Changes in the microbial activity of an arid soil amended with urban organic wastes

Changes produced in the biological characteristics of an arid soil by the addition of various urban wastes (municipal solid waste, sewage sludge and compost) at different doses, were evaluated during a 360-day incubation experiment. The addition of organic materials to the soil increased the values of biomass carbon, basal respiration, biomass C/total organic C ratio and metabolic quotient (qCO₂), indicating the activation of soil microorganisms. These biological parameters showed a decreasing tendency with time. Nevertheless, their values in amended soils were higher than in control soil, which clearly indicates the improvement of soil biological quality brought about by the organic amendment. This favorable effect on soil biological activity was more noticeable with the addition of fresh wastes (municipal solid waste or sewage sludge) than with compost. In turn, this effect was more permanent when the soil was amended with municipal solid waste than when it was amended with sewage sludge. Received: 28 May 1996     

再生水回灌的农业环境风险及对策

随着我国城市化进程加快和经济的快速发展,需水量大幅增加,造成局部缺水严重,与此同时城市污水处理厂的数量和规模不断增大,而这些污水处理厂出水(再生水)直接排入河流而没有被再次利用造成资源浪费,再生水回用后对土壤环境的不确定性影响是造成再生水利用率较低的重要原因。本文系统总结了再生水回用对土壤环境的盐分、有机质组分、微生物、重金属、难降解有机污染物的国内外的研究成果,指出:(1)再生水回用于灌溉在提高肥力的同时,能够引起土壤盐分的累积;(2)再生水回用于灌溉能够导致土壤微生物菌群的变化,也有引起环境卫生的风险,但是风险极低;(3)再生水灌溉能够引起部分重金属元素的累积;(4)再生水灌溉对土壤难降解有机污染物的影响是未来研究的热点。     

Utilization of municipal organic wastes in agriculture: where do we stand,where will we go?

Generation of organic waste is increasing worldwide and strategies for its environmentally sound use must be developed and optimized. Regulations in European countries and the USA differ largely with respect to requirements of organic waste quality and the quantities of pollutants which can be added to the soil. Research has shown beneficial effects regarding the improvement of soil fertility. Enrichment of total metals in soil was attributed to long‐term sludge application but the effect on bioavailability of metals must be further clarified. A number of organic pollutants, such as hydrophobic persistent organic contaminants and surfactants, are known to accumulate in organic wastes. However, the former interact strongly with organic matter in the sludge‐soil‐plant system and systemic plant uptake is generally assumed to be minimal. Surfactants may cause adverse environmental impacts when they enter sewage systems in high loads and accumulate in sludge. Surfactants and some of their metabolites are not readily biodegraded in non‐aerated environments. Due to their toxicity and estrogenic activity, of nonylphenol for example, more research is needed to optimize analytical techniques and to trace their behavior in soil. Some options to cope with the risks of huge amounts of organic waste and also some benefits are presented: (1) further limitation of standards for pollutants and reduced application rates; (2) improved treatment of sewage sludge to reduce the total and bioavailable portions of both heavy metals and organic pollutants; (3) adaptation of waste application rates to soil properties such as sorption capacity for pollutants; (4) harmonization of analytical protocols for organic contaminants, i.e. surfactants and metabolites, enabling a more thorough monitoring of the wastes which are to be applied onto soils.     

Dynamics of Organic C Mineralization and the Mobile Fraction of Heavy Metals in a Calcareous Soil Incubated with Organic Wastes

