1 of PCBs, typical of areas with low levels of environmental pollution.     

Effects of organic and mineral amendments on available P and phosphatase activities in a degraded Mediterranean soil under short-term incubation experiment

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of mineral and organic-P-fertilizers on soil P availability, bacteria densities and phosphatase activities, in a degraded Mediterranean soil characterized by low level in soil organic matter and nutrients. A typical degraded Mediterranean soil, originating from a siliceous mineral parent material, was amended with different organic or mineral P-sources: aerobically digested sewage sludge (SS), with or without physico-chemical treatment by ferric chloride; sewage sludge compost (SSC); Na or K mineral P-salts (Pi-salts). All the amendments were carried out in order to provide soil with a P total quantity equivalent to 0.5 g P₂O₅/kg of soil. Bacterial density, phosphatase activities (i.e. acid (APH) and alkaline (BPH) phosphomonoesterases and phosphodiesterases), BPH/APH ratio, and available P (P Olsen) were measured after 25 and 87 days of incubation. Results showed that all the P-sources used to fertilize soil during this study resulted in significant increase in P concentration. However, different responses in phosphatase activities and bacterial densities were obtained with regards to the amendment applied to soil. Indeed, it appeared clearly that sewage sludge (SS) considerably stimulated soil biological activity, and more especially the different kinds of phosphatases involved in P mineralization and P turn-over. On the contrary, sewage sludge compost (SSC) as well as P-salts amendments did not affected these parameters in most cases. Results showed also that the incubation time influenced almost all the biological and chemical parameters investigated during this study. As a consequence, P availability was considerably improved in the amended soils between the two sampling dates.     

Prediction of long‐term sustainability of constructed urban soil: impact of high amounts of organic matter on soil physical properties and water transfer

Sustainability of urban soils lies in their ability to facilitate water and air permeabilities. Exogenous organic matter has been shown to have a positive impact on these properties. Under urban conditions, a large one‐time input of an organic amendment was made to the reconstituted soil. Two organic materials, green‐waste compost (gw) or cocompost from sewage sludge and wood chips (sw), were mixed with sandy loam soil (40% v/v) and placed in 600‐L containers. Containers received a 29‐cm thick layer of sandy loam soil–organic matter mix over a 28‐cm thick layer without organic amendment. Volumetric water content, dry bulk density, hydraulic conductivity at saturation and water retention were measured over 5 yrs in the soils and values for the mixes and a control compared. After this time, dry bulk density was greater (1.54 g/cm³) in control than in gw or sw soils (1.31 and 1.11 g/cm³, respectively), whereas hydraulic conductivity at saturation was smaller (4 × 10^?7 m/s) than in gw (3.4 × 10^?6) or sw (3.7 × 10^?6 m/s). HYDRUS 1D water balance model indicated that below 27 cm depth in the control after 5 yrs, there was a high degree of anoxia, lasting >200 days per year, compared with <40 days in gw and sw. Amplification of the risk of anoxia below 27 cm depth after 10 yrs was 323, 151 and 100 days in the control, gw and sw, respectively. Organic matter amendment could support sustainable urban soils for ten years after soil reconstitution.     

Nitrogen mineralization,N<Subscript>2</Subscript>O production and soil microbiological properties as affected by long-term applications of sewage sludge composts

A field study was conducted to investigate the long-term effect of surface application of sewage sludge composts vs chemical N fertilizer on total N, total C, soluble organic C, pH, EC, microbial biomass C and N, protease activity, deaminase activity, urease activity, gross and net rates of N mineralization and nitrification, CO₂ evolution, and N₂O production. Soil samples were taken from five depths (0–15, 15–20, 20–30, 30–40, and 40–50 cm) of a long-term experiment at the University of Tokyo, Japan. Three fields have been receiving sewage sludge composted with rice husk (RH), sawdust (SD), or mixed chemical fertilizer NPK (CF), applied at the rate of 240 kg N ha^–1 each in split applications in summer and autumn since 1978. Significantly higher amounts of total N and C and soluble organic C were found in the compost than in the CF treatments up to the 40-cm soil depth, indicating improved soil quality in the former. In the CF treatment, soil pH values were significantly lower and electrical conductivity values were significantly higher than those of compost-treated soils of up to 50 cm depth. Soil microbial biomass C and N, CO₂ evolution, protease, deaminase, and urease activities were significantly higher in the compost than in the CF treatments due to greater availability of organic substrates that stimulated microbial activity. Gross N mineralization rates determined by ¹⁵N dilution technique were eight and five times higher in the SD and RH treatments than in the CF treatment, respectively, probably due to high levels of microbial and enzyme activities. Net N mineralization rates were also significantly higher in the compost treatments and were negative in the CF treatment indicating immobilization. Net nitrification rates were higher in compost treatments and negative in the CF treatment. Nitrous oxide productions from compost treatments were higher than the CF treatment due to the greater availability of mineral N as a result of higher mineralization and nitrification rates and soluble organic C in the former. Most of the measured parameters were highest in the surface soil (0–15 cm) and were significantly higher in the SD treatment than in the RH treatment.     

