Phosphorus bioavailability of sewage sludge‐based recycled fertilizers

Six phosphorus (P) fertilizers recycled from sewage sludge [Struvite SSL, Struvite AirPrex®, P‐RoC®, Mephrec®, Pyrolysis coal and Ash (Mg‐SSA)] were tested for their plant availability in potted soil of pH 7.2 under greenhouse conditions. The crop sequence simulated a rotation of red clover (Trifolium pratense L.), maize (Zea maize L.), and ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.). Other P fertilizer treatments included: Phosphate Rock (PR), Calcium dihydrogen phosphate [Ca(H₂PO₄)₂], and an unfertilized control. Additionally, soil was regularly inoculated with two strains of plant growth‐promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR; Pseudomonas sp. Proradix, and Bacillus amyloliquefaciens) to test their ability to increase P availability to plants. Sequential P fractionation was conducted to link the amount of readily available P in fertilizers to plant P acquisition. Shoot P content and dry matter of maize decreased in the following order: Struvite SSL ≥ Ca(H₂PO₄)₂ > P‐RoC® ≥ Struvite AirPrex® ≥ Mephrec® > Pyrolysis coal ≥ Mg‐SSA ≥ PR ≥ unfertilized. Rhizobacteria did not affect shoot biomass or P content. The results show that red clover might have mobilized substantial amounts of P. Sequential P fractionation was not suitable to predict the efficacy of the fertilizers. Generally, the sewage sludge‐based fertilizers tested proved to be suitable alternative P sources relevant to organic farming systems. However, the efficacy of recycled fertilizers is strongly dependent on their specific production conditions.     

Increased phosphorus availability from sewage sludge ashes to maize in a crop rotation with clover

A recycling of Phosphorus (P) from the human food chain is mandatory to secure the future P supply for food production. However, many available recycled P fertilizers from sewage sludge do not have an adequate P bioavailability and, thus, are not suitable for their application in soils with pH >5.5–6.0, unless being combined with efficient mobilization measures. The aim of the study was to test the P mobilization ability of red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) from two thermally recycled P fertilizers for a subsequently grown maize. Two sewage sludge ashes (SSA) were investigated in a pot experiment at soil pH 7.5 with red clover differing in its nitrogen (N) supply (added N fertilizer or biological N₂ fixation (BNF)), followed by maize (Zea maize L.). Shoot dry matter of maize was almost doubled when N supply of previous grown clover was covered by BNF, instead of receiving added N fertilizer. Similarly, shoot P removal of maize following clover with BNF was significantly increased. It is suggested that the P mobilization is related to the BNF, and a proton release of N₂ fixing clover roots led to the measured decrease in soil pH and thereby increased P availability of the tested fertilizers.     

Phosphorus bioavailability in ash from straw and sewage sludge processed by low‐temperature biomass gasification

Reuse of phosphorus (P) from waste streams used for bioenergy conversion is desirable to reduce dependence on nonrenewable P resources. Two different ash materials from low‐temperature biomass gasification of wheat straw and sewage sludge, respectively, were investigated with regard to their P bioavailability. A set of pot experiments with spring barley was carried out to compare the ash P fertiliser value with mineral P fertiliser and the sewage sludge feedstock. An indirect radioactive labelling approach with ³³P was used to determine the amount of P taken up from the fertiliser materials. Depending on the application rate, straw gasification ash produced a fertiliser response comparable to mineral P. However, P uptake from the ash was generally less than uptake from equivalent amounts of mineral P, and the calculated relative effectiveness was 44% after 6 weeks of plant growth. In contrast, the P fertiliser value of Fe‐rich sewage sludge after low‐temperature gasification was practically zero. These results suggest that ash from low‐temperature gasification could be developed into alternative P fertilisers; however, as the P bioavailability depends greatly on the feedstock used, a greater emphasis on feedstock composition is required.     