Organic wastes such as sewage sludge and compost increase the input of carbon and nutrients to the soil. However, sewage sludge-applied heavy metals, and organic pollutants adversely affect soil biochemical properties. Therefore, an incubation experiment lasting 90 days was carried out to evaluate the effect of the addition of two sources of organic C: sewage sludge or composted turf and plant residues to a calcareous soil at three rates (15, 45, and 90 t of dry matter ha^–1) on pH, EC, dissolved organic C, humic substances C, organic matter mineralization, microbial biomass C, and metabolic quotient. The mobile fraction of heavy metals (Zn, Cd, Cu, Ni, and Pb) extracted by NH₄NO₃ was also investigated.The addition of sewage sludge decreased soil pH and increased soil salinity to a greater extent than the addition of compost. Both sewage sludge and compost increased significantly the values of the cumulative C mineralized, dissolved organic C, humic and fulvic acid C, microbial biomass C, and metabolic quotient (qCO₂), especially with increasing application rate. Compared to compost, the addition of sewage sludge caused higher increases in the values of these parameters. The values of dissolved organic C, fulvic acid C, microbial biomass C, metabolic quotient, and C/N ratio tended to decrease with time. The soil treated with sewage sludge showed a significant increase in the mobile fractions of Zn, Cd, Cu, and Ni and a significant decrease in the mobile fraction of Pb compared to control. The high application rate of compost resulted in the lowest mobility of Cu, Ni, and Pb. The results suggest that biochemical properties of calcareous soil can be enhanced by both organic wastes. But, the high salinity and extractability of heavy metals, due to the addition of sewage sludge, may limit the application of sewage sludge.     

Soil amendment with municipal sewage sludge affects the immune system of earthworms Dendrobaena veneta

Dendrobaena veneta is an earthworm species capable of consuming a wide range of organic wastes which may be used as a field indicator of municipal sewage sludge applied to land. The aim of the present 8-week laboratory experiment was to check viability, reproduction and the immune system of D. veneta maintained in soil without food additions (control 0s group) or in soil amended with 25% or 50% municipal sewage sludge (25s and 50s groups, respectively). Reproduction and immunity are important physiological functions whose detailed study can provide information on the effects of pollutants. After the 8-week exposure period, earthworm mortality (2 out 20 individuals) was recorded only in the 50s group. Reproduction was high in the 25s group (44 cocoons and 41 juveniles) whereas reproduction was almost completely inhibited both in the food-deprived control 0s group (1 cocoon, 3 juveniles) and in the 50s group containing a high amount of sludge (2 cocoons). Significantly increased numbers of non-invasively extruded coelomocytes were recorded 3 weeks after the start of the experiment in the 50s group, but they dropped to the food-deprived control level by the end of 8 weeks likely due to exhaustion of the immune system coping with sludge-derived microbes and/or toxins. In contrast, numbers of coelomocytes in the 25s group increased gradually reaching the maximum at the end of the experiments. In conclusion, high amounts of municipal sewage sludge are detrimental to worms, inhibiting reproduction and inflicting mortality. A moderate amount of municipal sewage sludge provides a good source of nutrients for D. veneta, supporting their growth and reproduction for at least 8 weeks. Immunological parameters might serve as useful indicators of earthworm exposure to sewage sludge.     

土壤环境中微塑料污染：来源、过程及风险

土壤环境中微塑料污染问题已成为全球关注的环境问题。相对于水环境,土壤环境中微塑料的研究明显滞后与缺乏。本文系统综述了土壤环境中微塑料的研究进展与未来需求。详细介绍了国内外土壤中微塑料的丰度和分布、微塑料的来源和进入途径;重点分析了微塑料在土壤中的积累、迁移、风化和降解过程,以及与金属和有机污染物的相互作用及其环境效应;阐述了微塑料对土壤中的动物、植物、微生物及土壤质量的影响与生态风险,探讨了土壤中微塑料的暴露途径与潜在的人体健康风险;并展望了土壤环境中微塑料研究的未来方向与重点。以期为全面了解土壤环境微塑料研究的现在与未来提供资讯信息和科学指导。     

Wirkung von 2,2′,5,5′ Tetrachlorbiphenyl,Benzo-a-pyren,Cadmium und Kupfer in einem Rieselfeldboden und Aufnahme dieser Stoffe durch Roggen (Secale cereale)

Effect of 2,2′,5,5′-tetrachlorobiphenyl, benzo-a-pyren, cadmium and copper in an original sewage field soil and uptake of these substances by rye Rye was cultivated in pots on weakly polluted sewage field soil (R) and artificially polluted variants of this soil. The aim of the project was to study the combined effect of organic pollutants (PCB, PAH) and heavy metals (HM) to parameters of soil biology, biomass production and soil-plant transfer. R was contaminated with 2,2′,5,5′-tetrachlorobiphenyl (PCB 52), benzo-a-pyren (BaP), cadmium (Cd) or copper (Cu) as well as with combinations of these substances up to concentrations comparable with an extremely polluted sewage field soil. Rye showed significant yield reductions on all treatments enriched with copper ( > 60 ppm plant-available Cu in soil). In this context copper only produced the impairments of microbial activity in the soil and caused its phytotoxicity. The yield reductions were connected with higher copper contents and also higher cadmium contents of rye as a result of concentration effect. Added copper led to increasing mobility and availability for plants of Cd in the soil. Addition of copper in combination with organic pollutants to soil R increased also availability of Cd for plants.     

