Initial results from long-term field studies at three sites on the effects of heavy metal-amended liquid sludges on soil microbial activity

In a long‐term study of the effects on soil fertility and microbial activity of heavy metals contained in sewage sludges, metal‐amended liquid sludges each with elevated Zn, Cu or Cd concentrations were applied over a 3‐year period (1995–1997) to three sites in England. The experiments were sited adjacent to experimental plots receiving metal‐rich sludge cakes enabling comparisons to be made between the effects of heavy metal additions in metal‐amended liquid sludges and sludge cakes. The liquid sludge additions were regarded as ‘worst case’ treatments in terms of likely metal availability, akin to a long‐term situation following sewage sludge additions where organic matter levels had declined and stabilised. The aim was to establish individual Zn (50–425 mg kg^?1), Cu (15–195 mg kg^?1) and Cd (0.3–4.0 mg kg^?1) metal dose–response treatments at each site, but with significantly smaller levels of organic matter addition than the corresponding sludge cake experiments. There were no differences (P > 0.05) in soil respiration rates, biomass carbon concentrations or most probable numbers of clover Rhizobium between the treatments at any of the sites at the end of the liquid sludge application programme. Soil heavy metal extractability differed between the metal‐amended liquid sludge and metal‐rich sludge cake treatments; Zn and Cd extractabilities were higher from the liquid sludge additions, whereas Cu extractability was higher from the sludge cake application. These differences in metal extractability in the treated soil samples reflected the contrasting NH₄NO₃ extractable metal contents of the metal‐amended liquid sludges and sludge cakes that were originally applied.     

炭化生活污水污泥对酸化红壤的改良效果

从南京市、马鞍山市和丹阳市的3个污水处理厂采集污泥,在500℃下热解制备炭化污泥,测定了污泥和炭化污泥的性质和重金属含量,研究了污泥和炭化污泥对酸性红壤改良效果,并探讨了炭化污泥中重金属的环境风险。结果表明,污泥和炭化污泥中含有一定量的碱,添加炭化污泥可提高红壤的p H和交换性钙、镁和钾含量,降低土壤交换性铝和交换性H+含量。但污泥中大量铵态氮的硝化作用释放质子,抵消了污泥对红壤酸度的改良作用。添加污泥和炭化污泥提高了土壤有机碳、有效磷和速效钾的含量,提高了土壤肥力。污泥炭化后重金属含量有所增加,但大部分重金属的有效态含量下降,说明热解过程可以降低部分有毒重金属的活性。与对照相比,添加炭化污泥会增加土壤中部分重金属有效态含量,特别是有效态锌含量显著增加,因此炭化污泥农业利用存在一定的环境风险。建议将炭化污泥用于酸化的森林红壤的改良。     

Agronomic Traits of Corn Fertilized with Sewage Sludge

Although research on the environmental impacts of using waste as a fertilizer is of great importance, the basic principle for using a product as fertilizer is that it should provide nutrients for plants without causing any harm to them. The objective of this study was to evaluate the agronomic traits (number of nodes, plant height, leaf number, yield, and protein content of grains) and the nutritional status of corn treated with sewage sludge. The experiment was conducted in the municipality of Jaboticabal in a Red Latosol. A randomized block design with four treatments (0, 55, 110, and 167.5 Mg ha^?1 of sewage sludge) and five repetitions was used. At 30 days after emergence (DAE), the dose of 110 Mg ha^?1 dry weight presented greater values for plant height, leaf number and stem diameter. At 60 DAE, the treatments did not affect the agronomic traits. No influence from the treatments tested was observed for protein content of grains and yield. The dose of 167.5 Mg ha^?1 showed greater weight of 100 seeds. All treatments showed nutritional imbalances. This study confirmed the agricultural potential of sewage sludge as a source of nutrients.     

Effect of zinc levels on phosphorous and zinc content in sand‐cultured soybeans

Soybeans (Glvcine max L.) cv. “Clark”; were grown in the greenhouse in sand‐filled plastic pots sub‐irrigated with Hoagland No. 1 solution to determine the possible inhibitory effects of Zn on the uptake of P. Zinc rates used were 0.05 (control), 0.25, 0.5 and 2.5 ppm. Yields equalled the control at Zn levels of 0.25 and 0.5 ppm, but plants grown in solutions containing 2.5 ppm Zn were stunted severely. Foliar Zn and P levels differed very little among Zn treatments. Zinc levels were highest and P levels were lowest, however, in the roots and stems of soybeans grown in solutions of 2.5 ppm Zn. Zinc and P uptake was significantly inhibited in the leaves, stems and roots of plants grown at the highest Zn rate. The recycling of wastes containing high Zn content could adversely affect plant growth by a suspected antagonism with P.     

