Four Swedish long-term field experiments with sewage sludge reveal a limited effect on soil microbes and on metal uptake by crops

Purpose

This study aims to study the effect of sewage sludge amendment on crop yield and on microbial biomass and community structure in Swedish agricultural soils.

Materials and methods

Topsoil samples (0–0.20 m depth) from four sites where sewage sludge had been repeatedly applied during 14–53 years were analysed for total C, total N, pH and phospholipid fatty acids (PLFAs). Heavy metals were analysed in both soil and plant samples, and crop yields were recorded.

Results and discussion

At all four sites, sewage sludge application increased crop yield and soil organic carbon. Sludge addition also resulted in elevated concentrations of some heavy metals (mainly Cu and Zn) in soils, but high concentrations of metals (Ni and Zn) in plant materials were almost exclusively found in the oldest experiment, started in 1956. PLFA analysis showed that the microbial community structure was strongly affected by changes in soil pH. At those sites where sewage sludge had caused low pH, Gram-positive bacteria were more abundant. However, differences in community structure were larger between sites than between the treatments.

Conclusions

At all four sites, long-term sewage sludge application increased the soil organic carbon and nitrogen content, microbial biomass and crop yield. Long-term sewage sludge application led to a decrease in soil pH. Concentrations of some metals had increased significantly with sewage sludge application at all sites, but the amounts of metals added to soil with sewage sludge were found not to be toxic for microbes at any site.     

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.     

污泥施用对土壤及小麦生理特性的影响

以兰州市安宁区污水处理厂污泥为研究对象,采用盆栽方法研究污泥施用后对土壤pH值的影响,对土壤中重金属Cu、Zn、Pb含量的影响以及对小麦叶片叶绿素含量和脯氨酸含量特性的影响。结果表明,污泥施用后土壤的pH值显著下降,并呈递减趋势。不同污泥施加量土壤中3种重金属元素的含量均远低于我国土壤环境质量二级标准（GB15618—1995）中碱性土壤的限制性标准值。3种小麦叶片的叶绿素总含量随污泥浓度的增加而增加,污泥在混配土壤中的干重比为15%时3种小麦均达到最大值,随着污泥施加量的进一步加大出现下降。污泥施用后3种小麦叶绿素a/b值与对照相比无显著变化,小麦叶片中脯氨酸含量比对照有大幅的增加。低污泥施加量时（5%、10%和15%）,3种小麦叶片中脯氨酸含量随施加量增加而增加,但高污泥施加量时（25%和35%）的脯氨酸含量无显著增加,污泥中污染物胁迫超过小麦耐受限值后,小麦生理代谢出现反常。土壤中3种重金属元素的含量与3种小麦体内脯氨酸含量均呈极显著正相关关系,土壤的pH值与3种小麦的叶绿素总含量和脯氨酸含量均呈负相关关系。综合考虑污泥施用对小麦生理特性的影响,对小麦的耕种土壤中一次性施用污泥时,污泥在混配土壤中的干重比应限量在15%以下。     

Phosphordüngewirkung eisenhaltiger Klärschlämme

<?show $38#Bo;>Phosphorus fertilization effect of sewage sludges treated with iron compounds The result of waste water treatment with iron salts are sewage sludges with higher P but also Fe contents. The effect of such sludges on P availability in soils is not clear and was, therefore, compared with CaHPO₄ as a P mineral fertilizer. In experiments (Mitscherlich pots, 6 kg soil) two sandy soils (pH 4.3 and 4.9), two luvisols ( pH 6.3 and 7.2), a loess (13 % CaCO₃), and quartz sand all differing in their P status were treated with two sewage sludges which differed in their molar Fe:P ratios (sludge Gö: 1:0.3, sludge Sh: 1:1.2). For sludge Gö the P elimination had been carried out with FeSO₄ and the sludge was stabilized with FeCl₃ + Ca(OH)₂ (filter press). For sludge Sh P was eliminated by FeCl₃ in the aerobic basin. The first crop was maize (total shoot dry matter), the second red clover. In case of sludge Sh both crops took up in comparison to CaHPO₄ the same amount of P from all substrates with the exception of quartz sand. The effect of sludge Gö was quite different: from the neutral luvisol soils maize was able to take up only 64—82 % P and red clover 77—82 % P only as compared to CaHPO₄. On the sandy soils maize and red clover grew after sludge Gö as good or better than after CaHPO₄ application and P uptake was quite similar (83—106 %). This result was concomitant to an increase of pH values (from 4.3 to 4.9, 4.9 to 5.6, respectively). The negative efficiency of P uptake in heavy soils after application of sludge Gö resulted from an increase of P sorption and decrease of orthophosphate concentration in soil solution. This sludge contains a high proportion of iron hydroxides/oxides with free sorption sites for P. In future P elimination from waste water should be done without iron salts. At least during the process of conditioning no Fe salts should be used.<?show $6#>     

