Extractability of trace metals during co-composting of biosolids and municipal solid wastes

 Composts made from biosolids and municipal solid wastes contain heavy metals which may be exported outside soil systems by plants, animals and surface and subsurface waters after the compost has been added to soils. Chemical distributions of Cu, Zn, Cr, Pb, Ni and Co were determined by eight sequential extractions of co-composted materials sampled on days 0, 13, 27 and 41. The concentrations of residual Zn, Cr, Cu and Pb increased by 145, 124, 73.6 and 26.3% during the composting period, respectively, whereas the concentration of residual Ni remained relatively constant and that of Co decreased by 60% over the same period. These results show that co-composting contaminated residues substantially reduces the extractability and exchangeability of four out of six heavy metals, suggesting that the risks of entering the food chain and contaminating crops, animals and water reserves would be equally reduced. Fourier-transform infrared spectra showed that heavy metals in the compost are bonded to COO- groups of the organic matter. Received: 20 March 1998     

Effect of municipal solid waste compost on seed germination of rice,wheat and cucumber

Water extracts of municipal solid waste compost (MSWC) were applied to seed of three crops v - v rice ( Oryza sativa, L.), wheat ( Triticum aestivum, L.) and cucumber ( Cucumis sativa, L.). Severe suppression of germination index (GI), root length (RL) and shoot length (SL) were observed with the seeds treated with 1 v : v 7.5 MSWC v : v water extracts. A significant positive relationship was observed between the above mentioned parameters and organic carbon, nitrogen and optical density. A significant negative relationship between the above parameters and the contents of ammonia and heavy metals was also found. When comparing the three different seeds, wheat was most sensitive, followed by rice and then cucumber in terms of germination index, germination (%), root and shoot growth.     

Compost of municipal organic waste: Effects of different management practices on degradability and nutrient release capacity

We studied the degradability and nutrient release capacity of municipal organic waste (MOW) composts obtained with different management practices: shredding and/or mixing with wood shavings, cocomposting with biosolids, and vermicomposting. As indicators of degradability and nutrient release capacity, we measured net N and C mineralization, extractable-P release, N retained in microbial biomass, and dehydrogenase activity in 16-week laboratory incubations, using soil amended at a rate of 40 g kg⁻¹. We also determined the extent to which these indicators were predicted from the chemical characteristics of the amendments. All products increased soil N and P availability, and the size and activity of soil microbial populations. Carbon and N mineralization, and extractable-P release were influenced by amendment chemical characteristics, especially organic matter, total N, total P, C to N ratio, extractable-P and water soluble C. Cocomposting MOW and biosolids is an important alternative for MOW management, because it was the most effective strategy at increasing product degradability and nutrient release capacity (highest net N and C mineralization, extractable-P release, and microbial biomass-N). Shredding MOW increased C mineralization, while the addition of wood shavings decreased net N mineralization, but generally did not affect C mineralization. Thus, these two practices should be used when these specific product characteristics wish to be achieved. Vermicomposting did not prove to be an efficient strategy when MOW was mixed with biosolids.     

Effect of composting on extractability and relative availability of heavy metals present in Calcutta municipal solid waste

How composting affects heavy metal content is largely unknown. Accordingly, we investigate the total content of six heavy metals, Cd/Zn ratio and the Zn-equiv, the relative availability and fractionation study to assess the suitability of compost derived out of those for environmental concerns. During composting, total metal content increased but their RA decreased. As a result of composting bioavailable form of metals also decreased. High significant correlations between different forms of heavy metals content and degree of humification were found for all the elements. Composting increases humic acid content than fulvic acid. This transformation is mainly responsible to serve as binding agent for metal thereby moderating the rapid metal mobilization.     

