Effect of slow releasing nitrogen fertilizers on nutrient status across wheat rhizosphere grown on volcanic ash

Abstract

The volcanic ash of the Mount Pinatubo in Philippines was used in this study. The major drawbacks of this ash for growing agricultural crops are nitrogen (N) and iron (Fe) deficiencies with low organic matter contents. The main objective of this study is to investigate the wheat grown on the volcanic ash to and determine the nutrient status across its rhizosphere using a rhizobox system. Either oxamide or polyolefinresin‐coated urea (PORCU) along with potash and phosphate fertilizers was applied to each rhizobox containing the volcanic ash. Plants were grown on the central compartment (CC) of the rhizobox. The nutrient status was examined by the assessment of distribution patterns of NH₄ ⁺‐N, NO₃ ^‐‐N, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, K⁺, Cl^‐, SO₄ ^2‐, PO₄ ^3‐, and associated pH. Although NH₄ ⁺‐N in both oxamide and PORCU treatments was accumulated to a somewhat considerable extent of the rhizosphere. The rhizosphere effect was more prominent in oxamide treatment. While NO₃ ^‐‐N concentrations in either of the treatment was low with a mere rhizosphere effect in PORCU treatment and a rugged distribution in oxamide treatment. Dominant anions and cations accumulated in the CC and the near by compartments of oxamide treatment were Cl^‐, SO₄ ^2‐ and Ca²⁺, respectively. In contrast, SO₄ ^2‐ and K⁺ were accumulated in the CC and the adjacent PORCU treated compartments. Thus the overall distribution of nutrients and pH across the wheat rhizosphere was rugged. Despite of this, it seems that with a rugged nutrient distribution and pH, the effects of slow releasing N fertilizers may well ensure the N benefit on plants while growing on the volcanic ash under circumstances of low N content.     

Barley growth in response to potassium fertilization of soil with long term application of sewage sludge

Application of sludges to agricultural land depressed plant growth despite its beneficial effects on crop production. Hence it remained to be determined whether sludge application induced any adverse effect on crop nutrition or growth. Thus the growth response of barley on an Andosol to which two kinds of sewage sludge compost had been applied for 17 y was tested in pot experiments with and without application of chemical K fertilizer. The addition of K in the sewage sludge composts resulted in the improvement of plant growth, high dry matter production and increase of total K content both in plant and soil compared to the materials without K application. It was assumed that long term application of sewage sludge requires chemical fertilizer amendment for crop production.     

污泥堆肥对迎春和紫穗槐生长的影响及其施用量确定

采用盆栽土培试验的方法,研究了污泥堆肥对水土保持措施常用植物迎春(Jasminum nudiflo-rum)和紫穗槐(Amorpha fruticosa)生长的影响。结果表明,迎春和紫穗槐在污泥堆肥施用比例分别为栽培土量的0~5%和0~10%时,株高、冠幅及植物干重均随污泥堆肥施用比例的增加而增加。施用适量的污泥堆肥有利于植物的生长。并根据重金属不同形态的环境风险引入毒性响应系数,最终确定了北京市通州区污泥堆肥合理施用量为3.62 t/(hm2.a)。     

污泥改良锰矿尾渣对4种花卉植物生长及其富集重金属的影响

采用盆栽试验方法,研究了污泥改良锰矿尾渣对紫茉莉（Mirabills jdapa）、青葙（Celosia argentea）、一串红（Salviasplendens）和鸡冠花（Celosia cristata）4种花卉植物生长及其富集铅、镉、锌和锰的影响。结果表明,添加污泥增加基质的EC值、总氮、总磷、总钾和有机质含量,而降低铅、镉、锌和锰含量。紫茉莉与青葙生物量、株高和根长大于一串红和鸡冠花。紫茉莉根部铅、镉和锰含量分别为3110．93～4189．16、300．28～399．16和31100．93～36809．77mg·kg-1,都远高于其地上部分含量。青葙根部铅含量超过1000mg·kg-1,而其地上部分含量少;其地上部分镉和锰含量分别为322．13～441．88和21888．54～26511．31mg·kg-1,都大于其根部含量,青葙具有镉和锰超富集植物的特性。污泥改良锰矿尾渣促进这4种花卉植物生物量、株高和根长增加。除紫茉莉锌含量外,添加污泥改良锰矿尾渣增加这4种花卉植物的铅、镉、锌和锰含量。在锰矿尾渣污染区进行植物修复时,采用紫茉莉、青葙和添加污泥强化植物修复效率可行。     

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。     

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.     

