Long-term effects of compost amendment of soil on functional and structural diversity and microbial activity

We studied the effects of applying different composts (urban organic waste, green waste, manure and sewage sludge), mineral fertilizer and compost plus mineral fertilizer on chemical, biological and soil microbiological parameters over a 12‐year period. The organic C and total N levels in soils were increased by all compost and compost + N treatments. Microbial biomass C was significantly (P ≤ 0.05) increased for some compost treatments. In addition, basal respiration and the metabolic quotient (qCO₂) were significantly higher in all soils that had received sewage sludge compost. The Shannon diversity index (H), based on community level physiological profiling, showed a higher consumption of carbon sources in soils treated with compost and compost + N compared with the control. The utilization of different guilds of carbon sources varied amongst the treatments (compost, compost + N or mineral fertilizer). Cluster analysis of polymerase chain reaction‐denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis patterns showed two major clusters, the first containing the mineral fertilization and compost treatments, and the second, the composts + N treatments. No differences in bacterial community structure could be determined between the different types of compost. However, the results suggest that long‐term compost treatments do have effects on the soil biota. The results indicate that the effects on the qCO₂ may be due to shifts in community composition. In this study, it was not possible to distinguish with certainty between the effects of different composts except for compost derived from sewage sludge.     

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.     

Traceability of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria in compost-treated soils

Composts are increasingly used as environmentally safe biofertilizers in sustainable agriculture all over the world. Although it is well known that composts may contribute to soil vitality and sustainability, and in the enhancement of various soil microbiological processes, little is known about their direct or indirect effects on a microbial-community or population level. Ammonia oxidation by autotrophic ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) is a key process in agricultural and natural ecosystems and plays an important role in the global nitrogen cycle. Here, we studied the diversity and community composition of ammonia oxidizers in a long-term crop rotation field experiment (>10 years) where four major types of compost (from organic waste, cattle manure, green waste and sewage sludge) had been applied annually. The methods used ranged from PCR-DGGE (denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis) and cloning of 16S rDNA fragments to quantitative real-time PCR. Cluster analysis of DGGE profiles differentiated between the microbial communities of composts, compost-treated soils and mineral-fertilized soils. The community composition of the composts was not reflected in the community composition of the compost-treated soils. Sequencing of screened clones revealed a characteristic AOB community structure for the representative soil sample and the four composts. All AOB-like sequences grouped within the Nitrosospira cluster 3 and 4 and within the Nitrosomonas cluster 6 and 7. The average AOB abundance in compost-treated soils was two times higher than in mineral-fertilized soils (4.3×10⁷ and 1.9×10⁷, respectively). Our data suggest that composts do not leave direct microbial imprints in soils after long-term amendment, but an indirect effect on the AOB community was evident.     

Structure and function of the soil microbial community in a long-term fertilizer experiment

The effect of organic and inorganic fertiliser amendments is often studied shortly after addition of a single dose to the soil but less is known about the long-term effects of amendments. We conducted a study to determine the effects of long-term addition of organic and inorganic fertiliser amendments at low rates on soil chemical and biological properties. Surface soil samples were taken from an experimental field site near Cologne, Germany in summer 2000. At this site, five different treatments were established in 1969: mineral fertiliser (NPK), crop residues removed (mineral only); mineral fertiliser with crop residues; manure 5.2 t ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹; sewage sludge 7.6 t ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ or straw 4.0 t ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ with 10 kg N as CaCN₂ t straw⁻¹. The organic amendments increased the C_org content of the soil but had no significant effect on the dissolved organic C (DOC) content. The C/N ratio was highest in the straw treatment and lowest in the mineral only treatment. Of the enzymes studied, only protease activity was affected by the different amendments. It was highest after sewage amendment and lowest in the mineral only treatment. The ratios of Gram+ to Gram− bacteria and of bacteria to fungi, as determined by signature phospholipid fatty acids, were higher in the organic treatments than in the inorganic treatments. The community structure of bacteria and eukaryotic microorganisms was assessed by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) and redundancy discriminate analyses of the DGGE banding patterns. While the bacterial community structure was affected by the treatments this was not the case for the eukaryotes. Bacterial and eukaryotic community structures were significantly affected by C_org content and C/N ratio.     