Influence of Sludge Incineration Ash on Ryegrass Growth and Soil Phosphorus Status

Phosphorus(P) is a limited resource that could be depleted. Consequently, recycling the P contained in sewage sludge, including sewage sludge incineration ash(SIA), from wastewater treatment plants is a possibility to be explored. A greenhouse experiment using annual ryegrass(Lolium multiflorum L.) was performed with an experimental design of three completely randomized blocks of two soils and 29 treatments: one control without P and two levels of 9 and 26 kg total P ha~(-1) from 14 different sources: twelve SIAs(not contaminated by trace metals) from the US and Canada, one commercial synthetic fertilizer(triple superphosphate(TSP)), and one commercial rock phosphate(RP). Higher ryegrass biomass levels were achieved at the higher fertilization rate(26 kg total P ha~(-1))and when using the SIAs with the highest P solubility percentage(PSP)(≥ 54% of total P). The biomass increases following SIA application were as high as 29% and 59% more than the control for the sandy loam and clayey soil, respectively, but 40% less than in TSP for both soils. A similar behavior was observed for P uptake, with a maximum increase of 26% for the clayey soil, and 165% for the sandy loam soil. The ryegrass biomass and P uptake increases due to SIA application were larger than those due to RP application in the clayey soil, but similar to those in the sandy loam soil. The SIAs with a PSP of ≥ 54% significantly increased soil available P stocks and saturation. According to our findings, we conclude that the SIAs from municipal and agrifood industries have a potential for P agricultural recycling, but their efficiencies vary.     

Sewage sludge incinerator ash effects on soil chemical properties and growth of lettuce and corn

Abstract

Incineration reduces sewage sludge volume, but management of the resulting ash is an important environmental concern. A laboratory incubation study and greenhouse pot experiments with lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) and corn (Zea mays L.) were conducted to examine the potential for recycling elements in sewage sludge incinerator ash in agricultural systems. Ash rates in both the laboratory and greenhouse were 0, 0.95, 3.8, 15.2, and 61.0 g/kg soil (Typic Hapludoll). Ash was also compared to equivalent rates of citrate soluble P from superphosphate fertilizer in a soil‐less growth medium. During soil: ash incubation, Olsen P and DTPA extractable copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), cadmium (Cd), and lead (Pb) increased with incubation time at the higher ash rates. Release rates diminished rapidly, however, and the limited release of these elements after 280 days was associated with decreasing pH. In the greenhouse, ash amendment increased extractable soil P, plant tissue P, and the growth of lettuce and corn. Ash was a less effective P source than superphosphate fertilizer in the soil‐less growth medium and Olsen P levels were more consistent with these differences than Bray P. Ash increased extractable soil levels and plant tissue concentrations of calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), sodium (Na), Cu, and Zn, but extractable soil manganese (Mn) and plant tissue Mn decreased. Ash increased soil pH and extractable SO₄‐S. DTPA extractable Cd and Pb increased, but chromium (Cr) and nickel (Ni) decreased. Lettuce accumulated higher amounts of these trace metals than corn, but tissue concentrations were at control levels or below detection limits in both crops.     

Biosolubilization of phosphorus from rock phosphate and other P fertilizers in response to phosphate solubilizing bacteria and poultry manure in a silt loam calcareous soil

‘Phosphate solubilizing bacteria' (PSBs) are able to release unavailable P from native and applied P sources into plant‐available soil pool through their solubilizing and acidifying effects. The effects of three indigenous and one exotic PSBs on P solubilization from different P sources, plant biomass production, and P‐uptake efficiency of maize (Zea mays L.) were examined in an incubation and greenhouse study. For incubation study, surface (0–15 cm) soil was collected from an arable field (Inceptisols) and amended with rock phosphate (RP), single superphosphate (SSP), poultry manure (PM), and RP+PM with and without PSBs. The amended soil was incubated in the control environment at 25 ± 2°C for a total of a 100‐d period to establish relative potential rate of P solubilization of added P sources. A complementary greenhouse experiment was conducted in pots by growing maize as a test crop. Growth characteristics, P‐uptake, and P‐utilization efficiency (PUE) were determined. Phosphate solubilizing bacteria generated a solubilization effect on different P sources by releasing more P into plant‐available soil pool, i.e., 14.0–18.3 µg g^?1 in RP, 5.0–9.9 µg g^?1 in SSP, 1.4–4.4 µg g^?1 in PM, and 4.5–7.8 µg g^?1 in RP+PM compared to their sole application without PSBs. The available P from inorganic SSP declined continuously from the mineral pool (after day 30) and at the end 40% of applied P was unaccounted for. However, P losses were reduced to 28 and 27% when PSBs (PSB₁ and PSB₃) were applied with superphosphate treatments. In the absence of PSBs, the recoveries of applied P (in soil) from RP, SSP, PM and RP+PM were 4, 25, 9, and 12%, respectively, those had been increased to 14, 30, 12 and 15% in the presence of PSBs. Similarly, the plant biomass in RP+PSBs treatments compared to the RP without PSBs increased between 12–30% in first sampling (30 DAG) and 13–30% in the second sampling (60 DAG). The P utilization efficiency (PUE) in plants supplemented with PSBs was 20–73% higher compared to those without PSBs. The detection of oxalic and gluconic acids in culture medium treated with PSBs (7.8–25.0 and 25–90 mg L^?1, respectively) confirmed the production of organic acids by the indigenous bacterial isolates. This study indicate that low P recovery both in plant and soil can likely be improved by using indigenous PSBs and organic amendment poultry manure, which allowed a more efficient capture of P released due to P solubilization.     

