Effects Of Composted Sewage Sludge Research Articles

Residual effects of composted sewage sludge on nitrogen cycling and plant metabolism in a no-till common bean-palisade grass-soybean rotation.

In the context of increasing population and decreasing soil fertility, food security is one of humanity's greatest challenges. Large amounts of waste, such as sewage sludge, are produced annually, with their final disposal causing environmental pollution and hazards to human health. Sludge has high amounts of nitrogen (N), and, when safely recycled by applying it into the soil as composted sewage sludge (CSS), its residual effect may provide gradual N release to crops. A field study was conducted in the Brazilian Cerrado. The aims were to investigate the residual effect of successive applications of CSS as a source of N in the common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L. cv. BRS Estilo)-palisade grass (Urochloa brizantha (A.Rich.) R.D. Webster)-soybean (Glycine max L.) rotation under no-tillage. Additionally, N cycling was monitored through changes in N metabolism; the efficiency of biological N2 fixation (BNF) and its implications for plant nutrition, development, and productivity, was also assessed. The experiment consisted of a randomized complete block design comparing four CSS rates (10, 15, 20, and 25 Mg ha-1, wet basis) to a control treatment (without adding mineral or organic fertilizer) over two crop years. Multiple plant and soil analyses (plant development and crop yield, Falker chlorophyll index (FCI), enzymatic, biochemical, 15N natural abundance, was evaluated, root and shoot N accumulation, etc.) were evaluated. Results showed that CSS: i) maintained adequate N levels for all crops, increasing their productivity; ii) promoted efficient BNF, due to the stability of ureide metabolism in plants and increased protein content; iii) increased the nitrate content and the nitrate reductase activity in soybean; iv) affected urease activity and ammonium content due to changes in the plant's urea metabolism; v) increased N accumulation in the aerial part of palisade grass. Composted sewage sludge can be used as an alternative source to meet crops' N requirements, promoting productivity gains and N cycling through forage and improving N metabolism.

Fertilizer effect of composted sewage sludge and cattle manure onPelargoniumgrowth

AbstractSewage sludge is considered as a main product obtained from urban liquid effluents that are discharged into sanitation systems of wastewater treatment plants. The aim of this work was to reuse it as compost, after the dehydration process, to replace the amendment applied in agriculture and also to reduce the environmental pollution caused by solid wastes. To justify our biotechnological approach, nutrient characterization of the composted dewatered sewage sludge was carried out and compared to cattle manure. The contents of N, P, K, and the organic matter are 3.67, 5.64, 6.60 g·kg-1 dry matter (DM), and 70%, respectively, in compost and 3.1, 1.6, 3.0 g·kg−1 DM, and 55%, respectively, in manure. Fertilization tests with composted dewatered sewage sludge and cattle manure were performed on Pelargonium inquinans. Monitoring the length of the first internodes showed an improvement of 4.2 mm in the length in compost plants with a development of 22.8 buds and 8.2 flower buds (19.4 buds and 4.4 flower buds developed in manure plants). It appears that the intake of composted dewatered sewage sludge ensures better growth for the studied plant due to its richness in nutrients, which confirms the beneficial effect of composting sewage sludge on plant cultivation.

The effect of municipal sewage sludge on the quality of soil and crops

PurposeTo examine the effects of the application of composted sewage sludge fertilizer (commercially sold as Kala compost) and inorganic (NPK) fertilizers on soil quality and on two crops (radish and beans) irrigated using groundwater and sewage treated wastewater (TWW) for irrigation by measuring heavy metals in the soil and plants and other parameters such as crops yield, TOC in soil, chlorophyll index and total nitrogen.MethodsThe field experiments were conducted in an open area in Agricultural Experimental Study at Sultan Qaboos University campus, Oman. In this research, “green beans and white radish” were examined under the application of Kala and NPK fertilizers. The experimental design was a randomized complete block with four replicates.ResultsThe results showed that the yield, TOC and chlorophyll contents of green beans and white radish increased when soil was amended with Kala compost compared to NPK. Chemical analysis of soil and the two crops did not show any risk of heavy metal accumulation.ConclusionsConsidering that the experiment was a short duration one, there is a need for more continuous long-term experiments (at least 5 years) that will improve the understanding on the effects of composted sewage sludge on soil fertility and crop yield to contribute to the development of sustainable agricultural practices in an arid environment of Oman.

Effect of composted sewage sludge on morpho-physiological growth parameters, grain yield and selected functional compounds of barley.