Using the continuous-quality theory to predict microbial biomass and soil organic carbon following organic amendments

Soil microbial biomass and microbial quotient (the ratio of soil microbial biomass to soil organic carbon) are considered to be useful as rapidly responding indicators of perturbations of soil properties. In this paper we will use a well‐tested model (the continuous‐quality theory) to analyse these variables in a Swedish 35‐year‐old field experiment with a black fallow, crop with no N addition, crop with calcium nitrate addition, and six treatments with organic amendments: straw, green manure, peat, farmyard manure, sawdust and sewage sludge. The model predicts correctly that the amount of microbial biomass increases for all the treatments with organic amendments compared with the black fallow treatment. The microbial biomass quotient increases also for all the amended treatments, except peat and sewage sludge, and decreases for the other treatments. The microbial biomass and microbial quotient increase with both the amounts of organic matter added (crop residues and amendments) and the quality of the added matter. However, to fully explain the observations it is also necessary to have an increasing microbial mortality with substrate quality. Moreover, short‐term observations can be misleading with respect to both the magnitude and direction of long‐term changes in biomass and related variables. Special attention must be paid to such amendments as sewage sludge, where contaminants such as heavy metals may determine process rates. We find no relation between microbial biomass or microbial quotient and yields.     

Einfluss eisenhaltiger Klärschlämme auf Kenngrößen der P‐Verfügbarkeit in Ackerböden

Influence of iron content in sewage sludges on parameters of phosphate availability in arable soils The use of iron salts for the P elimination in sewage plants is widely used. But it is not clear whether the P availability in arable soils is negatively influenced by iron compounds or not. The aim of the investigations was, therefore, to study the influence of two sewage sludges with a high and a low Fe content respectively on P sorption and phosphate concentration (P_i) in the soil solution after application of CaHPO₄ or sewage sludge to 5 loamy and 4 sandy soils (pot experiments and 1 silty loam (field experiment)). Soils were analyzed 1, 6, and 13 months after P application. Sludge Gö contained 12 kg P and 65 kg Fe (t DM)^—1 (P : Fe = 1 : 5.4) and sludge Sh 25 kg P and 39 kg Fe (t DM)^—1 (P : Fe = 1 : 1.5). The basic P application was 60 kg P ha^—1 (= 30 mg P (kg soil)^—1 in the pot experiment, as sludge or as CaHPO₄). P uptake by maize was determined in a separate pot experiment with a loamy soil and the same P application rate. The P sorption capacity remained similar in all soils after application of sludge Sh (P : Fe = 1:1.5) compared with soils without sludge, however, after application of sludge Gö the P sorption increased by 16% (0—59%). After application of sludge Sh the mean P_i concentration increased in loamy soils by 34% and in sandy soils by 15%. On the other hand the P_i concentration decreased after applying sludge Gö by 13% and 36% as compared to the controls of the respective soils. In the field experiment the P_i concentration of plots with a high P level (50 mg lactate soluble P (kg soil)^—1) was also significantly decreased after application of 10 t sludge Gö (126 kg P ha^—1) in comparison with triple phosphate. One month after the application of increasing amounts of sludge Gö (5, 10, 15 t DM ha^—1) both the concentration of oxalate‐soluble Fe in the soil and the P sorption were increased. The elevated relationship between these two parameters was highly significant (r² = 0.6 — 0.97). Plant uptake of P was less after application of sludge Gö than after application of sludge Sh and much less than P uptake from CaHPO₄. Sewage sludges with a P : Fe ratio of 1 : 5 should not be recommended for agricultural use, as the P availability is significantly reduced. Iron salts should not be used for conditioning of sludges.     

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。     

Microbiological processes in gray forest soil treated with sewage sludge compost

The effect of compost made of sewage sludge and applied in dose up to 90 t/ha on the microbial biomass, soil respiration, nitrogen-fixing activity, and on the organic matter content and concentrations of toxic metals in the gray forest soil of a nursery forest garden was studied in a field experiment. It was found that the adverse effects of the compost components on the studied parameters of the microbial communities were not observed two years after the compost application; this fact suggested that the soil microbial community overcame the stress caused by this anthropogenic impact.     