Carbon and nitrogen mineralization of non-composted and composted municipal solid waste in sandy soils

A sterilized, but undecomposed, organic by-product of municipal waste processing was incubated in sandy soils to compare C and N mineralization with mature municipal waste compost. Waste products were added to two soils at rates of 17.9, 35.8, 71.6, and dry weight and incubated at for 90 d. Every 30 d, nitrate and ammonium concentrations were analyzed and C mineralization was measured as total CO₂-C evolved and added total organic C. Carbon mineralization of the undecomposed waste decreased over time, was directly related to application rate and soil nutrient status, and was significantly higher than C mineralization of the compost, in which C evolution was relatively unaffected across time, soils, and application rates. Carbon mineralization, measured as percentage C added by the wastes, also indicated no differences between composted waste treatments. However, mineralization as a percentage of C added in the undecomposed waste treatments was inversely related to application rate in the more productive soil, and no rate differences were observed in the highly degraded soil. Total inorganic N concentrations were much higher in the compost- and un-amended soils than in undecomposed waste treatments. Significant N immobilization occurred in all undecomposed waste treatments. Because C mineralization of the undecomposed waste was dependant on soil nutrient status and led to significant immobilization of N, this material appears to be best suited for highly degraded soils low in organic matter where restoration of vegetation adapted to nutrient poor soils is desired.     

Bioassays and application of olive pomace compost on emmer: effects on yield and soil properties in organic farming

Abstract

Composting olive oil pomace could solve the problem of disposal, by recycling this organic waste for agricultural purposes. Furthermore, application of composted organic waste could be a way to sustain both soil fertility and production, especially in organic farming. Therefore, the aim of this research was to evaluate the phytotoxicity and the effects of application of olive pomace composts on emmer performance and soil properties. Two types of olive pomace composts, with a different initial C/N ratio, were stopped at the active phase and processed until maturation. The obtained four olive pomace composts were compared with a commercial fertilizer in a two-year field experiment. Before the field trial, a bioassay was performed to assess phytotoxicity both for the raw pomace and the not-stabilized composts. Growing and yielding data for emmer were determined during the two-year period and soil characteristics were measured at the start and at the end of the experiment.

The composts were not phytotoxic (germination index was higher than 90%) and their total organic carbon content was always higher than the minimum values established by the Italian fertilizers legislation. The emmer protein content was significantly higher in the matured compost treatment with low C/N, than in the other compost treatments. Its value was comparable with that of the commercial fertilizer, suggesting a good performance on crop yield quality. Although not significant, this compost showed an increase of 9.8% in grain yield compared with commercial fertilizer treatment. On the whole, it can be suggested that repeated compost application might preserve the soil organic carbon content and supply macronutrients to a crop.     

不同采收成熟度对烤烟香气质量的影响

采用大田试验,分别对比了各部位不同成熟度鲜叶对初烤烟叶致香物质含量和评吸质量的影响.试验结果表明:烟叶大田成熟标准以上中部烟叶9～10成黄、主脉全白,下部烟叶4～5成黄、主脉开始变白为宜,可改善烟叶香气质量,提高其工业可用性.     

有机管理对不同土地利用方式下土壤质量的影响

许多研究发现有机管理可以改善农田土壤质量,但是否不同土地利用方式下都存在此结论尚未明确。为探究有机管理对不同土地利用方式土壤质量的影响,本研究基于一个多土地利用方式的有机管理农场及其附近常规管理农田进行土壤质量调查,对比不同管理措施及大棚菜地、果园、露天菜地、农田边界、稻田田埂5种土地利用方式下农田土壤质量的差异,并对不同管理措施下农田土壤养分含量、重金属含量、动物数量共计20个指标进行方差分析和主成分分析。研究发现虽然总体上(综合5种土地利用方式的均值)有机管理的土壤pH显著高于常规农田;但针对一种土地利用方式,只有露天菜地和农田边界的土壤pH显著提高。总体上有机管理下土壤全磷、全钾、有效磷含量显著降低,但露天菜地土壤有机质和全氮含量均显著高于常规管理农田。有机管理在总体上显著降低了土壤Cr、Cu、Ni、Zn含量;但针对一种土地利用方式,只显著降低了大棚菜地土壤Cr、Ni、Zn含量,果园和稻田田埂土壤Cu含量,露天菜地和农田边界土壤Zn含量。有机管理虽然总体上均显著增加了土壤中蜘蛛目、倍足纲、步甲、蚯蚓的数量;但针对一种土地利用方式,只显著增加了露天菜地地表蜘蛛目、倍足纲、步甲,稻田田埂地表步甲、土壤蚯蚓以及果园倍足纲数量。主成分分析结果表明,不同管理方式下土壤质量差异明显,有机管理下蜘蛛目、倍足纲、步甲和蚯蚓等土壤动物较多,土壤pH较高,土壤P含量较低,重金属Cu、Pb、Zn、Cr含量较低,但并非在所有土地利用方式下都成立。由此可见,有机管理虽然总体上可以改善土壤质量,但受具体管理措施、人为投入品数量和有机种植时间等因素影响,并非在所有土地利用方式下效果都显著,且在不同土地利用方式下显著改善的指标也各不相同,因此需要针对不同土地利用方式和不同指标采取针对性的改善措施。     