Wirkung von organischen Schadstoffen (PAK; PCB) und Schwermetallen in Rieselfeldböden auf Biomasseertrag und Schwermetalltransfer bei Roggen (Secale Cereale)

Effects of organic pollutants (PAH; PCB) and heavy metals in sewage fields on biomass production and heavy metal transfer of rye Rye was cultivated in pots on original sewage field soils and an artifically polluted soil. The weakly polluted sewage field soil (reference soil R) was contaminated with 2.2′,5.5′-tetrachlorbiphenyl, Benzo-a-pyren, cadmium or copper as well as with combinations of these organic pollutants and heavy metals. These treatments were compared with an extremely contaminated sewage field soil (GroBbeeren GB). Rye cultivated on the artifically polluted soil (R) showed typical symptoms of damage which were similar to effects on the extremely contaminated sewage field soil (GB). Damage from single substance copper was sometimes greater than those observed on soil GB. This may indicate interactions or synergistic effects.     

水分非饱和条件下土壤矿物界面有毒有机物转化机制研究进展

土壤矿物作为土壤重要活性组分，可驱动土壤有毒有机物化学转化，降低污染风险。以往土壤矿物与有毒有机物界面行为研究主要集中于水环境或矿物悬浊液体系，然而实际环境中土壤及其矿物常处于干燥、湿润等水分非饱和状态。近年来，水分非饱和条件下土壤矿物界面有毒有机物转化及机制已成为研究热点，相关研究获得一系列新发现。低含水量铁锰矿物、黏土矿物和金属离子饱和黏土矿物能驱动多环芳烃、抗生素等疏水性有毒有机物化学转化。水分非饱和环境会减弱矿物界面水分子与有毒有机物竞争活性位点，并使矿物发生脱水、向高活性结构转变。此外，土壤矿物水分状态也会影响有毒有机物转化产物，水分非饱和环境更有利于持久性自由基和卤代二噁英等中间产物的形成和稳定。以往研究认为，电子转移反应是土壤矿物界面有毒有机物转化机制，随着检测技术与理论计算的发展，自由基催化和水解作用机制逐渐被发现，相关机制研究精准至矿物晶型和晶面层面。虽然水分非饱和条件下土壤矿物界面有毒有机物转化及机制已逐渐清晰，但其研究广度和深度有待进一步拓宽和加深。建议未来在实际水分非饱和土壤和矿物中开展有毒有机物转化研究，深入探究还原转化过程，研发原位反应装置及检测方法，尝试从微纳米尺度和分子水平解析有毒有机物在矿物界面转化机制。     

Quality Assessment of Three Industry-Derived Organic Amendments for Agricultural Use

The quality of three types of treated sludges (sludge from the paper recycling industry, and sewage sludge treated by composting with pruning waste and thermally dried) was assessed in this work. The amendments were physicochemically characterized and evaluated for their microbiological quality and for contamination with pollutants. All three organic amendments showed an absence of pathogens, so they are microbially suitable for agricultural use. The pollutants studied in the amendments included eight heavy metals and 83 organic compounds. Heavy metals, pesticides, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, octylphenol, bisphenol A, and parabens were found in the organic amendments. The amount and type of contaminants depended on the sample sources and differed between samples from a single origin. The presence of some of the pollutants found has not been previously reported in organic amendments. The germination assay showed that these amendments may be applied to soil in controlled doses. As far as we know, this is the first reported study that has evaluated a great variety of pollutants (heavy metals, pesticides, persistent and emerging organic pollutants) in sludge from the recycled paper industry; moreover, studies in other waste products in which such a broad range of pollutants has been evaluated have been scarce until now due to the complexity of these matrices.     

