Comparative studies on heavy metal uptake by plants from anaerobically and aerobically digested sludge-amended soil

Thesis/Dissertation · Sat Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1983

OSTI ID:5928829

Joseph, K T

A study was undertaken to compare and contrast the effects of cropland application of varying quantities of anaerobically and aerobically digested sludge from a municipal wastewater treatment plant, on the uptake of certain heavy metals such as Zn, Cd, Cu, Ni, and Pb by six different types of plants (bean, tomato, carrot, cucumber, cantaloupe and sweet corn) grown on the sludge-applied soil and the accumulation of these metals in the sludge-amended soil. The main aspects of the study were the evaluation of 1) the extent of bioconcentration of heavy metals by the different kinds of plants, and 2) the availability of the metals from soil to plants, following sludge application. Field investigations involving plot-scale gardening were conducted using the two types of sludge, at application rates of 0, 2.2, 4.4, 8.8, 17.6 and 70.4 tons/acre. At application rates of 17.6 and 70.4 tons/acre, delays in germination of seeds were observed in some instances, with no apparent adverse effects on the plant's later stages of life and the yield produced. The uptake of heavy metals from sludge-amended soil by plants did not increase in direct proportion to the increase in rate of sludge application and plant species differ considerably in their uptake of heavy metals from soil which received the same amount of sludge. In general, plants grown on anaerobically digested sludge-applied soil showed higher uptake of heavy metals than those grown on aerobically digested sludge. Among the plants investigated, sweet corn was identified to be the low accumulator of heavy metals in the edible part of the plant.

• OSTI ID: 5928829
• 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.
ABSORPTION
BIOLOGICAL ACCUMULATION
BIOLOGICAL AVAILABILITY
CADMIUM
CARROTS
CEREALS
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
COPPER
CUCUMBERS
DOSE-RESPONSE RELATIONSHIPS
ELEMENTS
FOOD
GRASS
GROUND DISPOSAL
GROWTH
LEAD
LEGUMINOSAE
MAIZE
MANAGEMENT
METALS
MUNICIPAL WASTES
NICKEL
PHASEOLUS
PLANT GROWTH
PLANTS
PRODUCTIVITY
RECYCLING
ROOT ABSORPTION
SEWAGE
SEWAGE SLUDGE
SLUDGES
SOILS
TOMATOES
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
UPTAKE
VEGETABLES
WASTE DISPOSAL
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTES
ZINC