The soil microbial community in a sewage-sludge-amended semi-arid grassland

Summary The value of sewage sludge for improving the fertility and productivity of a degraded semi-arid grassland soil was tested by quantifying and describing the effects of surface application of sewage sludge on soil chemical properties and the soil microbial community. Three surface application rates (22.5, 45, and 90 Mg sludge ha^–1) were tested over the course of two growing seasons. Most nutrient levels, including N, P, and K, increased linearly with increasing sludge application rates. Soil pH, however, declined linearly, from 7.8 to 7.4, with increasing sludge application rates. With the exception of Zn, heavy metals, including Cd, did not increase with the small decrease in pH or with increasing sludge application rates. Soil bacterial, fungal, and ammonium oxidizer populations increased linearly with increasing sludge application rates, and Streptomyces spp. populations remained relatively unchanged. The diversity of fungal groups declined initially with increasing sewage sludge rates but rebounded to near pretreatment levels under the low and intermediate application rates within 1 year. High fungal populations and low fungal diversity were related to the high nutrient contents provided by sludge amendment. Mucor spp. and Penicillium chrysogenum dominated the sludge-amended soils, and their densities in the treated soils in the first growing season were almost directly proportional to the sludge application rates. The improvement in soil fertility of a degraded semi-arid grassland due to sludge application was reflected in populations, diversity, and composition of the soil microbial community.The research reported here was conducted in cooperation with the USDI Bureau of Land Management which furnished funds and field study locations     

Effects of organic amendment and herbicide treatment on soil microbial biomass

 The interactive effects of vermi-compost from sewage sludge and either the sulfonylurea herbicide, rimsulfuron, or the imidazolinone herbicide, imazethapyr, on some soil biochemical and microbiological properties were investigated. The herbicides were applied at field and 10-fold field rates. Both herbicides exerted a detrimental effect on soil microbial biomass and its biochemical properties. Even though the effect of both herbicides on soil microbial biomass was not detectable at the field rate, some significant influences on acid and alkaline phosphatase were observed. The higher rate of herbicide application impaired the observed microbial parameters to a greater degree. The detrimental effects seemed to be reduced by organic amendments. Among the studied microbial characteristics, the specific respiration quotient was particularly reliable and sensitive in determining the influence of herbicides on the soil microbial biomass. In this paper a new synthetic index, specific hydrolytic activity (qFDA), for assessing microbial activity in reply to xenobiotic treatments is proposed. Received: 31 May 1999     

施用碱稳定污泥污水土壤经γ-辐照后土壤溶液中Cu和Zn的变化

A glasshouse pot experiment was conducted to study changes in the solubility of copper and zinc in the soil-plant system following heavy application of sewage sludge and partial sterilisation of the sludge/soil mixture. A slightly acid sandy loam was mixed with alkaline stabilised and composted urban sewage sludge solids (Agri-Soil, 180 t hm^-2), and the soil/sludge mixture was-irradiated (10 kGy). The contrasts without the application of sewage sludge and-irradiation were also included in the experiment. Perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne cv. Magella) was grown on irradiated and unirradiated soils for 50 days. Soil solution samples were obtained using soil suction samplers immediately before plant transplantation and every ten days thereafter. The soil solution samples were used directly for determination of Cu and Zn, toget her with pH, electrical conductivity (EC) and absorbance at wavelength 360 nm (A₃₆₀). Applicat ion of Agri-Soil led to a substantial increase in dissolved Cu and a significant decrease in dissolved Zn in the soil solution and these effects were accompanied by increased soil solution pH, EC and A₃₆₀. The alkaline sludge product (Agri-Soil) in combination with-irradiation also led to a pronounced elevation of Cu and A₃₆₀ but a marked decline in EC, indicating an increase in dissolved organic compounds and a decrease in the ionic strength of the soil solution. The dissolved Cu and Zn, EC and A₃₆₀ usually decreased while the pH increased after plant grow th for 50 days.     