Several studies have evaluated the effects of composted sewage sludge on barley and found a positive influence on crop productivity. No studies have investigated the effects of composted sewage sludge on functional compounds of the caryopsis, such as phenolics and β-glucans. The former play a role in plant defence mechanisms and both could be influenced by variations of kernel size related to fertilization intensity. The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of different doses (3-12 mg ha-1 ) of composted sewage sludge applied alone or in combination with mineral fertilization on morpho-physiological and yield qualitative parameters, especially phenolics and β-glucans contents of grains, in barley. Increasing fertilization rates, irrespective of fertilizer type, improved morpho-physiological and yield parameters, whereas the phenolic compounds and the related antioxidant activity significantly decreased (P < 0.05). The β-glucans and the main color indices did not show significant differences. The combined application of 6 mg ha-1 sewage sludge and nitrogen was not significantly different from mineral fertilization. Morpho-physiological and qualitative parameters, as well as bioactive compounds, were all significantly correlated with nutrient levels, with higher r values for nitrogen. Composted sewage sludge had a similar effect compared to mineral fertilization. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry.

Effects of Composted Sewage Sludge on Soil Properties and Vegetable Quality from Abandoned Quarries

The effects of composted sewage sludge on soil properties and vegetable quality were investigated in a field experiment for two years. The soil was amended with 3, 15 or 30 t/ha of compost. The results indicated that the vegetable net production increased with the amendment dosage of 3 and 15 t/ha, while the net production decreased in the application amount of 30 t/ha. However, the Vitamin C (Vc) content of the three vegetables was reverse. The heavy metals concentrations in vegetables and soils could meet the national food and soil environmental quality standards of China (II). The accumulation concentrations of Cd, As and Hg in the three vegetables increased with the increasing amendment dosage, while the concentrations of Cr and Pb changed significantly with different types of vegetable. Heavy metal accumulation ability was in the order of celery > lettuce > cabbage, except for Cr. The accumulation of different heavy metals in soil was related to the migration characteristic of heavy metals, plant absorption capacities and the amendment dosage. The concentration of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in the soils increased with addition of 15 t/ha and 30 t/ha, while the change was not statistically significant between the amendment of 3 t/ha and the control. The concentration of PCBs and PAHs in vegetables was positively correlated with compost addition amounts. The dissipation rate of PCBs and PAHs followed the principle of first-order kinetics, and vegetables could improve the dissipation rate. Therefore, the application of compost as soil amendment to abandoned quarries is a feasible strategy for sludge disposal because appropriate amount of compost could enhance the soil fertility, while the long-term application should be considered seriously.

Effects of Composted Sewage Sludge on the Enzyme Activities in the Aeolian Sandy Soil

A field experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of composted sewage sludge’s application on the dynamics change of enzyme activities in aeolian sandy soil. The composted sewage sludge was applied to the soil at 0,2,5,10,15,20 and 25 t·ha-1 respectively. The effects of various sewage sludge dosages on the soil’s enzyme activities were evaluated by measuring urease,sucrase,neutral phosphatase and catalase at different time intervals of 15,50,80,110 and 150 days after the addition of sewage sludge to the soil.The results showed that the urease,sucrase,neutral phosphatase and catalase activities increased to varying degrees as the sewage sludge dosages added to the soil increased. And the four enzyme activities were affected by the sampling time significantly,the urease and sucrase activities reached their maximum values in 50 days,and neutral phosphatase and catalase activities reached their maximum values in 80 days.The results also showed that the application of sewage sludge had positive effects on improving the aeolian sandy soil’s fertility.

Effects of composted sewage sludge on microbial biomass, activity and pine seedlings in nursery forest

The investigation was carried out in a 2 year experiment to evaluate the benefits and hazards of the use of composted sewage sludge as a restoration agent for the soil of the nursery forest intended for growing Pinus sylvestris seedlings. The grey forest soil (Haplic Greyzem) was amended with compost at the 25, 50, 75, 100, 150 and 175 t ha −1 application rates on a dry matter basis. The organic matter content increased with the increase in sludge amendment as well as the metal content. However, the concentrations of individual metals were below the current limits established for Russia and European countries. Sludge amendments enhanced the germination and decreased the mortality of the seedlings. The effects were more obvious for the soil with the highest sludge treatment. The beneficial effects on the biomass of seedlings and the height of the shoots as well as on the length of the roots of the pine seedlings were greater in plots with the highest rates of composted sludge. The application of composted sludge to soil was followed by an increase in microbial biomass and to a lesser extent in basal respiration. In the absence of any detrimental effect on microorganisms, this study lends support to using composted sewage sludge as the organo-mineral fertilizer for the soil of nursery forest.