Carbon mineralization in an arid soil amended with thermally-dried and composted sewage sludges

Soil amendment with sewage sludge (SS) from municipal wastewater treatment plants is nowadays a common practice for both increasing soil organic matter and nutrient contents and waste disposal. However, the application of organic amendments that are not sufficiently mature and stable may adversely affect soil properties. Composting and thermal drying are treatments designed to minimize these possible deleterious effects and to facilitate the use of SS as a soil organic amendment. In this work, an arid soil either unamended or amended with composted sewage sludge (CSS) or thermally-dried sewage sludge (TSS) was moistened to an equivalent of 60% soil water holding capacity and incubated for 60 days at 28 °C. The C–CO₂ emission from the samples was periodically measured in order to study C mineralization kinetics and evaluate the use of these SS as organic amendments. In all cases, C mineralization decreased after the first day. TSS-amended soil showed significantly higher mineralization rates than unamended and CSS-amended soils during the incubation period. The data of cumulative C–CO₂ released from unamended and SS-amended soils were fitted to six different kinetic models. A two simultaneous reactions model, which considers two organic pools with different degree of biodegradability, was found to be the most appropriate to describe C mineralization kinetics for all the soils. The parameters derived from this model suggested a larger presence of easily biodegradable compounds in TSS-amended soil than in CSS-amended soil, which in turn presented a C mineralization pattern very similar to that of the unamended soil. Furthermore, net mineralization coefficient and complementary mineralization coefficient were calculated from C mineralization data. The largest losses of C were measured for TSS-amended soil probably due to an extended microbial activity. The results obtained thus indicated that CSS is more efficient for increasing total organic C in arid soils.     

Organic priority pollutants in groundwater and surface water at three landfills in north central Florida

The occurence of organic priority pollutants in groundwater and surface water impacted by municipal landfill leachate was studied at the Orange County Landfill in Orange County, Florida. The results of the investigation were compared to existing data from two municipal landfills in Alachua County, Florida. The investigation in Orange County evaluated existing wells and surface water stations through sampling of groundwater, surface water, sediment, and aquatic biota. Very few organic priority pollutants were detected. The constituents most frequently found were volatile organic compounds, particularly aromatic organic constituents. Volatile organic compounds were detected in groundwater at total concentrations of less than 100 Μg L^?1. Few base/neutral and acid extractable organic priority pollutants were detected. Data from the Alachua County landfills indicated the presence of volatile organic compounds in groundwater at both landfill sites but few organic priority pollutants in the base/neutral and acid extractable group were fouund. Any organic priority pollutants that were present in the solid waste as deposited were likely metabolized by microorganisms or otherwise degraded, sorbed on particulate matter, or diluted to such an extent as to be non-detected.     

The chemical and functional characterization of soil N and its biotic components

The aim of this review is to describe and discuss the concepts that have been employed to interpret N mineralization-immobilization in soil, and how N turnover is related to the characteristics of organic N and the biota conducting the transformations. A brief survey of the period before the arrival of electronic searches became available provides access to the classical literature that can help interpret today's challenges. Classical (acid hydrolysis) and modern spectrometry and spectroscopy techniques indicate that protein N is the prevalent component of organic N in soil. The presence of heterocyclic N can indicate its abiotic, partial synthesis as in fire-affected soils. Clays and pedogenic oxides can protect organic N against microbial degradation. The evidence for such protection is mostly based on in vitro studies involving pure clays, and proteins and their relevance to field conditions requires further work. The proteomic approach, with extraction and characterization of proteins stabilised by soil colloids (structural proteomics) might give further insights into this area. Functional proteomics can improve our understanding of the degradation of organic pollutants and organic debris as well as identifying the molecular colloquia between microorganisms and between soil biota and plant roots. Subdivision of organic N into sub-pools has helped to interpret mechanistic studies and modelling of N dynamics. Uncomplexed organic matter, obtained by physical fractionation procedures, is considered a labile pool. The interpretation of N mineralization measurements is affected by immobilization during microbial attack especially in high-C environments. Transfer of materials among particle size fractions and changes in microbiological properties of aggregates also can occur during fractionation procedures. Classical mineralization-immobilization turnover (MIT) does not always occur since microorganisms (and plants) can take up amino acid N with intracellular deamination. Protozoa, due to their grazing activities, can influence not only N mineralization but also the composition of rhizosphere-plant growth stimulating communities. Differences between N-poor and N-rich microsites, occurring in the same soil, can markedly affect the competition for N between plants and microorganisms especially the nitrifiers. The use of molecular techniques has allowed the identification of unculturable microorganisms and functional genes in the N cycle. Archeae are probably capable of oxidising NH₄⁺ to NO₃⁻ and anerobic ammonia oxidation (Ammonox) bacteria have been identified in biofilms and probably also occur in soils. The use of nitrate as an electron acceptor is encoded by specific gene clusters but nitrate reduction also occurs in dissimilatory nitrate reduction.     