Characterizing phosphorus availability in waste products by chemical extractions and plant uptake

Background: The fertilizer value of phosphorus (P) in waste products relies heavily on its availability to the subsequent crop. Aim: We studied the link between extractable P in waste products and apparent P recovery (APR, i.e., difference in plant P uptake between P amended and un‐amended soils divided by the amount of P added) using spring barley grown on three sandy soils. Methods: The products included sewage sludge, biomass ash, struvite, compost, meat and bone meal, biochar from sewage sludge, and industrial sludge. Soft rock phosphate and triple‐superphosphate (TSP) were included for comparison. Availability of P was characterized by extraction with water and solutions of sodium bicarbonate, citric acid, oxalic acid, hydrochloric acid, ammonium acetate, ammonium fluoride and anion exchange resin membranes. TSP was used to establish mineral‐fertilizer‐equivalents (MFE). Water and bicarbonate extractions were also applied to products incubated with soil before extraction. Results: The APR ranged 26 to 31% for TSP and 0 to 30% for waste products. APR correlated most strongly with bicarbonate extractable P. The correlation increased when products were incubated with soil before extraction. Conclusions: We conclude that bicarbonate extraction is a good indicator of potential P availability. However, interactions between waste products and soil properties modify P availability.     

Effects of thermal drying on phosphorus availability from iron‐precipitated sewage sludge

Thermal drying of sewage sludge implies sanitation and improves practical handling options of the sludge prior to land application. However, it may also affect its value as a fertilizer. The objective of this study was to assess whether thermal drying of sewage sludge, as well as drying temperature, affects plant P availability after application to soil. The experiment included dewatered sewage sludge (20% DM) and thermally dried sewage sludge (95% DM) collected at a Danish wastewater treatment plant, as well as laboratory oven‐dried (70, 130, 190, and 250°C; DM > 95%) subsamples of the dewatered sludge, and a triple superphosphate as a reference. Plant P availability was studied in a 197 d soil incubation experiment, with sampling for Diffusive Gradients in Thin films (DGT) and water extractable P (WEP) analyses over time, and in a pot experiment with spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.). In both experiments, thermal drying reduced P availability, as shown by 37 and 23% lower DGT and WEP values, respectively, and a 16% lower P uptake by barley in the pot experiment. The specific drying temperature did not appear to have much effect. Overall, our results suggest that thermal drying of iron‐precipitated sewage sludge is not an optimal treatment option if the aim is to optimize plant P availability.     

Interactions of gamma‐irradiated sewage,nitrogen and phosphorus for Sorghum on a calcareous soil

Abstract

The interaction of gamma‐irradiated sewage sludge, nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers on dry matter production, phosphorus concentration and phosphorus uptake of sorghum was examined. Three crops of sorghum were grown in the greenhouse in 19 1 plastic buckets. The phosphorus and sludge treatments were applied at the initiation of the experiment only. Nitrogen was applied to the corresponding nitrogen treatment pots before each of the three croppings.