Soil C balance in a long-term field experiment in relation to the size of the microbial biomass

Soil C balances were calculated in a field experiment started in 1956. Treatments include a fallow and soils receiving different N fertilizers or organic amendments. By assuming the absence of a priming effect, the degree of mineralization of crop residues and organic amendments was calculated. Crop residue mineralization was not affected by a more than 50% decrease in the size of the microbial biomass in soil fertilized with (NH₄)₂SO₄, which had caused the pH of this soil to drop from 6.6 to 4.4. More C had accumulated per unit C input in peat-and sewage sludge-amended soils than in any of the other soils, suggesting that peat and sewage sludge were more resistant to microbial attack. Recalcitrance of substrate C was an adequate explanation for the low ratio of biomass C to soil C in the peat-amended soils, but not in the sewage sludge-amended soil. There was a close linear relationship (r=0.94) between the content of microbial biomass C in the soil measured in 1990 and cumulative C losses from the soil since 1956. Compared to the relationship between soil biomass C and soil organic C concentrations, the linear relationship between microbial C and cumulative C losses suggested that the significantly reduced biomass in the sewage sludge-amended soil was at least partially due to the presence of toxic substances (presumably elevated heavy metal concentrations) in this soil and was probably not affected by the somewhat low pH (5.3) in this soil.     

兰州市城市污泥施用对小麦生长和重金属富集的影响

以兰州市安宁区污水处理厂污泥为研究对象,采用盆栽的方法研究污泥土地利用后对土壤中重金属含量以及对3种小麦生长和重金属富集的影响。结果表明,污泥施用后使污泥混合土壤中重金属Pb、Cu、Zn含量显著增加,但3种重金属含量均未超过我国土壤环境质量二级标准(GB15618-1995)中的限制性标准值。污泥土地施用后,小麦获得了良好的生长响应。污泥低施入量(污泥在混配土壤中的干重比为5%、10%、15%)时不同程度的促进了小麦的生长发育,使3种小麦出苗率提高,植株更高,生物量增加。污泥高施入量(污泥在混配土壤中的干重比为25%、35%)时,小麦的出苗率和根长受抑制明显。污泥的施用使小麦籽实中的Pb、Cu、Zn的含量显著升高,呈现递增趋势,污泥在混配土壤中的干重比超过25%时,籽实中Cu和Pb含量相对国家无公害食品标准有超标现象。综合考虑污泥对小麦生长和重金属富集的影响及土壤中重金属含量的变化,对小麦的耕种土壤中一次性施用污泥时,污泥在混配土壤中的干重比应限量在25%以下。     

连续3年施用生物有机肥对土壤养分、微生物生物量及酶活性的影响

通过温室盆栽试验,研究了连续3年在不同土壤中施用不同量的生物有机肥的土壤养分、微生物生物量、酶活性及棉花各器官干物质量的变化。结果表明:连续3年施用生物有机肥,3种土壤的养分、酶活性、微生物量和各器官干物质量均有不同程度的提高。随着其用量的增加,土壤养分、微生物量及脲酶活性也在增加,土壤pH则相反,土壤蔗糖酶、多酚氧化酶、蛋白酶活性表现先上升后下降的趋势,且在不同土壤施用生物有机肥10~30 g/kg时基本达到最高,过氧化氢酶活性无显著变化。高、中、低有机质含量的土壤的棉花各器官干物质量分别在施用生物有机肥10~20、20~30、40 g/kg时基本达到最高。随着施肥年限的延长,3种土壤微生物生物量碳、氮均表现为先降低后升高的趋势,土壤酶活性则变化差异较大。通过在不同有机质含量土壤中施肥与不施肥比较发现,本底有机质含量越低的土壤,施肥较不施肥的土壤养分、脲酶、蔗糖酶、蛋白酶活性及微生物量增加幅度越大。     

Soil microbial biomass estimates in soils contaminated with metals

The validity of the chloroform fumigation-incubation procedure for measuring soil microbial biomass in field soils contaminated with metals (e.g. Cu, Ni, Zn, Cd) was assessed. The metal contamination was the result of past sewage sludge additions and the contaminated field soils now contain metals at about current maximum U.K. recommended levels. The decomposition of native soil biomass or microbial material added after fumigation was little affected by the presence of metals and it was concluded that fumigation-incubation is a reliable procedure for measuring biomass in soils contaminated with moderate amounts of metals. This conclusion was confirmed by direct microscopy: similar soil biomass estimates were obtained by both methods.     