微塑料对土壤-植物系统的生态效应

近年来,塑料污染已经成为全球性环境问题。陆地生态系统中的微塑料污染受到越来越多的重视,尤其是农业生态系统。由于降解性差,微塑料在土壤中的累积可能会对土壤生态系统造成不利影响,并通过食物链等威胁人畜健康。本文介绍了微塑料在土壤环境中的来源、分布和迁移,重点阐述了微塑料对土壤-植物系统的直接和间接生态效应。证据显示微塑料可以直接影响土壤理化性质、微生物与酶活性、土壤动物,影响植物种子萌发、根系对水分和养分的吸收,并可以被植物吸收和转运,对植物产生毒性效应;也可以通过改变土壤性质、与重金属等污染物联合作用等方式对植物产生间接效应。最后还对未来土壤-植物系统中微塑料相关研究进行了展望。以期为了解土壤微塑料的生态效应和潜在风险管控提供理论依据和科学指导。     

Evolution of mercury content in agricultural soils due to the application of organic and mineral fertilizers

Purpose

Mercury pollution in agricultural soils associated to the use of fertilizers and its influence on crops is a cause of major concern. The purpose of this work was to investigate the impact of the application of different organic and mineral fertilizers on the Hg concentration in the agricultural soils and its uptake by barley.

Materials and methods

Hg concentration was studied through a field test in an agricultural land located in the province of Palencia (Spain) over a 5-year period. The impact of irrigation and of four different fertilizers (a mineral one and three different organic waste materials, namely municipal solid waste compost, sewage sludge, and dehydrated sewage sludge) was assessed. The amounts of the mineral and organic fertilizers added to the soil were determined according to agricultural fertilization needs. The experimental crop was barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), planted as an annual crop. Mercury analyses were conducted using a direct mercury analyzer and validated according to EPA Method 7473. BCR-141R was used as a certified reference material.

Results and discussion

After 5 years, whereas the application of the mineral fertilizer did not increase the mercury content in the agricultural soils, the application of the organic residues led to Hg contents 1.7–7.6 times higher than that of the control soil. The treatment with solid municipal waste compost (MSWC) led to the largest increase in Hg content in the soil, followed by composted sewage sludge (CSS) and by dehydrated sewage sludge (DSS). No significant differences were observed in the Hg content in the barley grains, although the highest values were associated to the sludge-treated plots.

Conclusions

The application of organic fertilizers such as sewage sludges and municipal solid wastes led to an increase in the mercury concentration in the agricultural soils, noticeable for soils with low initial Hg concentrations (similar to background levels). This increase differed depending on the type of waste and on the intra-organic matter diffusion mechanisms, as well as on the type of irrigation of the agricultural land. Conversely, no significant differences in the Hg content in grains were found among the soils with the different fertilization treatments, although the highest values were observed for those treated with sewage sludge. The resulting Hg levels in both soils and grains were within legal limits, posing no danger to the environment or to human health.