There was a significant nitrogen x sewage interaction for dry matter production, phosphorus concentration and phosphorus uptake in each harvest. There was a significant phosphorus sewage sludge interaction in the first harvest for phosphorus uptake. All other possible interactions were not statistically significant. The 67 metric ton/ha sludge rate produced nearly the same yield as the nitrogen treatment. In the first harvest, sludge significantly increased plant phosphorus uptake from the fertilizer phosphorus. The phosphorus uptake in sorghum from 472 and 944 kg P/ha from the sludge treatments was comparable to that from 1299 and 2598 kg P/ha from triple superphosphate.     

Phosphorus availability of sewage sludge‐based fertilizers determined by the diffusive gradients in thin films (DGT) technique

The plant‐availability of phosphorus (P) in fertilizers and soil can strongly influence the yield of agricultural crops. However, there are no methods to efficiently and satisfactorily analyze the plant‐availability of P in sewage sludge‐based P fertilizers except by undertaking time‐consuming and complex pot or field experiments. We employed the diffusive gradients in thin films (DGT) technique to quantify the plant P availability of various types of P fertilizers with a novel focus on sewage sludge‐based P fertilizers. Mixtures of fertilizer and soil were incubated for 3 weeks at 60% water holding capacity. DGT devices were deployed at the beginning of the incubation and again after 1, 2, and 3 weeks. Two weeks of incubation were sufficient for the formation of plant‐available P in the fertilizer/soil mixtures. In a pot experiment, the DGT technique predicted maize (Zea mays L.) biomass yield and P uptake significantly more accurately than standard chemical extraction tests for P fertilizers (e.g ., water, citric acid, and neutral ammonium citrate). Therefore, the DGT technique can be recommended as a reliable and robust method to screen the performance of different types of sewage sludge‐based P fertilizers for maize cultivation minimizing the need for time‐consuming and costly pot or field experiments.     

Plant availability of phosphorus from dewatered sewage sludge,untreated incineration ashes,and other products recovered from a wastewater treatment system

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the plant phosphorus (P) availability of products derived from new P‐recovery technologies deployed in wastewater treatment systems against sewage sludge and untreated sewage sludge ashes. Eight P sources were evaluated in a six‐week pot experiment with spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) and a soil incubation experiment with anaerobically digested and dewatered sewage sludge (Sludge), sewage sludge ash (Ash), thermochemically treated sewage sludge ash (TrAsh), struvite (Struv), concentrate (Conc), and centrifuged concentrate (Prec) from evaporated reject water, with triple super phosphate (TSP), and composted organic household waste (Comp) as references. All sludge‐related materials except struvite came from the same wastewater treatment plant in Denmark. The apparent plant P use efficiency (PUE) of the treatments in the pot experiments was in the following order: Prec (17.0%) > TSP (12.8%) ≥ Conc (12.7%) > Sludge (8.8%) ≥ TrAsh (6.9%) ≥ Struv (6.0%) ≥ Comp (5.8%) > Ash (3.4%). The water‐extractable P (WEP) in the incubation experiment largely supported this order and there was a strong correlation between WEP in the incubation experiment and plant P uptake in the pot experiment. Overall, the results of this study demonstrate that it should not automatically be assumed that products recovered with new treatment technologies for P recovery are more effective P fertilizers than the sewage sludge from which they originate. Furthermore, these results indicate that the measurement of water‐extractable P after soil incubation could be a suitable proxy for plant P availability.     

Nickel in a tropical soil treated with sewage sludge and cropped with maize in a long-term field study