微生物菌剂对兰州城市生活污泥堆肥效果的影响

以兰州市城市生活鲜污泥和40%干污泥为原料，以玉米秸秆为辅料，添加金宝贝生物发酵剂和阿姆斯生物发酵剂进行堆肥，研究微生物菌剂对堆肥过程中温度、含水率、NH₄₊ N、NO₃^- N和全N的影响。结果表明，除鲜污泥（D 1，CK）处理外，其他各处理堆体温度保持在50 ℃以上均超过7 d，达到堆肥卫生标准，加入微生物菌剂使堆体提前5 d达到50 ℃；其他各处理经过20 d堆置含水率降至45%以下，达到园林绿化使用标准；加入微生物菌剂使堆体全N损失增加0.56%~4.47%，并促进NH₄₊ N的生成和NO₃^- N的积累。     

有机污泥干燥特性与干燥模型研究

为了有效处理含水率较高且体积庞大的有机污泥,实现与低温热解工艺相结合,进一步完善污泥处理与利用知识体系,研究了干燥温度与升温速率对污泥干燥过程中的质量、失重率、含水率、热量的影响。同时研究了不同温度下污泥的干燥速率和含水率的变化规律,并建立了污泥干燥的数学模型。实验结果表明:从不同干燥特性曲线可以看出,污泥的干燥特性符合理论的3个阶段,预热时间极短,恒速阶段持续时间也不长,最后的减速阶段时间最长。干燥终温为240℃时污泥干化时间最短,速率最快。二次模型的预测值与实测值决定系数为0.992 4,均方根误差和残差平方和分别为0.035和0.032,与其他数学模型相比,二次模型对污泥干燥过程的拟合优度最高。     

活性污泥降解水中邻苯二甲酸酯类的研究

用液质联用测定了活性污泥对7种邻苯二甲酸酯（PAEs）的降解能力。结果显示，PAEs的降解过程可用一级动力学方程描述，随着分子量和初始质量浓度的增加，其降解速率常数减小，活性污泥对混合体系PAEs的降解能力优于降解单一种类PAEs，温度和pH能直接影响降解性能，其最优水平组合为温度36，7℃，pH7．6。     

不同施用方式下污泥堆肥对土壤性质和草坪生长的影响

为解决城市污泥处理难题,探讨污泥堆肥及其不同施入方式对绿地土壤的改良效果,进行了污泥堆肥绿地土壤改良试验。试验设混合(H)、覆盖(F)、混合+覆盖(HF)3种施入方式,结果表明:不同施入方式均能显著降低绿地土壤容重,提高土壤中有机质、碱解氮、速效钾、有效磷含量,HF和H的改良效果最好;不同施入方式还均能显著促进草坪生长和分蘖,其中HF,F,H处理的分蘖密度分别比对照高45%,37%,32%;F处理的杂草抑制率在96%以上,HF为78%,H处理未能抑制杂草;各施入方式均能显著提高土壤微生物碳和土壤微生物氮含量,改良1年后,F、H和HF的土壤微生物碳含量分别是对照2.4,3.1,3.4倍,微生物氮含量分别是对照的1.7,3.0,2.8倍;与对照相比,HF处理与H处理的土壤脲酶、酸性磷酸酶和蔗糖酶活性均显著提高。     

Afforestation of agricultural land with Pinus radiata D. don and Betula alba L. in NW Spain: Effects on soil PH,understorey production and floristic diversity eleven years after establishment

Afforestation of abandoned agricultural lands has been the main change in land use over the past decade in Europe. However, the impact of tree species and understorey management on production and plant diversity over the medium‐ and long‐term has not been thoroughly studied. This paper aims to evaluate the effects of an afforestation of Pinus radiata D. Don and Betula alba L. on soil pH, understorey production and plant diversity and life cycle type (annuals vs. perennials) managed with different soil fertilisation treatments over a period of 11 years. The results show an acidification of the soil 11 years after establishment, better vertical growth and diameter of pine compared with birch as usually happens in the region and important variation in the biomass production and composition of the understorey below both tree species. Understorey species remained similar during the first 5 years below both canopies. However, species richness (S) was drastically reduced under Pinus radiata D. Don plantation compared to Betula alba L. (S_pine = 2 vs. S_birch = 17) after 11 years of tree establishment at a very high density (2500 trees ha⁻¹). Inorganic and organic fertilisation also caused a reduction in floristic diversity. Soil pH, pasture production and floristic understorey plant diversity are better preserved under autochthonous broadleaves, which increased the multiple uses of recently afforested lands in the short‐ and medium‐term. In the European context of high need for sawn wood, the use of autochthonous broadleaved tree species like Betula should be promoted due to their better sustainability. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.