     

施用生活污泥改良滩涂土壤理化性状的探讨

采用符合土地改良用标准的生活污泥为材料,通过田间小区随机区组试验,研究了生活污泥的不同施用量（0、75、150、300、600 t/hm2）对滩涂土壤部分理化性质的影响。结果表明,施用生活污泥可显著改善滩涂土壤的理化性状。随着污泥施用量的提高,滩涂土壤的容重、密度、pH值逐渐下降,有机质、全氮、全磷、速效氮、速效磷、CEC均呈上升趋势,全钾、速效钾无显著变化。滩涂土壤的细菌、放线菌数量随污泥施用量的提高呈上升趋势。     

Trials of Treating Decentralized Domestic Sewage from a Residential Area by Potassium Ferrate(VI)

The present study aims to investigate the performance of potassium ferrate(VI) in treating decentralized domestic sewage from a rural scattered residential area. Major results were that around 90% of total phosphorus (TP) and 40% of chemical oxygen demand (COD) could be reduced when 25 mg L^?1 of ferrate(VI) was applied. The removal of ammonia and total nitrogen (NH₃–N and TN) was also monitored. However, the nitrogen removal during the chemical dosing was rather low. Big fluctuations of removal rates were observed against shock pollutants concentrations. Considering its strong ability in removing emerging organic pollutants and P, ferrate(VI) is competitive in the treatment of decentralized domestic sewage as an advanced treatment unit following some traditional treatment units.     

The use of urban organic wastes in the control of erosion in a semiarid Mediterranean soil

Abstract. A two year field experiment was carried out in a semiarid Mediterranean area in order to evaluate, the effect on soil erosion of adding different urban organic wastes: a stabilized municipal waste (compost), an unstabilized municipal waste, and an aerobic sewage sludge. All the treatments significantly reduced soil erosion, compared to the control soil. The soil amended with compost was the most effective treatment, reducing soil loss by 94% and runoff by 54%.     

Heavy Metals in Water Percolating Through Soil Fertilized with Biodegradable Waste Materials

The influence of manure and composts on the leaching of heavy metals from soil was evaluated in a model lysimeter experiment under controlled conditions. Soil samples were collected from experimental fields, from 0- to 90-cm layers retaining the layout of the soil profile layers, after the second crop rotation cycle with the following plant species: potatoes, spring barley, winter rapeseed, and winter wheat. During the field experiment, 20 t DM/ha of manure, municipal sewage sludge composted with straw (SSCS), composted sewage sludge (SSC), dried granular sewage sludge (DGSS), “Dano” compost made from non-segregated municipal waste (CMMW), and compost made from municipal green waste (CUGW) was applied, i.e., 10 t DM/ha per crop rotation cycle. The concentrations (μg/dm³) of heavy metals in the leachate were as follows: Cd (3.6–11.5)?<?Mn (4.8–15.4)?<?Cu (13.4–35.5)?<?Zn (27.5–48.0)?<?Cr (36.7–96.5)?<?Ni (24.4–165.8)?<?Pb (113.8–187.7). Soil fertilization with organic waste materials did not contaminate the percolating water with manganese or zinc, whereas the concentrations of the other metals increased to the levels characteristic of unsatisfactory water quality and poor water quality classes. The copper and nickel content of percolating water depended on the concentration of those metals introduced into the soil with organic waste materials. The concentrations of Cd in the leachate increased, whereas the concentrations of Cu and Ni decreased with increasing organic C content of organic fertilizers. The widening of the C/N ratio contributed to Mn leaching. The concentrations of Pb, Cr, and Mn in the percolating water were positively correlated with the organic C content of soil.     

利用土壤改良剂固定污染土壤中铅、镉的研究进展

Since the inception of industrial revolution, metal refining plants using pyrometallurgical processes have generated the prodigious emissions of lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd). As the core target of such pollutants, a large number of soils are nowadays contaminated over widespread areas, posing a great threat to public health worldwide. Unlike organic pollutants, Pb and Cd do not undergo chemical or microbial breakdown and stay likely in site for longer duration after their release. Immobilization is an in-situ remediation technique that uses cost-effective soil amendments to reduce Pb and Cd availability in the contaminated soils. The Pb and Cd contamination in the soil environment is reviewed with focus on source enrichment, speciation and associated health risks, and immobilization options using various soil amendments. Commonly applied and emerging cost-effective soil amendments for Pb and Cd immobilization include phosphate compounds, liming, animal manure, biosolids, metal oxides, and biochar. These immobilizing agents could reduce the transfer of metal pollutants or residues to food web (plant uptake and leaching to subsurface water) and their long-term sustainability in heavy metal fixation needs further assessment.