Sewage sludge produced by the SABESP wastewater treatment plant (Companhia de Saneamento Básico do Estado de São Paulo), located in Barueri, SP, Brazil, may contain high contents of nickel (Ni), increasing the risk of application to agricultural soils. An experiment was carried out under field conditions in Jaboticabal, SP, Brazil, with the objective of evaluating the effects on soil properties and on maize plants of increasing rates of a sewage sludge rich in Ni that had been applied for 6 consecutive years. The experiment was located on a Typic Haplorthox soil, using an experimental design of randomized blocks with four treatments (rates of sewage sludge) and five replications. At the end of the experiment the accumulated amounts of sewage sludge applied were 0.0, 30.0, 60.0 and 67.5 t ha⁻¹. Maize (Zea mays L.) was the test plant. Soil samples were collected 60 d after sowing at depths of 0-20 cm for Ni studies and from 0 to 10 cm and from 10 to 20 cm for urease studies. Sewage sludge did not cause toxicity or micronutrient deficiencies to maize plants and increased grain production. Soil Ni appeared to be associated with the most stable fractions of the soil organic matter and was protected against strong extracting solutions such as concentrated and hot HNO₃ and HCl. Ni added to the soil by sewage sludge increased the metal concentration in the shoots, but not in the grain. The Mehlich 3 extractor was not efficient to evaluate Ni phytoavailability to maize plants. Soil urease activity was increased by sewage sludge only in the layer where the residue was applied.     

Penicillium bilaii effects on maize growth and P uptake from soil and localized sewage sludge in a rhizobox experiment

With P being a non-renewable resource, the use of microbial inoculants and waste products for more efficient and sustainable P use in plant production has been proposed. We investigated the ability of Penicillium bilaii to mobilize P in a low-fertility soil with or without amendment of sewage sludge as additional P source. Maize was grown for 27 days in rhizoboxes enabling studies of root growth in addition to plant and soil parameters. P. bilaii was inoculated either at the seed or the sewage sludge patch. At early growth stages, P. bilaii inoculation of seeds increased maize shoot length. However, at the end of experiment, the effect had ceased. Root growth was increased by seed P. bilaii inoculation alone and in combination with sewage sludge, whereas patch inoculation was less effective. Colonization studies performed at harvest showed that P. bilaii could not be detected in the maize rhizosphere but stayed at the place of inoculation. In sewage sludge patches, the growth of Penicillium strains other than P. bilaii was stimulated; hence, using sewage sludge for combined P resource and carrier of microbial inoculants is discussed. Unexpectedly, the greater root development of seed-inoculated plants did not result in increased plant P uptake and neither did inoculation at the sewage sludge patch. This study raises the question if the soil P status can be too low for a beneficial effect of additional early root growth and thus a beneficial effect of seed inoculation of P. bilaii.     

Phosphorus bioavailability of sewage sludge‐based recycled fertilizers in an organically managed field experiment

Recycled phosphorus (P) fertilizers from sewage sludge can contribute to the ongoing effort of closing the P cycle. Five recycled P fertilizers (Struvite SSL, Struvite AirPrex®, P‐RoC®, Pyrolysis coal, and Na‐SSA) were tested for their P availability in a two‐year field experiment with maize. The experiment was conducted on an organic certified research station at soil pH 6.5. Other P fertilizer treatments included: phosphate rock (PR), compost, and an unfertilized control. In addition, the rhizobacteria strain Bacillus sp. Proradix (Proradix®) was applied to test its ability to increase P bioavailability. Each year, shoot DM and P offtake of maize was measured and P use efficiency of the tested fertilizers was calculated. No significant differences in shoot DM were found among fertilized treatments and the unfertilized control in both years of experiment. Fertilization with recycled fertilizers increased P offtake by between 0% (Na‐SSA) and 27.5% (Struvite SSL) compared to the unfertilized control. Rhizobacteria application led to an increase in P offtake of maize from 25.9 to 38.7 kg P ha^?1 when combined with PR fertilization in the year of fertilizer application, while no significant effect was found for the recycled fertilizers. Some of the tested recycled fertilizers from urban waste water can be considered as effective fertilizers for their use in organic agriculture.     