Response of tall fescue to composted sewage sludge used as a soil amendment

A pot experiment was conducted in the greenhouse to investigate the effects of composted sewage sludge as a soil amendment on growth and mineral composition of ‘Mustang’ tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.). Three desert soils (loamy sand, sandy loam, clay) were amended with two different composted sewage sludges (city and county) at rates of 0, 7.5, 15, 30 and 60% by volume. Tall fescue was grown in the amended soils for four months. Growth rates, measured as harvested clippings, increased with sludge loading rate and also with clay content of the soil. Higher growth rates were maintained with the city as compared to the county sludge, although for both sources, growth declined for most treatments after nine weeks. Turf color ratings and percent N in the tissue increased with sludge loading rate and were highly correlated. Tissue analysis indicated a varied response between soil types.     

Visualization of Long-Term Quantitative Changes of Microelements in Soils Amended with Sewage Sludge Compost Evaluated with Two Extraction Solutions

This research deals with the effects of soil amendment with sewage sludge compost (SSC) on long–term quantitative changes of available microelements [iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn), copper (Cu)] in two types of soils using various extraction solutions [diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA) and hydrochloric acid (HCl)]. These changes were visualized using principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical cluster analysis. A 3-year pot experiment was conducted in a randomized, factorial design with two soils (light vs. medium) and a treatment with SSC at the rate of 6 Mg ha^?1. The application of SSC to the light soil increased the HCl-extractable Cu, Zn, Mn, and Fe. The effect of SSC application on the microelement quantitative changes was lower in the medium soil, as shown primarily by DTPA extraction. The results of the PCA highlighted that one can correctly conclude on the basis of the limited collection of data without loss of information, which is incorporated by individual microelements.     

Schwermetalle im Boden eines Klärschlamm-Versuchsfeldes

Heavy metals in soil of a sewage sludge experimental field The total amounts of Zn, Cd, Pb, Cu, Cr and Ni were determined in different depths of soils which have obtained sewage sludges in amounts between 180 and 1620 dt dry matter/ha. The elements Zn, Cd. Pb and Cu have been most enriched in the first twenty cm of the soils. The contents of Zn, Cd and Pb in the depth of 40–60 cm also showed a significant increase. The treshold values for Zn and Cd in soils were almost attained respectivly slightly exceeded in the first twenty cm of the soil which has obtained 1440 dt dry matter sewage sludge per ha.     

Hydrolase activities, microbial biomass and bacterial community in a soil after long-term amendment with different composts

The use of composts in agricultural soils is a widespread practice and the positive effects on soil and plants are known from numerous studies. However, there have been few attempts to compare the effects of different kinds of composts in one single study. The aim of this paper is to investigate to what extent and to which soil depth four major types of composts would affect the soil and its microbiota.In a crop-rotation field experiment, composts produced from (i) urban organic wastes, (ii) green wastes, (iii) manure and (iv) sewage sludge were applied at a rate equivalent to 175 kg N ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ for 12 years. General (total organic C (C_org), total N (N_t), microbial biomass C (C_mic), and basal respiration), specific (enzyme activities related to C, N and P cycles), biochemical properties and bacterial genetic diversity (based on DGGE analysis of 16S rDNA) were analyzed at different depths (0-10, 10-20 and 20-30 cm).Compost treatment increased C_org at all depths from 11 g kg⁻¹ for control soil to 16.7 g kg⁻¹ for the case of sewage sludge compost. Total N increased with compost treatment at 0-10 cm and 10-20 cm depths, but not at 20-30 cm. Basal respiration and C_mic declined with depth, and the composts resulted in an increase of C_mic and basal respiration. Enzyme activities were different depend on the enzyme and among compost treatments, but in general, the enzyme activities were higher in the upper layers (0-10 and 10-20 cm) than in the 20-30 cm layer. Diversity of ammonia oxidizers and bacteria was lower in the control than in the compost soils. The type of compost had less influence on the composition of the microbial communities than did soil depth.Some of the properties were sensitive enough to distinguish between different compost, while others were not. This stresses the need of multi-parameter approaches when investigating treatment effects on the soil microbial community. In general, with respect to measures of activity, biomass and community diversity, differences down the soil profile were more pronounced than those due to the compost treatments.     

Carbon and nitrogen mineralization of sewage sludge compost in soils with a different initial pH

Soil properties may affect the decomposition of added organic materials and inorganic nitrogen (N) production in agricultural soils. Three soils, Potu (Pu), Sankengtzu (Sk) and Erhlin (Eh) soils, mixed with sewage sludge compost (SSC) at application rates of 0 (control), 25, 75 and 150 Mg ha⁻¹ were selected from Taiwan for incubation for 112 days. The aim of the present study was to examine the effects of SSC application rates on the carbon decomposition rate, N transformation and pH changes in three soils with different initial soil pH values (4.8–7.7). The results indicated that the highest peaks of the CO₂ evolution rate occurred after 3 days of incubation, for all treatments. The Pu soil (pH 4.8) had a relatively low rate of CO₂ evolution, total amounts of CO₂ evolution and percentage of added organic C loss, all of which resulted from inhibition of microbial activity under low pH. For the Pu and Sk soils, the concentration of NH₄⁺-N reached its peak after 7–14 days of incubation, which indicated that ammonification might have occurred in the two soils with low initial pH values. NO₃⁻-N rapidly accumulated in the first 7 days of incubation in the Eh soil (pH 7.7). The direction and extent of the soil pH changes were influenced by the N in the SSC and the initial soil pH. Ammonification of organic N in the SSC caused the soil pH to increase, whereas nitrification of mineralized N caused the soil pH to decline. Consequently, the initial soil pH greatly affected the rate of carbon decomposition, ammonification and nitrification of SSC.     