Effects of municipal solid waste compost and sewage sludge on mineralization of soil organic matter

This work sets out to verify whether the application of municipal solid waste compost (MSWC) or treated urban sewage sludge (USS) organic amendments efficiently promote organic matter (OM) increases in a Haplic Podzol (PZha) and in a Calcic Vertisol (VRcc). For that purpose, carbon (C) mineralization and C kinetic parameters were studied, using a laboratory experimental incubation setup. The results showed that the addition of the amendments to the soils increased their mineralization capacities, and that the highest C mineralization rate was reached at the end of the first 2 d of incubation. The different characteristics of the soils seem to have influenced the C mineralization rates during the 28-d incubation. The USS induced higher C mineralization than the MSWC, and the PZha soil gave rise to higher C mineralization than VRcc. For all treatments, C mineralization adjusted well to an exponential plus linear kinetic model, suggesting that the organic C of the amendments was made up of two organic pools of differing degrees of stability. With the exception of the application of USS 60 t ha⁻¹, all the treatments increased the OM content on both soils, or at least the OM remained constant throughout the incubation.     

Effect of organic and mineral fertilizers on soil respiration and enzyme activities of two Mediterranean horticultural soils

The effects of municipal food waste compost addition and mineral fertilization on selected soil microbiological activities were investigated during 3 years of reiterated treatments on two Mediterranean agricultural soils with different organic carbon content. Compost at 15, 30 and 45 t ha⁻¹ (dry matter), mineral (NPK) fertilizers and combined fertilizers with 15 t ha⁻¹ of compost plus two reduced doses of mineral N were applied to both soils. At both sites, organic amendment increased soil respiration, fluorescein diacetate hydrolysis, phosphatase and arylsulphatase activities. The differences in soil microbial activities among treatments, found after 3 years of repeated treatments, were attributable to the variations of soil organic C content and to the impact of soil tillage. Our results show that, in Mediterranean intensively cultivated agroecosystems, annual organic amendments improve the microbial activity of soil and produce cumulative effects, suggesting the usefulness of repeated high-rate compost applications.     

Long-term soil management effects on crop yields and soil quality in a dryland Alfisol

