Land application of chemically treated sewage sludge. II. Effects on soil and plant heavy metal content

Journal Article · Tue Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1980 · J. Environ. Qual.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2134/jeq1980.00472425000900030035x· OSTI ID:5193525

Soon, Y K; Bates, T E; Moyer, J R

Anaerobically digested sewage sludges resulting from treatment of sewage with Ca(OH)/sub 2/, Al/sub 2/(SO/sub 4/)/sub 3/, or FeCl/sub 3/ for phosphorus precipitation were applied to corn (Zea mays L.) and bromegrass (Bromus inermis Leyess) grown on a soil having an initial pH of 7.3. Rates of sludge supplied 200, 400, 800, and and 1,600 kg N/ha each year for 5 years. Treatments with NH/sub 4/NO/sub 3/ supplying 0, 100, 20, and 400 kg N/ha were included for comparison. Plant tissue was analyzed for Cu, Zn, Mn, Cd, Ni, Cr, and Pb. No toxicity or deficiency symptoms were noted. Soil Zn, Cd, and Ni extracted by NTA (nitrilotriacetic acid) were increased by continued sludge application. The NTA-extractable Zn and Cd were positively correlated with the Zn and Cd concentrations in corn stover. Soil pH was reduced by the Fe-sludge application, slightly affected by the Al-sludge, and increased by the Ca-sludge. Increases in Cu concentrations in bromegrass and corn stover were associated with increases in the N content rather than the source of N, and plant Cu concentrations remained relatively constant across years. Sewage sludge application increased Zn, Cd, and Ni concentrations in bromegrass and corn stover, and Zn and Ni concentrations in corn grain, particularly at the higher metal loadings from sludge application. Zinc and Cd concentrations, especially in corn stover, increased with continued sludge application during the 5-year period. The inclusion of soil pH as a factor, in addition to cummulative amounts of Zn or Cd added as a constituent of sludge, improved the regression equations predicting Zn or Cd uptake.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Guelph, Ontario
• OSTI ID: 5193525
• Journal Information: J. Environ. Qual.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Environ. Qual.; (United States) Vol. 9:3; ISSN JEVQA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560303* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology-- Plants-- (-1987)
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ADDITIVES
ALKALINE EARTH METAL COMPOUNDS
ALUMINIUM COMPOUNDS
ALUMINIUM SULFATES
AMMONIUM COMPOUNDS
CADMIUM
CALCIUM COMPOUNDS
CALCIUM HYDROXIDES
CEREALS
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
CHLORIDES
CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
CHROMIUM
COPPER
DATA
DATA COMPILATION
ELEMENTS
GRAMINEAE
GRASS
GROWTH
HALIDES
HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROXIDES
INFORMATION
IRON CHLORIDES
IRON COMPOUNDS
LEAD
MAIZE
MANGANESE
METALS
NICKEL
NITRATES
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NUMERICAL DATA
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PH VALUE
PLANT GROWTH
PLANT TISSUES
PLANTS
SEWAGE
SEWAGE SLUDGE
SOILS
SULFATES
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
TOXICITY
TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPOUNDS
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
WASTES
ZINC