Sewage sludge-soil interactions as measured by plant and soil chemical composition. [Lactuca sativa L]

Journal Article · · J. Environ. Qual.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6586033

Hue, N V; Silva, J A; Arifin, R

The utilization of sewage sludge on agricultural lands requires prior knowledge of the interactions among sludge, soil, and plant. A greenhouse experiment was conducted on three mineralogically different soils: a limed, volcanic ash-derived Andept (Akaka series, thixotropic, isomesic Typic Hydrandepts), and alkaline Vertisol (Lualualei series, very-fine, montmorillonitic, isohyperthermic Typic Chromusterts) and a limed, manganiferous Oxisol (Wahiawa series, clayey, kaolinitic, isohyperthermic Tropeptic Eutrustox). Each soil received four rates (0, 45, 90, and 180 Mg ha/sup -1/) of a Honolulu sewage sludge, and an N-P-K fertilizer treatment, Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) was grown as a test crop. Concentrations of plant Cu and Fe were not significantly affected by sludge rate; plant Cd and Zn concentrations increased as sludge rate increased regardless of soil type. Plant Ni remained essentially constant as sludge rate increased in two of the soils; in the Oxisol, plant Ni increased with increasing sludge rate. Manganese in the soil solution drastically increased with sludge rate, and became phytotoxic (plant Mn exceeded 700 mg kg/sup -1/, a level above which significant yield reduction occurred) with increasing sludge addition in the Oxisol, and with 180 Mg ha/sup -1/ in the Vertisol. The Andept, with its high adsorption capacity, retained most of the heavy metals added by the sludge; this soil also retained phosphate so strongly that P was the growth-limiting factor in all treatments as indicated by low dry-matter yields, low plant P (< 1.4 vs 4.0 mg kg/sup -1/ for maximum yield) and by low-soil solution P concentration (< 0.08 vs 0.40 mg P L/sup -1/). In terms of heavy metal accumulation in plants, it appeared that the Andept could tolerate the highest sludge loading rate, and the Oxisol the lowest.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Hawaii, Manoa, Honolulu (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6586033
• Journal Information: J. Environ. Qual.; (United States), Vol. 17:3
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
LETTUCE
PLANT GROWTH
METALS
UPTAKE
SEWAGE SLUDGE
GROUND DISPOSAL
COPPER
IRON
MANGANESE
NICKEL
SOILS
ZINC
ELEMENTS
FOOD
GROWTH
MANAGEMENT
PLANTS
SEWAGE
SLUDGES
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
VEGETABLES
WASTE DISPOSAL
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTES
510200* - Environment
Terrestrial- Chemicals Monitoring &amp; Transport- (-1989)
560300 - Chemicals Metabolism &amp; Toxicology