A long-term experiment was conducted with the objective of selecting the appropriate land management treatments and to identify the key indicators of soil quality for dryland semi-arid tropical Alfisols. The experiment was conducted using a strip split–split plot design on an Alfisol (Typic Haplustalf) in southern India under sorghum (Sorghum vulgare (L))-castor (Ricinus communis (L)) bean rotation. The strip constituted two tillage treatments: conventional tillage (CT) and minimum tillage (MT); main plots were three residues treatments: sorghum stover (SS), gliricidia loppings (GL), ‘no’ residue (NR) and sub plots were four nitrogen levels: 0 (N₀), 30 (N₃₀), 60 (N₆₀), and 90 kg ha⁻¹ (N₉₀). Soil samples were collected after the sixth and seventh year of experimentation and were analyzed for physical, chemical and biological parameters. Sustainable yield index (SYI) based on long-term yield data and soil quality index (SQI) using principal component analysis (PCA) and linear scoring functions were calculated. Application of gliricidia loppings proved superior to sorghum stover and no residue treatments in maintaining higher SQI values. Further, increasing N levels also helped in maintaining higher SQI. Among the 24 treatments, the SQI ranged from 0.90 to 1.27. The highest SQI was obtained in CTGLN₉₀ (1.27) followed by CTGLN₆₀ (1.19) and MTSSN₉₀ (1.18), while the lowest was under MTNRN₃₀ (0.90) followed by MTNRN₀ (0.94), indicating relatively less aggradative effects. The application of 90 kg N ha⁻¹ under minimum tillage even without applying any residue (MTNRN₉₀) proved quite effective in maintaining soil quality index as high as 1.10. The key indicators, which contributed considerably towards SQI, were available N, K, S, microbial biomass carbon (MBC) and hydraulic conductivity (HC). On average, the order of relative contribution of these indicators towards SQI was: available N (32%), MBC (31%), available K (17%), HC (16%), and S (4%). Among the various treatments, CTGLN₉₀ not only had the highest SQI, but also the most promising from the viewpoint of sustainability, maintaining higher average yield levels under sorghum–castor rotation. From the view point of SYI, CT approach remained superior to MT. To maintain the yield as well as soil quality in Alfisols, primary tillage along with organic residue and nitrogen application are needed.     

富磷垃圾肥对大豆营养及产量、品质的影响

我国有74%的耕地土壤缺磷,在农业种植中磷素的利用率又极低,当季利用率仅为10%～25%,是作物产量的重要限制因子[1].目前,我国农用磷肥主要是磷矿粉经加工而成,需要大量硫酸,生产成本较高,长期施用不仅造成土壤板结,也会污染环境.磷矿粉如直接施用于土壤时,肥效又受许多因素限制[2].如何在我国磷资源有限的情况下研究和总结一套能在农业生产中应用的生物学途径,以维持土壤的磷供应水平,是广大科研工作者普遍关心的课题.城市生活垃圾在堆肥过程中将产生大量的有机弱酸类物质,其对难溶性磷的溶解能力已在土壤中得到证实[3-5];另外堆肥过程中产生的腐殖酸类物质也可以对难溶性磷有一定的络合能力[6];同时,堆肥过程中微生物的活动也可将一部分磷固定在体内.因此,通过生活垃圾堆肥对难溶性磷进行转化,可使堆肥中形成较多的易矿化的有机态磷及可溶性磷,施用于土壤后可提高磷素的有效性.本研究通过利用生活垃圾堆肥与难溶性磷生产富磷垃圾肥,并进行田间试验,探讨富磷垃圾肥对大豆营养物质的积累、作物产量及质量的影响.     

Effect of long term addition of composts and poultry manure on soil quality of citrus orchards in Southern Italy

A 6-year study was conducted in an organically managed orange orchard located in Sicily (Southern Italy) to assess the effect of compost and organic fertiliser utilisation on soil quality. Adopting a randomised-block experimental design with three replicates, four treatments were carried out. In treatments 1 and 2, two different composts (C1 from distillery by-products and C2 from livestock waste) were applied. The plots of treatment 3 were fertilised using dried poultry manure. The control treatment was fertilised by mineral/synthetic fertilisers. In order to verify the hypothesis that composts and organic fertilisers improve soil fertility, soil quality was evaluated by selecting dynamic soil parameters, as indicators linked to C and N cycles. Total organic C, total N, C/N ratio, humified fraction, isoelectric focussing (IEF) of extracted organic matter, microbial biomass C, potentially mineralisable N under anaerobic conditions, potentially mineralisable C, C mineralisation quotient and metabolic quotient were determined for each sample. Moreover, the Community Level Physiological Profile (by Biolog technique) was defined, calculating derived functional biodiversity and versatility indexes. Parameters related to IEF and potentially mineralisable C showed significant differences among the treatments. Moreover, total C, total N and humification parameters tended to increase, while no differences were observed in biodiversity indexes. On these findings, it was concluded that composts and poultry manure only weakly affected soil properties, though they increased soil potentially available nutritive elements to crops.     