Phosphorus uptake from struvite is modulated by the nitrogen form applied

Next to nitrogen, phosphorus (P) is the most limiting nutrient for plant production worldwide. To secure food production, new nutrient management strategies using alternative P sources instead of mined P fertilizers need to be implemented. Struvite (MgNH₄PO₄ · 6 H₂O) is a promising example of a recycled mineral P fertilizer. Besides positive agronomic results regarding crop yields, further investigations are required to improve the use efficiency of the product and thereby increase its value. Using an automated plant phenotyping platform, we investigated the dynamic response to struvite by two plant species (lupine and maize) with diverse P acquisition strategies in an acidic sandy substrate. Although at three weeks after germination both maize and lupine had reduced leaf area in the struvite treatments compared to the commercial triple superphosphate (TSP), from week four onwards struvite plants grew larger than the TSP‐treated plants, indicating a slow release fertilizing effect. Greater P uptake efficiency (g / root length), but reduced root length were observed in the combined treatment of struvite and ammonium, in comparison to struvite and nitrate. We propose that rhizosphere acidification in response to ammonium uptake may enhance P recovery from struvite. A possible additional acidification effect by lupine root exudation might explain the higher P uptake efficiency in this species compared to maize. We conclude that struvite combined with ammonium can be used as a sustainable slow‐release P fertilizer on acidic sandy soils.     

Comparison of phosphate‐phosphorus and total phosphorus in DTPA extracts for assessing plant‐available phosphorus in soilless potting media

Abstract

Hakea francisiana and H. laurina were grown in soilless media based on pine bark, to which had been added one of the following phosphorus (P) sources: crushed bone, rock phosphate, calcined rock phosphate, sewage sludge, or sludge compost. Available P was assessed through extraction with unbuffered 2 mM DTPA. Similar regression equations between shoot P content and P in 2 mM DTPA extracts of the media at potting were obtained for both total P in the extract (determined by inductively coupled plasma emission spectrometry) and PO₄‐P. The difference between them was small compared with the variation caused by different rates of dissolution of P the various sources during the growing period. Extractants give only an approximate guide to plant P uptake when the medium contains sources that slowly dissolve during the growing period. Nevertheless, the data indicate that, irrespective of P source, the maximum P concentration in a 2 mM DTPA extract (1:1.5 v/v) of the medium that is tolerated by P‐sensitive plants is 3–4 mg/L. This is similar to the concentration found previously for superphosphate as the source of P.     

Effect of triple superphosphate and biowaste compost on mycorrhizal colonization and enzymatic P mobilization under maize in a long‐term field experiment

Phosphorus (P) fertilizers and mycorrhiza formation can both significantly improve the P supply of plants, but P fertilizers might inhibit mycorrhiza formation and change the microbial P cycling. To test the dimension and consequences of P fertilizer impacts under maize (Zea mays L.), three fertilizer treatments (1) triple superphosphate (TSP, 21–30 kg P ha^?1 annually), biowaste compost (ORG, 30 Mg ha^?1 wet weight every third year) and a combination of both (OMI) were compared to a non‐P‐fertilized control (C) in 2015 and 2016. The test site was a long‐term field experiment on a Stagnic Cambisol in Rostock (NE Germany). Soil microbial biomass P (P_mic) and soil enzyme activities involved in P mobilization (phosphatases and ß‐glucosidase), plant‐available P content (double lactate‐extract; P_DL), mycorrhizal colonization, shoot biomass, and shoot P concentrations were determined. P deficiency led to decreased P immobilization in microbial biomass, but the maize growth was not affected. TSP application alone promoted the P uptake by the microbial biomass but reduced the mycorrhizal colonization of maize compared to the control by more than one third. Biowaste compost increased soil enzyme activities in the P cycling, increased P_mic and slightly decreased the mycorrhizal colonization of maize. Addition of TSP to biowaste compost increased the content of P_DL in soil to the level of optimal plant supply. Single TSP supply decreased the ratio of P_DL:P_mic to 1:1 from about 4:1 in the control. Decreased plant‐benefits from mycorrhizal symbiosis were assumed from decreased mycorrhizal colonization of maize with TSP supply. The undesirable side effects of TSP supply on the microbial P cycling can be alleviated by the use of compost. Thus, it can be concluded that the plant‐availability of P from soil amendments is controlled by the amendment‐specific microbial P cycling and, likely, P transfer to plants.     

