Evaluation of methane generator sludge as a soil amendment

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

OSTI ID:6060860

Atalay, A; Blanchar, R W

Sludge obtained from a methane generator charged with fescue hay (Festuca arundinacea L.) was evaluated as a potential soil amendment. The amounts of C, K, and Na were greater in the fescue hay than in the sludge. However, Ca, Mg, N, P, S, and Zn were more concentrated in the sludge than in the fescue hay. Air-dried sludge was mixed with a Menfro silt loam soil (fine-silty, mixed mesic Typic Hapludalfs) to give 10, 20, 40, and 80 g sludge/kg. Sludge addition had no consistent effect on seed germination. The number of seeds germinating in all treatments was: corn (Zea mays L.) 89 to 98%, sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) 94 to 97%, soybean ((Glycine max (L.) Merr.) 90 to 97%, and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) 98 to 100%. The addition of sludge increased the quantity of water held by the Menfro soil at matrix potentials of -10, -33, and -100 kPa. Available water held between -10 and -100 kPa matrix potential increased as the amount of sludge added increased. Nutrient uptake by wheat and sorghum showed that the addition of 80 g sludge/kg was equivalent to adding 400 mg P/kg soil, but, due to the high C/N ratio, did not supply adequate N.

• OSTI ID: 6060860
• Journal Information: J. Environ. Qual.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Environ. Qual.; (United States) Vol. 13:3; ISSN JEVQA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
320305* -- Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization-- Industrial & Agricultural Processes-- Industrial Waste Management
ALKANES
BIOREACTORS
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON DIOXIDE
CARBON OXIDES
CEREALS
CHALCOGENIDES
DATA
ELEMENTS
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
GERMINATION
GLYCINE HISPIDA
GRASS
GROWTH
HYDROCARBONS
INFORMATION
LEGUMINOSAE
MAIZE
METHANE
NITROGEN
NONMETALS
NUMERICAL DATA
NUTRIENTS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PHOSPHORUS
PLANT GROWTH
PLANTS
RESOURCE CONSERVATION
RESOURCE POTENTIAL
SEEDS
SLUDGES
SOIL CONSERVATION
SOILS
SORGHUM
UPTAKE
WASTE PRODUCT UTILIZATION
WHEAT