Changes in soil nutrient content and bacterial community after 12 years of organic amendment application to a vineyard

An interesting alternative to landfills for disposing of organic residues is their addition to soil as composted organic residues. There is little information available about the long‐term benefits following prolonged periods of application. After 12 years of annual incorporation of organic amendments to the soil of a vineyard, three soil characteristics were analysed: mineral content, bacterial community and soil greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The organic amendments were (i) a pelletized organic compost (PEL) made from plant, animal and sewage sludge residues, (ii) a compost made from the organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OF‐MSW) and (iii) a stabilized sheep manure compost (SMC). Mineral fertilizer (NPK) and an unaltered control treatment were also included. Our results showed that long‐term application of treated residues as compost changed soil nutrient content, bacterial community and gas emission rates. For instance, SMC increased nutrients and soil organic matter (OM) throughout the experiment. There was a change in bacterial community structure, with an increase in the phylum Proteobacteria observed for all four treated soils, and an increase in the phylum Bacteroidetes for PEL, OF‐MSW and SMC treatments. Among the organically‐amended soils, the amount of Adhaeribacter increased by a factor of 2.5 times more than the control, which reported a total of 2.0% of the bacterial community compared with 5.6% for PEL, 5.2% for OF‐MSW and 5.0% for SMC. Adhaeribacter may be a genus that specializes in the degradation of residues in the different composts. The SMC treatment had the largest Chao1 estimator and was the most biodiverse of all treatments. These changes in bacterial community structure did not correlate with the observed GHG fluxes from the sampling day. The application of amendments did not affect N₂O fluxes. However, the application of treatments slightly reduced the capacity for CH₄ sequestration by soil with respect to the untreated soils. Compost is an effective method to increase soil fertility. Soil GHG emissions should be further evaluated.     

Improvement of earthworm (Lumbricidae) community and activity in mine soils from open-cast coal mining by the application of different organic waste materials

Earthworms are important members of the decomposer food web in a wide range of sites. Previous field investigations on the development of earthworm populations of mine soils in the Lusatian coal mining region, Germany, have shown quite small population densities in quaternary sands and less or even no earthworms present in sandy soils derived from tertiary deposits. The aim of the present investigation was to improve the development of earthworm populations in mine soils from tertiary deposits by applying various types and amounts of organic waste residues, such as sewage sludge, composted sewage sludge, and green waste derived compost. Additionally, we were interested in the stimulation effect of organic waste materials on parameters of earthworm activity, such as food consumption and burrowing activity. The investigations were carried out in field mesocosms and laboratory experiments (microcosms; observation cages). In general, the population density, fresh biomass, food consumption, and the burrowing activity of earthworms were significantly improved by the application of the various organic waste materials compared with mineral fertilizers. Fresh sewage sludge in addition to composted sewage sludge were found to be the most favourable organic waste residues compared with green waste derived composts. The addition of brown coal sludge to sewage sludge did not reduced the stimulation effect. There was considerable variation in the population structure of a defined earthworm community which was exposed in the mesocosms during a two year period in relation to the types and amounts of the organic waste materials applied.     

Soil organic carbon and nitrogen in aggregates in response to over seven decades of farmyard manure application

The study aimed to evaluate the effects of long-term fertilisation on soil aggregation and the associated changes in soil organic carbon (SOC) and nitrogen (N) pools in aggregates. The combined application of mineral fertiliser and manure improved soil aggregation, SOC and N content in aggregates, compared to manure or mineral fertiliser alone, and thus proved to be a suitable fertilisation strategy to increase C sequestration in agroecosystems.     

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.     

