The zinc mobility in three different soils amended by sewage sludge incubated with limestone and lime, and Zn uptake by oats

Abstract

The effect of sewage sludge application on three soils of different properties (Chernozems – location Suchdol, Luvisols – location Červený Újezd and Cambisols – location Humpolec) was investigated in pot experiment and the accumulation of Zn in above ground biomass of oat as well as availability of Zn released by 0.01 mol/l CaCl<sub>2</sub> was evaluated. Stabilised sewage sludge was obtained from three wastewater factories in Czech Republic. Sewage sludge has been preincubated with addition of limestone and lime (7% of Ca w/w of sludge dry solid) in aerobic and anaerobic conditions and tested in pot experiment. The highest Zn mobility reduction was found at Humpolec soil. Sludge amended by lime and limestone reduced available Zn content in this soil (at sludge III by 86% after limestone and by 71% after lime application). Considerable reduction of Zn in plant showed in Humpolec soil treated by sludge with lime (by 20% compared with soil treated by nonincubated sludge – control) and limestone (by 30% after anaerobic incubation compared to control). The positive incubation and treatment effect was not confirmed in the other soils. Available Zn in Humpolec soil showed the strongest correlation among all soils with total Zn content in plant (at aerobic treatment R<sup>2</sup> = 0.66 and at anaerobic R<sup>2</sup> = 0.83).