Use of Composted Sewage Sludge as Horticultural Growth Media: Effects on Germination and Trace Element Extraction

The increasing demand for growth media for greenhouse horticultural uses, the rising new uses of substrates, and the scarcity and cost of traditional sources, such as sphagnum peat moss in Mediterranean countries, have focused research on new substrate materials. Use of composted sewage sludges as a component of growth media could be a feasible alternative, with the benefit of their high availability and their very low cost. In this study, the effects of composted sewage sludge, blended with sphagnum peat moss in growth media, on germination and trace element extraction of cauliflower (Brassica oleracea var italica Plenc cv. Tenere), broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. Botryti cv. Marathon), and lettuce (Lactuca sativa c.v. Malta) were studied. Four treatments were established, on the basis of the addition of increasing quantities of composted sewage sludge to peat (0, 15, 30, and 50%, v/v). Germination percentage and trace elements (Fe, Cu, Mn, Zn, B, Pb, Ni, Cd, and Cr) extraction and differential root/aerial part distribution were studied. Increasing sewage sludge treatments (especially 30 and 50%) reduced germination of lettuce and broccoli. In cauliflower seedlings, an increment of germination was observed for the 15 and 30% treatments compared with the control. The contents of Fe, Cu, Mn, and Zn in plant tissues increased with the increasing rate of sewage sludge in the media. The highest micronutrient extraction efficiency was observed in broccoli (roots) and lettuce (leaves). Fe and Zn were the micronutrients extracted to a higher degree in all plants. Mn was mainly accumulated in aerial parts. Heavy metal extraction was very low in relation to micronutrients. Cd, Pb, and Cr were mainly accumulated in roots and Ni in the aerial parts.

Nutrient acquisition and nitrate reductase activity of mycorrhizal Retama sphaerocarpa L. seedlings afforested in an amended semiarid soil under two water regimes

Abstract. We studied the effect of inoculation with three arbuscular‐mycorrhizal (AM) fungi (Glomus intraradices Schenck &amp; Smith, Glomus deserticola (Trappe, Bloss. &amp; Menge) and Glomus mosseae ([Nicol &amp; Gerd.] Gerd. &amp; Trappe) and the addition of composted sewage sludge on root nitrate reductase (NR, EC 1.6.6.1.) activity, mycorrhizal colonization, plant growth and nutrient uptake in Retama sphaerocarpa L. seedlings afforested in a semiarid, degraded Mediterranean soil under well‐watered and non‐watered conditions. Six months after planting, the mycorrhizal inoculation and the irrigation of plants had a strong effect on the growth parameters. The effect on plant growth was a negative interaction between plant irrigation and mycorrhizal inoculation and a positive interaction between plant irrigation and composted sewage sludge addition. The latter treatment had a significant, but moderate, effect on the growth but conferred no additional benefit when combined with mycorrhizal inoculation. Mycorrhizal inoculation, composted sewage sludge and irrigation had a significant effect on NR activity in roots and on foliar nutrients. The irrigation significantly increased the positive effect of composted sewage sludge on NR activity and the concentrations of foliar N and K. The effect of mycorrhizal inoculation on NR activity did not depend on the water regime. The effectiveness of mycorrhizal inoculation on the establishment and growth of R. sphaerocarpa seedlings in these Mediterranean conditions was independent of water regime. The addition of composted sewage sludge was only effective when soil water was freely available. The combination of mycorrhizal inoculation and composted sewage sludge addition had no synergistic effect on plant growth.

Impact of application of organic waste materials on microbial and enzyme activities of mine soils in the Lusatian coal mining region

The objective of the present work was to study the short-term stimulation of microbial and enzyme activity in mine soils by application of organic waste materials in lysimeter and mesocosm studies. The mine soils derived from tertiary and quaternary deposits were ameliorated with brown coal filter ash (tertiary deposits) and lime (quaternary deposits). At the beginning of recultivation the soils were treated with varying amounts of sewage sludge, coal sludge, composted sewage sludge and compost to a depth of 30 cm. In the first 2 years after application of organic waste materials we found a very low level of microbial properties especially in the sandy materials from quaternary deposits but a significant increase in microbial respiration, substrate induced respiration and enzyme activities like invertase and alkaline phosphatase with increasing application rates of sewage sludge, compost and sewage sludge mixed with coal sludge. This can be explained by an increase in organic matter and nutrient content of the soils and an improvement of soil physical properties such as water and nutrient retention capacity. Additionally it can be assumed, that constituents of the coal admixtures of tertiary deposits can be mineralised or converted by the soil microorganisms. In the tertiary materials ameliorated with brown coal ash the highest amounts of microbial and enzyme activities were measured after application of nitrogen-rich sewage sludge or very high amounts of mature compost mainly consisting of green waste. Compared with sewage sludge the stimulating effects of composted sewage sludge were quite lower because of organic matter fragmentation and a reduced energy and nutrient supply to soil microorganisms.