不同促腐菌剂对有机废弃物堆肥效果的研究

为了促进当地农业有机废弃物资源的循环利用,以牛粪、鸡粪、食用菌渣为堆肥原料并协调碳氮比为30∶1,添加不同的微生物菌剂进行堆肥,研究堆肥过程中的温度、pH值、全氮、铵态氮、硝态氮和发芽指数的变化趋势,比较不同菌剂处理在堆肥前后养分含量的差异。结果表明,枯草芽孢菌剂和EM菌剂处理堆肥初期升温快,发酵基和速腐剂处理堆肥初期升温相对缓慢;枯草芽孢菌剂处理高温阶段温度基本上维持在70℃上下,堆肥前后氮素损失率最大为33.18%,发芽指数最低,而EM菌剂处理的高温阶段温度维持在55~68℃,氮素损失率最小为10.73%,发芽指数在堆肥21 d为51.55%,达到了基本腐熟,堆肥35 d为84.27%,达到了完全腐熟,堆肥腐熟快于其他处理。因此,在利用牛粪等有机废弃物进行高温好氧堆肥过程中,需要选择具有多种微生物能够相互协调作用并适应高温堆肥的菌剂,并且菌剂用量适宜,以达到减少氮素损失,提高堆肥的效果。     

Opposite effects of two organic wastes on the physical quality of an agricultural soil

Soil application of organic wastes (OWs) can be beneficial for soil quality, depending on the quality of the wastes as well as on the amended soil. We performed a field experiment comparing the effects of two different OWs, an industrial sewage sludge (ISS) and a municipal solid waste compost (MSWC), on the physical, chemical and biological quality of an agricultural soil cultivated with maize in central Iran. The two OWs were mixed into the topsoil of the plots at rates of 15 and 45 t ha^?1 (dry matter). The analysis of soil samples taken 31, 74, 132 and 241 days after OW application showed both OW increased organic matter, microbial respiration, and urease activity and decreased bulk density. In contrast, they had opposite effects on water retention and saturated hydraulic conductivity. While the MSWC increased water retention at high saturation and saturated hydraulic conductivity, the ISS decreased them. The negative effects of the ISS on physical soil quality, which may have been due to pore-clogging and hydrophobicity effects, were related to a smaller yield increase in the ISS than in the MSWC treatments, demonstrating the importance that physical OW properties can have for the quality of amended soil.     

Short-term impact of two liquid organic fertilizers on Solanum lycopersicum L. rhizosphere Eubacteria and Archaea diversity

This study evaluates the effect of two different kinds of liquid organic fertilizers and a mineral fertilizer on microbial populations (Eubacteria and Archaea) living in the tomato rhizosphere. The organic fertilizers comprised a stillage from bakery yeasts production, characterized by acidic pH and high organic nitrogen content, as well as a vermicompost extract with alkaline pH and low nitrogen content. The number of operational taxonomic units (OTUs) of Archaea species significantly increased after the addition of both the organic and mineral fertilizers, in comparison to the unfertilized control. Eubacteria OTUs increased only in plants treated with the stillage. T-RFLPs profiles identified different clusters of soil rhizospheric Archaea and Eubacteria in treatments of both organic and mineral fertilizers. However, multivariate analyses performed on indicators of genetic diversity, based on the T-RFLPs profiles, and Shannon and equitability indexes of the Archaea and Eubacteria communities, pointed out marked differences between the control (or the mineral fertilization) and the organic fertilizers. The latter treatments induced also a higher root growth and a modification of the root architecture in comparison to both control and mineral fertilizer. The results are discussed with reference to the effect of the organic products on rhizospheric soil characteristics and the relationships between the plant and the rhizospheric microorganisms.     

Short-term green manure and tillage management effects on maize yield and soil quality in an Andisol

Andisols are very important land resources supporting high human population density. Maize (Zea mays L.) production on Andisols located in the Purhepecha Region of central Mexico is representative of the highlands conditions of Mexico and Latin America. Farmers struggle with low crop yield and low soil nutrient availability. A 2-year field study was conducted to evaluate the effects of green manures either tilled into the soil (CT) or cut and left on the surface as a mulch (ZT), on maize yield and soil quality. Green manure treatments were: vetch (Vicia sativa L.), oat (Avena sativa L.) and none. No extra N was added to maize. Green manure and tillage had a significant effect on maize grain yield, N uptake and P uptake with CT vetch performing better than ZT oat. Soil organic C and total N were significantly higher under ZT than under CT management. Soils with vetch had higher P concentration. Soil under ZT oat had the highest infiltration rate and penetration resistance compared with other treatments. There appears to be a trade off between soil productivity and intrinsic soil physical properties among soil treatments.     