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.     

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.     

Effect of sewage sludge on nodulation and N2−fixation in alfalfa grown on calcareous loamy soils

The influence of different rates of sludge applications to calcareous loamy soils of Saudi Arabia, on nodulation and symbiotic N₂?fixation in alfalfa plants (Medicago sativa L.) was studied in a pot experiment. The effect of heavy metals accumulation in soil due to continuous irrigation of the test soil with sewage water was also investigated. Application of up to 80 g sludge per pot enhanced nodulation, nitrogenase activity, dry matter yield and N-contents of alfalfa plants growing in loamy soils either previously irrigated with sewage water or well water. However, sludge applied at the rate of 160–200 g pot^?1 inhibited the nodulation, N accumulation and dry matter yield of alfalfa. The response of alfalfa to sludge was dependent on the rhizobial strain used. Our results also showed that accumulation of heavy metals due to continuous irrigation of a calcareous sandy loam soil with sewage water, for more than 10 years, didn't inhibit N₂?fixation in alfalfa plants, but enhanced it. Microelements in alfalfa plants increased with increase in the rate of sludge application. Although high rates of sludge application affected nodulation and N₂?fixation of alfalfa, dry matter and the nitrogen contents of the plants were not highly affected. Therefore, the inhibitory effect of high rates of sludge was most probably due to the toxic effect of heavy metals on the microsymbiont rather than on the plants.     

Use of paper mill residuals as soil amendments

Abstract

Different admixtures of soil, paper mill sludge and fly ash were evaluated in greenhouse and field experiments as a final cover for landfills. The admixtures and three grass legume mixtures were evaluated for germination, plant height, biomass production, and root penetration. Admixtures with equal parts soil, sludge and fly ash and with three parts sludge, one part fly ash and one pan soil performed the best in the greenhouse experiment. Heavy metal translocation was not a problem in the admixtures because of the high pH and low metal concentrations.     

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。     

Assessment of chemical composition of plants cultivated on two different soils amended with sewage sludge compost using MANOVA

Abstract

Application of organic fertilizers may replenish soil organic matter, improve soil fertility and increase plant yield and its quality. This research deals with the effects of soil amendment with sewage sludge compost (SSC) on the chemical composition of plants (white mustard, triticale and white lupine) cultivated on two contrasting soils (light vs. medium). A 3-year pot experiment was conducted and SSC at the rate of 6?Mg ha^?1 was applied to the soils.The study clearly demonstrated that SSC as an organic fertilizer had a minor influence on the modification of the chemical composition of shoots and grain cultivated in crop rotation plants and it was more evident in medium soil. The statistically confirmed effect was mainfested in higher c ontents of N and P in grain of plants in the 2^nd and 3^rd year of the experiment.     

Changes in Thermophilic Bacteria Population and Diversity during Composting of Coal Fly Ash and Sewage Sludge

The thermophilic bacteria in compost made from coal flyash-amended sewage sludge were isolated and identified using theBiolog system to investigate the effect of coal fly ash on thethermophilic decomposition of sewage sludge during composting. Atotal of 8 species of Bacillus were isolated from thecompost and Bacillus brevis was the dominant speciesduring the entire composting process. The present resultsdemonstrate that the Biolog system is a fast and simple methodfor identifying bacterial species in compost, provided thatoptimum conditions could be achieved for the Bacillusculture. Adding coal fly ash as an amendment did not change thedominant bacteria species during composting, but decreased thepopulation and diversity of thermophilic bacteria species due tothe high alkalinity and salinity. Fewer thermophilic bacteriawere detected in ash-amended sewage sludge compost than insludge compost. There was also reduced metabolic activityobserved in the ash-amended sludge compost from the data ofCO₂ evolution and weight loss. Although ash amendmentdemonstrated a negative effect on the population and diversityduring thermophilic phase, it did not cause any significanteffect on compost maturity.     