Temporal response of soil biochemical properties in a pastoral soil after cultivation following high application rates of undigested sewage sludge

Soil biochemical properties were measured annually between 1995 and 1999 in soil from an 8-ha site that had received over 1,000 wet tonnes ha^–1 undigested sewage sludge, 1–4 years earlier. Basal respiration generally declined with time and was usually greatest in the untreated control area. This trend was attributed to a similar trend in soil moisture content. In contrast, microbial biomass C increased with time and also generally increased with sludge treatment age. Microbial biomass C, and to a lesser extent sulphatase activity, accurately predicted the order of sludge application to the site. This was perceived as a function of time since tillage and pasture establishment, with activities increasing in parallel to the build up of C residues in the soil, and not an effect of sludge or its composition. Except immediately after sludge application, there was no effect on N mineralisation and nitrification. None of the biochemical properties was strongly correlated with heavy metal concentrations. Our results suggest that there was little effect on soil biochemical properties, either adverse or beneficial, of adding raw sewage sludge to this site. Although a companion study showed considerable mobility and plant uptake of heavy metals, this difference could mainly be attributed to a different sampling strategy and the effects of intensive liming of the site.     

Effect of an artificial soil mix from coal fly ash and sewage sludge on soil microbial activity

An artificial soil mix was prepared from coal fly ash and sewage sludge and an experiment was performed to evaluate their effects on soil microbial respiration. Coal fly ash at 0%, 5%, 10%, 35% and 50% w/w was mixed with dewatered sewage sludge and then each ash-sludge mixture was incubated with a sandy soil at 1:1 v/v at 28°C for 42 days. All treatments showed the same carbon dioxide production pattern with a peak production at day 7 to day 14. Addition of ash-sludge mixtures to soil resulted in an increase in carbon dioxide production but the production rate decreased according to the ash amendment rate. The high pH of coal fly ash and the dilution effect of the sludge were the major reasons for the decrease. However, the ecological dose 50% values sharply increased from 26% at day 3 to 39% ash at day 14. This indicates the rapid acclimatization of microorganisms to the fly ash-sludge mixtures. Therefore, a brief stabilization period may be required for the establishment of soil microbial populations in soil amended with ash-sludge mixtures.     

Effect of metal toxicity on the size of the soil microbial biomass

The amount of soil microbial biomass was measured by the chloroform fumigation technique on agricultural soils which had been previously treated with different bulky organic manures. Amounts of soil microbial biomass in soils receiving sewage sludge or sludge-containing composts were much smaller than in soils which received farmyard manure over the same period. This effect was attributed to the toxic metals present in the sludges and was readily detectable more than 20 years after the last sludge application.     

生活污泥对滩涂土壤性质和苏丹草生长及重金属累积的影响

滩涂盐土农业利用的主要障碍是盐分含量过高和缺乏有机质。施用生活污泥可快速提高滩涂土壤有机质含量,加快土壤熟化,但由于担心污泥含有一定量的重金属,其施用受到一定的限制。采用盆栽苏丹草的试验方法,研究滩涂盐土施用不同量的生活污泥后对土壤性质、植物生长和对重金属累积的影响。结果表明,生活污泥施用于滩涂盐土后降低了土壤pH值,提高了EC值和总盐含量;苏丹草的出苗率、株高和鲜重增加;施用污泥提高了苏丹草植株中全氮、全磷及叶绿素的含量,且随施用量的增加而增大,但对植株中全钾的含量无显著影响;苏丹草中Zn、Cd含量随着污泥施用量增加呈增长的趋势,但Pb、Ni、Cu含量变化不大。在试验条件下,所施用污泥中重金属向苏丹草体内转移的比例介于0.13%-13.44%之间。就该种土壤而言,要更为注意含Pb量较高的污泥施用,而Cu则是最为安全的。总体考虑,一次性施用干污泥应控制在8t·667m^-2以下。     

Extractability of Cu in Alkaline Biosolids-Amended Soils as Influenced by γ-Irradiation

An incubation experiment was conducted to investigate the microbial biomass associated Cu in four contrasting soils to which an alkaline stabilised sewage sludge cake was applied. The organisms of sludgeamended and control soils were killed using γ-irradiation technique, and the aqueous and acid-extractable Cu concentrations were determined. Addition of the sludge product increased significantly the concentration of both the aqueous and dilute HOAc-extractable Cu in all the irradiated soils compared to the non-sterilised sludge/soil mixtures, but the increase was more pronounced in the dilute acid-extractable Cu, indicating that the Cu rendered extractable in water and dilute acetic acid by γ-irradiation existed in the both soil liquid and solid phases. The additional increase in extractable Cu following the biocidal treatment is likely to be due to release of Cu from the same fraction of soil microbial biomass.