The quality of exogenous organic matter: short-term effects on soil physical properties and soil organic matter fractions

We examined the short-term effect of five organic amendments and compared them to plots fertilized with inorganic fertilizer and unfertilized plots on aggregate stability and hydraulic conductivity, and on the OC and ON distribution in physically separated SOM fractions. After less than 1 year, the addition of organic amendments significantly increased ( P  <   0.01) the aggregate stability and hydraulic conductivity. The stability index ranged between 0.97 and 1.76 and the hydraulic conductivity between 1.23 and 2.80 × 10⁻³ m/s for the plots receiving organic amendments, compared with 0.34–0.43, and 0.42–0.64 × 10⁻³ m/s, respectively, for the unamended plots. There were significant differences between the organic amendments (P <  0.01), although these results were not unequivocal for both soil physical parameters. The total OC and ON content were significantly increased ( P  <   0.05) by only two applications of organic fertilizers: between 1.10 and 1.51% OC for the amended plots versus 0.98–1.08% for the unamended and between 0.092 and 0.131% ON versus 0.092–0.098% respectively. The amount of OC and ON in the free particulate organic matter fraction was also significantly increased ( P  <   0.05), but there were no significant differences ( P  <   0.05) in the OC and ON content in the POM occluded in micro-aggregates and in the silt + clay-sized organic matter fraction. The results showed that even in less than 1 year pronounced effects on soil physical properties and on the distribution of OC and ON in the SOM fractions occurred.     

施用有机肥对番茄品质风味的影响

番茄的品质和风味是决定番茄口感的重要因素。以不施肥作为对照,在等氮投入条件下,分别以普通有机肥、沼渣及精制有机肥(中量)作为供试肥料,研究了有机肥对番茄品质和风味的影响,其中精制有机肥共设置了3个施肥水平(分别为19、38和57 t/hm~2的低、中和高量)。结果表明:施用有机肥后番茄产量增加了4.8%~14.4%,其中中量精制有机肥增产效果最好。施用有机肥尤其是中量精制有机肥可以显著增加番茄可溶性固形物、还原型维生素C、可溶性总糖等含量。番茄风味化合物主要以醛酮类、醇类及烷类为主。施用有机肥可以显著增加风味化合物的种类和数量,尤其是中量精制有机肥的施用,显著增加了番茄中醛酮类、酯类、酰肼、羟胺、有机酸等化合物。就番茄产量和品质而言,施用中量(38 t/hm~2)精制有机肥是最佳施肥方案。     

Effect of solid waste compost on microbiological and physical properties of a burnt forest soil in field experiments

 The restoration of soil microbial activities is a basic step in the reclamation of burnt soils. For this reason, the ability of municipal solid waste compost to accelerate the re-establishment of bacterial and fungal populations, as well as to re-establish physical properties in a burnt soil, was evaluated in a field experiment. Four treatments were performed by adding different doses of compost (0, 0.5, 1 and 2 kg compost m^–2 soil) to a burnt Calcic Rodoxeralf soil, and the changes in microbial populations, salt content, aggregate stability and bulk density were evaluated for 1 year. Initially, the addition of compost had a negative effect on soil microbial populations, but 3 months after compost addition, the number of viable fungal propagules increased in all the amended soils. This positive effect lasted until the end of the experiment. From 30 days onwards, all the amended soils showed a greater total number of bacterial cell forming units than the unamended burnt soil. Organic amendment increased the percentage of 2- to 4-mm aggregates, although the effect on the stability of the 0.2- to 2-mm aggregates and on bulk density was less noticeable. Received: 24 November 1999