Impact of Sewage Sludge Compost Utilization on Chemical Properties of Olive Grove Soils

Field experiments were conducted for four years, between 1998 and 2002, in two olive grove soils of adult olive orchards (Olea europaea L. cv. Cornicabra) in a clay loam soil in Seseña (Toledo, Spain) and in a sandy loam soil in Aranjuez (Madrid, Spain). There were four treatments, sewage sludge compost (SSC), sewage sludge compost plus urea (SSC+U), urea (U) and control (C). Each treatment was replicated four times and two depths were studied (0-15 and 15-30 cm). Once a year, before spreading sewage sludge compost, soil samples were taken at depths of 0 to 15 cm and 15 to 30 cm. Organic matter, total Kjeldhal nitrogen, phosphorus availability, pH, and electric conductivity were measured. No differences were found between treatment on organic matter and electric conductivity after four years of application of sewage sludge compost to two olive grove soils. In relation to nitrogen content, sewage sludge compost, only in Seseña, produced higher nitrogen soil content than the traditional urea treatment. Sewage sludge compost applied on olive grove soils improved the Phosphorus availability for the olive tree. In Aranjuez, the use of sewage sludge compost increased the pH of the soil with respect to Urea and Control plots. In Seseña, the reverse effect was found.     

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.     

Nitrogen and Phosphorus Availability in Groundfish Waste and Chitin-Sludge Cocomposts

Seafood processing generates a substantial volume of wastes. This study examined the feasibility of converting the fish waste into useful fertilizer by composting. Groundfish waste and chitin sludge generated from the production of chitin were composted with red alder or a mixture of western hemlock and Douglas-fir sawdust to produce four composts: alder with groundfish waste (AGF); hemlock/fir with groundfish waste (HGF); alder with chitin sludge (ACS); and hemlock/fir with chitin sludge (HCS). The resulting AGF had a higher total N and a lower C:N ratio than the other three composts. A large portion of the total N in the AGF, HGF, and HCS composts was in inorganic forms (NH₄⁺-N and NO₃^?-N), as opposed to only two percent in the ACS compost. Alder sawdust is more quickly decomposed, which favored N retention and limited nitrification during the composting period. It was less favorable than the hemlock/Douglas fir sawdust for composting with chitin sludge. Corn growth on soil amended with compost was dependent upon both compost type and rate. Nitrogen and P availabilities in all composts except the ACS were high and compost addition enhanced corn yields, tissue N and P concentrations, and N and P up-take. Neither the total N concentration nor the C:N ratio of the composts was an effective measure of compost N availability in the soil. Because soil inorganic N test levels correlated well with the corn biomass, tissue N and N uptake, they should be an effective measure of the overall compost effects on soil N availability and corn growth response. Phosphorus concentration, which increased linearly with increasing compost rates, was related to soil P availability from compost additions and correlated well with corn biomass, tissue P concentration and P uptake under uniform treatments of N and K fertilizers. Composting groundfish waste with alder or hemlock/Douglas-fir sawdust can produce composts with sufficient amounts of available N and P to promote plant growth and is considered to be a viable approach for recycling and utilizing groundfish waste.     

Effects of Composted Pulp and Paper Industry Wastewater Treatment Residuals on Soil Properties And Cereal Yield

The aim of this study was to investigate effects of pulp and paper industry wastewater treatment sludge composts on soil and cereal crops. Five forest industry wastewater sludge composts were tested in a field study which was conducted in a silty clay soil in southern Finland with barley in 1998, with oats in 1999 and with barley in 2000. Two composts contained only pulp mill biosludge and bark in a ratio of 1:4 and 1:2, respectively. Two other composts were mixtures of biosludge and primary sludge with the addition of bark in a ratio of 1:2 and 3:4, respectively. These two wastewater sludges originated from a pulp mill and from a recycled paper mill. The fifth compost consisted of biosludge and primary sludge from a board mill. Two application rates of each compost were studied: the low rate was based on an annual P fertilization rate recommended for barley, 50-200 m³/ha; and the high rate was a double or triple the low rate depending on the mineral N concentration of the compost, 150-600 m³/ha. Based on the Finnish fertilizer recommendations, nutrient demands of the test plants were annually fulfilled by mineral fertilizers depending on the treatment. Total contents of N, P, K and Ca in composts were 8.8-17.5, 0.7-3.9, 1.5-6.5, and 4-25 g/kg dry matter, respectively. Especially at high doses, composts had beneficial effects on soil bulk density, porosity, C and N contents and C:N ratio. Despite the high total N rates applied with the composts, the mineralization following crop harvest did not significantly increase soil nitrate late autumn or following spring as compared to the soils that received mineral fertilization. There was no significant difference in the grain yields between plots that received mineral fertilization and compost treatments supplemented with mineral fertilizers. However, there was a decreased fertilization effect of some composts on straw yields during the first experimental year, indicating immobilization of mineral N. Heavy metals added in soil with the composts did not significantly increase their concentrations in the grain crops. All the composts had relatively low nutrient contents and low fertilizing value, but beneficial effects on soil properties and were regarded as soil conditioners. Soil improving and fertilizing effects of the composts varied annually depending on the weather conditions during the growing season. Heavy metal concentrations of the composts studied were far below the limit values set for the soil conditioners in the Finnish government regulations.     