土壤层状质地对小流量地下滴灌灌水器特性的影响

以均质壤土（L）、均质砂土（S）、上砂下壤（SL）和壤土中有砂土夹层（LSL）4种土壤质地结构为对象,利用室内土箱试验,研究了土壤质地及其层状结构对灌水器流量的影响,估算了灌水器出口正压值。试验选用10 m水头压力下额定流量为1.1 L/h的地下滴灌专用灌水器。土壤为层状结构时,上层土壤厚度为20 cm,砂土夹层的厚度为10 cm。L、S、SL试验的灌水器埋深为15 cm;为了探讨灌水器埋深与土壤质地变化相对位置对灌水器性能的影响,LSL的灌水器埋深设计为15、25和35 cm。试验采用的工作压力为2、3、6和10 m水头。结果表明：灌水开始后,出口正压的迅速增大致使灌水器流量迅速减少,而后逐渐趋于稳定。灌水器流量随时间的变化可近似用幂函数表示。灌水器在土壤中的流量比在空气中的自由出流流量有所减小,灌水器自由出流流量越小,减小幅度越大。土壤层状质地对灌水器流量影响明显,一定压力下,灌水器在层状土壤中的流量小于在均质土壤中的流量,尤其当灌水器位于LSL的砂土夹层中时,流量比在均质壤土中减少13%,比自由出流流量减少20%。利用试验结果建立了地下滴灌灌水器流量与土壤饱和导水率、层状土壤结构、灌水器工作压力的经验关系,对各影响因子的敏感性分析结果表明,对地下滴灌灌水器流量影响最明显的是灌水器工作压力,其次是层状土壤结构,饱和导水率的影响较小。     

Long-term amendment of four different compost types on a loamy silt Cambisol: impact on soil organic matter,nutrients and yields

This study investigated the long-term effects of different composts (urban organic waste compost (OWC), green waste compost (GWC), cattle manure compost (MC) and sewage sludge compost (SSC)) compared to mineral fertilisation on a loamy silt Cambisol, after a 7-year start-up period. The compost application rate was 175 kg N ha^?1, with 80 kg mineral N ha^?1 and without. Soil characteristics (soil organic carbon (SOC), carbon-to-nitrogen (C/N) ratio and soil pH), nutrients (nitrogen (N), phosphorous (P) and potassium (K)) and crop yields were investigated between 1998 and 2012. SOC concentrations were increased by compost applications, being highest in the SSC treatments, as for soil pH. N contents were significantly higher with compost amendments compared to mineral fertilisation. The highest calcium-acetate-lactate (CAL)-extractable P concentrations were measured in the SSC treatments, and the highest CAL-extractable K concentrations in the MC treatments. Yields after compost amendment for winter barley and spring wheat were similar to 40 kg mineral N ha^?1 alone, whereas maize had comparable yields to 80 kg mineral N ha^?1 alone. We conclude that compost amendment improves soil quality, but that the overall carbon (C) and N cycling merits more detailed investigation.     

Predicting Nitrogen and Carbon Mineralization of Composted Manure and Sewage Sludge in Soil

The capability of organic wastes to release available N in soil varies largely, depending on their source and form of production, or rather on their composition and biodegradability. Our purpose was to predict mineralization rates of different materials using their analyses joined with a simulation model, and to evaluate the influence of soil type and application rate of the organic materials on N and C transformations in soil. Four organic materials, sewage sludge (SS), sewage sludge compost (SSC), cattle manure compost (CMC), hen and cattle manure compost (HCMC), were applied to two soils at rates of 2 and/or 4%. The soils were incubated aerobically for 168 days at 30°C, during which CO₂ evolution rates and mineral-N concentrations were measured periodically. Hot water extractable C and N of all organic amendments correlated well with short term C and N mineralization, except HCMC that immobilized N although its soluble N content was large. NCSOIL, a computer model that simulates C and N cycling in soil with organic amendments, predicted well C and N mineralization of SS, SSC and CMC when considered as three-pool materials that decomposed at specific rates of 0.4, 0.024 and 10^?4 d^?1, using hot water soluble C and N as the labile pool. N immobilization by HCMC could be simulated only if the distribution of N between the labile and resistant pools was derived by optimization of NCSOIL, while hot water soluble C was labile. Laboratory methods to determine an intermediate pool or components that contribute to immobilization are required for improving the predictions of C and N mineralization from organic amendments.