Comparison of Various Phosphate Stabilisation Agents for the Immobilisation of Ni and Zn in Sewage Sludge

The comparison of immobilisation efficiency of various phosphate stabilisation agents for heavy metals in sewage sludge collected from an urban wastewater treatment plant Domale-Kamnik (Slovenia) is reported. The sewage sludge, containing high total concentrations of Zn (2698 ± 8.1 mg kg^-1), Ni (1513 ± 5.7 mg kg^-1), Cr (1118 ± 3.0 mg kg^-1) and Cu (712 ± 2.2 mg kg^-1), was mixed with various types of phosphates: highly soluble Ca(H₂PO₄)₂, synthetic hydroxyapatite, with a solubility between Ca(H₂PO₄)₂ and rock apatite, and bone-meal as an alternative low-cost source of poorly crystalline phosphate, in order to reduce metal mobility. The amounts of stabilising agents added to 1 g of the sludge ranged from 0.05 to 1 g. Water and acetic acid extractions were used for the determinationof water-soluble and potentially bioavailable metal fractions in the sewage sludge and its mixtures with various stabilisation agents.     

Effect of sewage sludge and ammonium nitrate on wheat yield and soil profile inorganic nitrogen accumulation 1

The beneficial effect of sewage sludge in crop production has been demonstrated, but there is concern regarding its contribution to nitrate (NO₃) leaching. The objectives of this study were to compare nitrogen (N) rates of sewage sludge and ammonium nitrate (NH₄NO₃) on soil profile (0–180 cm), inorganic N [ammonium nitrate (NH₄‐N) and nitrate nitrogen (NO₃‐N)] accumulation, yield, and N uptake in winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). One field experiment was established in 1993 that evaluated six N rates (0 to 540 kg·ha^‐1·yr^‐1) as dry anaerobically digested sewage sludge and ammonium nitrate. Lime application in 1993 (4.48 Mg ha^‐1) with 540 kg N ha^‐1·yr^‐1 was also evaluated. A laboratory incubation study was included to simulate N mineralization from sewage sludge applied at rates of 45, 180, and 540 kg N ha^‐1·yr^‐1. Treatments did not affect surface soil (0–30 cm) pH, organic carbon (C), and total N following the first (1994) and second (1995) harvest. Soil profile inorganic N accumulation increased when ≥270 kg N ha^‐1 was applied as ammonium nitrate. Less soil profile inorganic N accumulation was detected when lime was applied. In general, wheat yields and N uptake increased linearly with applied N as sewage sludge, while wheat yields and N uptake peaked at 270 kg N ha^‐1 when N was applied as ammonium nitrate. Lime did not affect yields or N uptake. Fertilizer N immobilization was expected to be high at this site where wheat was produced for the first time in over 10 years (previously in native bermudagrass). Estimated N use efficiency using sewage sludge in grain production was 20% (average of two harvests) compared to ammonium nitrate. Estimated plant N recovery was 17% for sewage sludge and 27% for ammonium nitrate.     

Enhanced plant growth by uniform placement of superphosphate with rock phosphate in acidic soils

Abstract

Partially acidulated rock phosphate or compacted soluble phosphate‐rock phosphate mixture has been suggested as an alternative phosphorus (P) source for plants in acidic soils. Interaction between the soluble and the insoluble fractions would be conducive to plant utilization of both P sources in the fertilizer material. Direct evidence supports the beneficial reactions between the two P sources, however, was still insufficient. A pot experiment was hence conducted to evaluate the possible interaction of ³²P‐labeled single superphosphate (SSP) and a less reactive rock phosphate (RP) from Jinxiang mine, China. In the experiment, SSP and RP were applied to two acidic red soils (typic Hapludults) in a manner that would favor or diminish their interaction either by distributing both P sources homogeneously within the whole volume of the pot soil (uniform placement) or by separating them vertically with each being applied to half of the soil volume (fraction placement). The reference treatments of SSP and RP were arranged in similar manners. Two successive harvests of ryegrass were made during a 2‐month period. Results indicated that uniform placement of SSP and RP significantly enhanced plant growth and P uptake, and that P recovery of SSP‐P in the higher P‐fixing soil was almost twice that of the fraction placement. The data of plant PdfL% (percentage of P derived from labeled‐P), which indicated that >80% of plant P was derived from SSP, however, failed to support the idea that soluble P had increased plant utilization of RP. Alternatively, it is considered that the low grade RP had increased plant utilization of both SSP‐P and soil‐P. Uniform placement of RP and SSP also strikingly improved plant calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) nutrition. The phenomenon suggested that SSP‐RP mixture might be a good P source on similar acidic soils in subtropical China.