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%.     

污泥及其混合堆肥对番茄土壤性质和N_2O排放的影响

目前关于污泥及其生物质堆肥的土地利用过程中土壤性质变化和温室气体排放数据十分缺乏,难以满足农田土壤氮素保存和温室气体减排的需求。该研究通过在番茄种植过程中添加800 kg/hm2新鲜污泥(S-H)、400 kg/hm2新鲜污泥(S-L)、800 kg/hm2秸秆堆肥(VM-S)和800 kg/hm2猪粪堆肥(VM-M),开展土壤性质、无机氮形态、作物生长以及N2O排放特征的研究。结果表明:堆肥处理显著增加了土壤电导率(electric conductivity,EC)(P0.05),其中猪粪堆肥时土壤EC值最大。添加污泥和堆肥都使土壤p H值显著上升(P0.05),最终趋于中性,且VM-M对土壤酸化的抑制效果略优于VM-S。污泥和堆肥处理时土壤NO3--N浓度显著高于对照,且各处理组NO3--N浓度均随时间逐渐下降,NO3--N主要被番茄吸收,部分NO3--N从土壤上层淋溶至下层;NH4+大多数被氧化为NO3-,部分NH4+被植物吸收。在施入的无机氮量相等情况下,VM-M、VM-S、S-H处理组中番茄地上部分生物量分别为1 515、1 383、1 103 g/株,株高分别为56.8、54.5、51.3 cm,对番茄生长的促进效果为VM-MVM-SS-H,而S-H比S-L多施入的氮肥对番茄生长并未起到明显促进作用(P0.05)。与对照相比,污泥或生物质堆肥都显著提高了土壤N2O的排放(P0.05),各处理组N2O的排放均集中于施肥后的前20天,且土壤N2O的排放通量大小顺序为S-L(0.76 kg/(hm2·a))VM-M(0.95 kg/(hm2·a))VM-S(1.19 kg/(hm2·a))S-H(1.71 kg/(hm2·a))。因此,在进行污泥及其生物质堆肥的土地利用时,应考虑有机肥的种类及其施用量,以在提高作物产量的同时改善土壤并减少温室气体排放,在进行污泥的农田利用时可先将污泥与畜禽粪堆肥。     

Heavy metal levels in apple orchards after the application of two composts

Abstract

Two composts were tested in eleven different Malus domestica orchards: one was a sewage sludge and bark compost with a low heavy metal content, the other was a municipal solid waste compost with a higher concentration of metals. For six years the zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), and chromium (Cr) content were monitored in the soil, both in ‘total’ and EDTA extractable form, and in leaves and fruits. The resulting data demonstrate clearly that the sewage sludge and bark compost did not cause any significant increase of heavy metal levels in soil and plants; this compost can thus be used to fertilize the soil with no danger either to the environment or to crops. In contrast, the municipal solid waste compost led to a notable accumulation of all the metals examined in the soil and, above all in the case of Pb and Cd, also in the vegetation and the fruits.     

