Nitrification in sludge-amended Michigan forest soils

Journal Article · · Journal of Environmental Quality; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2134/jeq1990.00472425001900030042x· OSTI ID:5396212

Burton, A J; Hart, Jr, J B; Urie, D H ^[1]

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1. Michigan State Univ., East Lansing (USA)

Net nitrification following liquid sludge application to four Michigan forest types was studied by aerobically incubating intact cores containing the forest floor and upper 10 cm of mineral soil. Significant net nitrification occurred in cores receiving surface applications of anaerobically digested municipal sludge (22.3 g N m{sup {minus}2}). Core NO{sub 3}-N contents at 8 wk were 4.7, 5.3, 4.9, and 2.0 g m{sup {minus}2} for aspen (Populus spp.), northern hardwoods, oak (Quercus spp.), and pine (Pinus spp.) forest types, respectively. Net nitrification did not occur during 8-wk incubations of untreated control cores or cores receiving surface applications of sludge sterilized by freeze-drying (24.5 g N m{sup {minus}2}) or liming (25.7 g N m{sup {minus}2}), suggesting that the nitrifiers responsible for net nitrification in cores receiving the anaerobically digested sludge were added with the sludge. Nitrate content at 8 wk in cores from an oak field site receiving anaerobically digested sludge (43.0 g N m{sup {minus}2}) 33 mo prior to incubation was 72% of that in oak site soil cores treated immediately prior to incubation (22.3 kg N m{sup {minus}2}), indicating that nitrifying populations introduced with sludge 33 mo prior were still viable. Nitrate content at 8 wk in oak cores was 77% lower when sludge was incorporated. Nitrate contents in incubated soil cores could not be used to directly predict NO{sub 3} concentrations in soil leachate and groundwater beneath sludge-treated plots at the four field sites. Results indicate that nitrification and potential for NO{sub 3} leaching following sludge application to acid forest soils are influenced by sludge type, forest type, and history of prior sludge applications.

• OSTI ID: 5396212
• Journal Information: Journal of Environmental Quality; (United States), Journal Name: Journal of Environmental Quality; (United States) Vol. 19:3; ISSN JEVQA; ISSN 0047-2425
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540210* -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Basic Studies-- (1990-)
540320 -- Environment
Aquatic-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
ACID NEUTRALIZING CAPACITY
ASPENS
BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
BIOLOGICAL WASTES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHEMISTRY
CONIFERS
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
DISSOLUTION
FEDERAL REGION V
FORESTS
GROUND DISPOSAL
GROUND WATER
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
LEACHING
MAGNOLIOPHYTA
MAGNOLIOPSIDA
MANAGEMENT
MATERIALS
MICHIGAN
NITRATES
NITRIFICATION
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NORTH AMERICA
OAKS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PINES
PINOPHYTA
PLANTS
POLLUTION
POPLARS
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SEWAGE
SEWAGE SLUDGE
SLUDGES
SOILS
TREES
USA
WASTE DISPOSAL
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTES
WATER
WATER CHEMISTRY
WATER POLLUTION