633 PB 493 EFFECT-OF COMPOSTED SEWAGE SLUDGE ON VEGETABLE PRODUCITON

A long term study was initiated in 1993 to evaluate the effect of composted sewage sludge on growth, yield, and quality of different vegetables. The composted sewage sludge consisting of 40% hardwood sawdust and 60% clean municipal wastewater sludge was obtained from the University Area Joint Authority (UAJA) in State College, PA. The composted sewage sludge is currently sold by UAJA as a fertilizer amendment under the name CornposT. Two rates of the ComposT product (11 and 22 dry T/A) were compared to a granular fertilizer application of 800 lbs/A of 10-10-10. The low rate of ComposT also received half of the fertilizer rate. After incorporation of the amendments into a Hagerstown clay loam soil, lettuce, tomato, muskmelon, cabbage and pepper were transplanted in the field in a Randomized Block Design with 3 replications. ComposT application did not reduce yield or quality of cabbage, lettuce tomato,and muskmelon; in fact, yields were generally higher with the application of composted sewage sludge. The application of ComposT did not reduce the macro or micro nutrient concentration of leaf tissue below optimum levels nor did it result in any phytotoxic effects in plant growth. In addition, the application of ComposT did not increase the heavy metal (Cd, Ni, Pb) concentration in leaf tissue or increase the risk of microbial contamination in the edible portion of the vegetables.

Response of Periwinkle to Composted Sewage Sludge Used as a Soil Amendment

Abstract An experiment was conducted in the greenhouse to investigate the effects of composted sewage sludge as a soil amendment on growth and mineral composition of ‘Bright Eyes’ periwinkle (Catharanthus roseus (L.) G. Dn.). Three desert soils (loamy sand, sandy loam, clay) were amended with two different composted sewage sludges (city and county) at rates of 0, 7.5, 15, 30 and 60% by volume. Plants were grown in the amended soils for four months. Composted city sludge had a positive effect on size, growth rate and number of flowers per plant in all three soils. Plants grown in soils amended with the county sludge grew poorly and developed an interveinal chlorosis. Tissue analysis suggested chlorosis was due to a calcium-induced manganese deficiency. Whole plant tissue Mn declined to as low as 23 mg/kg when the calcium in the soil extract exceeded 25 meq/liter.

Response of tall fescue to composted sewage sludge used as a soil amendment

Abstract A pot experiment was conducted in the greenhouse to investigate the effects of composted sewage sludge as a soil amendment on growth and mineral composition of ‘Mustang’ tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.). Three desert soils (loamy sand, sandy loam, clay) were amended with two different composted sewage sludges (city and county) at rates of 0, 7.5, 15, 30 and 60% by volume. Tall fescue was grown in the amended soils for four months. Growth rates, measured as harvested clippings, increased with sludge loading rate and also with clay content of the soil. Higher growth rates were maintained with the city as compared to the county sludge, although for both sources, growth declined for most treatments after nine weeks. Turf color ratings and percent N in the tissue increased with sludge loading rate and were highly correlated. Tissue analysis indicated a varied response between soil types.

Nitrogen and Phosphorus Movement in Compost‐Amended Soils

AbstractThe application of high rates of sewage sludge can pollute ground water if significant levels of nutrients move through the soil. A field study was conducted to investigate the effect of composted sewage sludge on NO3‐N, PO4‐P, and electrical conductivity (EC) levels in soil water collected at three depths. Composted municipal sewage sludge was disked into a Chester silt loam (Typic Hapludult) at rates of 0, 150 and 300 dry t/ha. White pine (Pinus strobus L.) seedlings and hybrid poplar (Populus generosa Henri) cuttings were grown on the plots, which had been seeded with ‘Kentucky 31’ tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.). For 30 months, beginning the spring after compost application, NO3‐N, PO4‐P, and EC of the soil‐water solution were monitored in subsurface water samples taken from the Ap, B, and C horizons, which corresponded to depths of 15, 45, and 100 cm, respectively.During the year following the compost application, concentrations of NO3‐N were highest, 70–80 µg NO3‐N/mL, in the C horizon in the 300‐t/ha treatment. However, the corresponding concentrations decreased to &lt;10 µg NO3‐N/mL by 30 months after compost addition. Total Kjeldahl N (TKN) concentrations of the soils treated with 150 and 300 t/ha of compost were approximately two and three times higher than those in control soils, respectively. The TKN concentrations in compost‐treated soils showed &lt;7% decrease over the 30 months. The PO4‐P concentrations of water samples in compost‐treated soils were generally below 0.08 µg PO4‐P/mL, and never exceeded those concentrations found in control soils. The EC of water samples increased with the compost additions. After 267 d, EC values averaged 1.0 mmhos/cm in the 300‐t/ha treatment, and 0.7 mmhos/cm in the 150‐t/ha treatment, as compared with 0.2 mmhos/cm in the control. The EC values of the sludge compost treatments declined to &lt;0.4 mmhos/cm by the second spring after the compost application, and EC levels were below levels toxic to plants.