Changes in organic matter and enzymatic activity of an agricultural soil amended with metal‐contaminated sewage sludge compost

Abstract

The effect of organic amendment with sewage sludge composts of varying heavy metal content on the organic matter content and enzymatic activity of an agricultural soil supporting barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) or lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) crops was studied. The organic amendments did not improved lettuce growth, the contaminated composts having a negative effect on yield. However, all organic amendments improved barley straw yields although they did not affect grain yields. The addition of the organic materials increased the total carbohydrate content of the soil although this content decreased with cultivation. There was a clearly observed effect of crop type and the degree of heavy metal contamination of the amendment on the most labile carbon (C) fractions (water‐soluble C, carbohydrates, and polyphenolics). In general, soil enzymatic activities were stimulated by addition of sewage sludge compost with low heavy metal content. The compost containing high level of cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), and zinc (Zn) inhibited protease‐BAA activity with respect to the other composts. After cultivation, urease activity increased in soil amended with the high dose of composts, regardless their degree of metallic contamination. Both crop type and metallic contamination contained in the organic materials added influenced phosphatase and ß‐glucosidase activity.     

Rice yield nutrient uptake as affected by cyanobacteria soil amendments—a pot experiment

Rice production and cyanobacterial N in acid soil can be improved by liming. There is evidence that the organic amendments can increase the soil pH. The aim of this study was to find appropriate combination of soil amendments and cyanobacteria capable for enhancing nutrient uptake and improving rice yield in acidic paddy soil. Three soil amendments (rice straw, sewage‐sludge composts, NPK) with and without inoculation of cyanobacteria were studied for rice plants (Oryza sativa L.) in a pot experiment. The sludge compost had significantly reduced soil acidity from 5.44 to 6.67. The plant N and K uptake increased significantly with sludge and cyanobacteria application. The yield components increased significantly with sludge, but decreased thereafter, an exception was the number of panicles, with straw compost. These characters were also significantly affected by inoculation with cyanobacteria except 100‐grain weight, filled‐grain percentage, and harvest index. The combination of sludge compost and cyanobacteria improved the yield components and consequently grain yield (138 g pot^–1) compared with sludge treatment only (132 g pot^–1). The amount of cyanobacterial N absorbed (N‐difference method) by rice plant under sludge compost was higher than that of soils amended with either rice straw or NPK treatments. Therefore, the addition of sewage sludge to acid paddy soil not only amended the soil properties but also activated the cyanobacteria and consequently improved rice plant nutrition and grain yield.     

土壤中可溶性氮和pH对有机肥和化肥的短期响应

通过温室盆栽试验,施用猪粪堆肥(PC)、污泥堆肥(SC)、菜籽饼肥(CM)和无机化肥(IF)后,对土壤pH值和不同形态氮素的短期响应进行研究,探讨土壤可溶性无机氮、有机氮及土壤pH值之间的相互关系。结果表明,CM,PC和IF处理的pH值都呈现先快速下降后缓慢回升的趋势,但PC处理下降幅度较小;而SC处理和不施肥对照(CK)处理的pH值基本不变;不同施肥处理均提高了土壤中氮素水平,3种有机肥中以CM处理最显著地提高了土壤中总可溶性氮(TDN)、NH4+-N、NO3--N和可溶性有机氮(DON)浓度,PC处理的次之,SC处理的最弱,而IF处理与CM处理提高幅度相似。不同施肥处理中土壤可溶性氮表现出不同的短期响应,IF处理和CM处理的TDN分别经过11,13d的稳定期后迅速上升到一个较高的水平,至31d开始下降;PC处理和SC处理未出现突然升高的现象,而是前20d较稳定在一定的范围内波动,之后缓慢下降,总体与对照趋势一致。不同处理土壤中NH4+-N均呈下降趋势;IF处理、CM处理的NO3--N呈增加趋势,PC处理的呈先增加后降低趋势,而SC处理的呈缓慢下降趋势,结果说明不同有机肥在土壤中的转化存在明显的差异。相关性分析显示,CM处理、IF处理的土壤pH值与NH4+-N呈极显著正相关,而与NO3--N呈极显著负相关;除PC处理外,其他处理的DON含量与TDN具有显著正相关性,而PC处理的DON同时与NH4+-N、NO3--N呈显著负相关。     

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     

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.