利用粉煤灰污泥混料改良石灰岩质土壤后的重金属累积状况

通过盆栽试验研究以粉煤灰和污泥混合物为主料,改良石灰岩质土壤后对玉米生长发育的影响,根据重金属富集系数,探讨重金属在土壤和玉米中的累积状况。试验结果表明:石灰岩质土壤中添加粉煤灰污泥混合物后能显著促进玉米的生长和提高玉米的干物重,其中以1:1重量比处理玉米的平均株高、株径及根部、地上部、总干物重分别是对照样的1.56、1.71、1.36、3.81和2.37倍。以不同配比添加混合物后的土壤相对于国家土壤背景值和国家土壤环境质量标准,Hg和Cd表现强烈富集,整体符合国家二级土壤质量标准,且玉米根部几乎所有有害元素的含量均高于对照组,而地上部分除Cu、Zn外均显著低于对照组,但均未达到玉米毒害浓度。另外,在土壤中添加混合物后玉米中几乎所有的有害元素主要累积在根部,有利于其地上部分的生长,减少了通过食物链危害人类的机率。     

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。     

Uptake of multielements by corn from fly ash-compost amended soil

Fly ash was collected from a coal-fired power plant in and near the U.S. Department of Energy Savannah River Site to study the feasibility of the application of fly ash compost mixture to soils for the availability and uptake of various elements by corn (Zea mays L.). The crop was grown in potted Ogeechee sandy loam soil using eight treatments: soil alone, soil amended with 15% compost, and soil amended with 2, 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25% of fly ash-amended compost. It was observed that 20–25% fly ash and compost soil ratio treatments generally increased plant growth and the yield. The plant uptake of K, Mn, and Cu increased with increasing percentages (2–25%) of fly ash+compost: soil ratios. The total content of K in plants was positively correlated with the dry matter yield of corn. This study indicates that the application of fly ash blended with compost to soil is beneficial to corn production without causing any deleterious effects on plant growth and plant composition.     

Comparison of dissolved organic matter from sewage sludge and sludge compost as electron shuttles for enhancing Fe(III) bioreduction

Purpose  

Land utilization of sewage sludge and sludge compost is a common practice in many countries. Soils amended with sewage sludge and sludge compost display different physicochemical properties, especially in terms of dissolved organic matter (DOM) composition that affects the electron-donating capacity (EDC) of DOM in soils. The aim of this paper was to compare the EDC of DOM derived from sewage sludge and sludge compost for enhancing Fe(III) bioreduction. It is expected that this research could be helpful for further understanding of soil remediation in the future.     

Digestion Activity of Thermophilic Bacteria Isolated from Ash-Amended Sewage Sludge Compost

Previous experiments had shown thatco-composting sewage sludge with coal fly ash resultedin a decrease in microbial activity during thethermophilic phase. Therefore, attempts were made toutilize isolated dominant thermophilic bacteria fromash-amended sludge compost to enhance thedecomposition of organic matter in digestion testsinvolving mixtures of sewage sludge and coal fly ash.Cultures of three Bacillus species, i.e., B. brevis, B. coagulans, and B.licheniformis were inoculated into sewage sludgeamended with 25% coal fly ash at cell densitiesranging from 10⁵ to 10⁷ CFU g^-1 drysludge, and were incubated for 10 days in aqueoussuspension. The digestion test showed that aninoculation level of ≥10⁶ CFU g^-1dry sludge was suitable for achieving an acceptablerate of digestion of ash-sludge mixture, as indicatedby the significantly higher evolution of CO₂compared to the control receiving no inoculation.Weight loss and contents of soluble organic carbon,protein, and amino acids were lower in ash-sludgemixture with bacterial inoculation. Hence, all thethree bacilli were able to decompose the organicmatter in ash-sludge mixture faster than that of thecontrol. Among the three bacilli, B. brevis wasless efficient in decomposing the organic matter inthe ash-sludge mixture than the other two bacilli atan inoculation rate of 10⁶ CFU g^-1 drysludge, but no significant difference was noted amongthe three bacilli at an inoculation rate of 10⁷CFU g^-1 dry sludge. It can be concluded that thethree bacilli all exhibited the ability to improve thedecomposition of organic matter in ash-sludge compost.     

Content and chemical form of mercury and selenium in soil,sludge, and fertilizer materials

The content and chemical from of Hg and Se were determined for several samples of municipal sewage sludge and sludge ash, garden soil having a history of sludge and residential compost application, and selected fertilizer materials (peat moss, cow manure, residential compost, composted municipal refuse and sewage sludge, Miloganite). Municipal sewage sludge had the highest levels of total Hg (averaging 1240 ppb), while sludge ash had the lowest levels (averaging 5.6 ppb). Total Se levels were lowest in compost (averaging 255 ppb), while being highest in sludge ash (averaging 11550 ppb). The methylmercury percentage was fairly constant for all samples, averaging 6.0% of the total Hg content. Hexavalent Se averaged 24.3 of the total Se content, and was notably higher in sludge and fertilizer samples. Successive annual application of sludge and compost to garden soil resulted in a gradual increase of total Hg and Se in the soil, but had no significant influence on chemical form distribution for both elements.     

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.