Sewage sludge land application program in West Virginia
- West Virginia Univ., Morgantown, WV (United States)
Municipal sewage sludge can be used as a fertilizer for crops but may also introduce undesirable metals into the food chain, especially when used on acid minesoils. In this study, sewage sludge from Morgantown, WV was surface applied to two acid minesoils and a neutral undisturbed soil to evaluate sludge application rates on forage production, nutrient loadings, and on heavy metal accumulation in soils and vegetation. On a reclaimed surface mine at Westover, 0, 15, 31, and 64 dry Mg ha of sewage sludge were applied in March 1986 and monitored annually through 1989, These rates of sludge were three to 12 times greater than recommended N rates for pasture on this site. Grass biomass increased and legume biomass decreased with increased sludge application. Weed biomass was increased only during 1986. Minesoil pH was not significantly affected while soil organic carbon four years after treatment increased from 15 to 22 g kg with sludge. Minesoil DTPA-extractable Cu, Zn, and heavy metal concentrations also increased with sludge application. Sludge was also applied at up to 27.6 Mg ha- at Dellslow (reclaimed surface mine) and Pentress (undisturbed). Vegetative production was 1.5 to 2.8 times greater on sludge-treated versus control plots during 1989 and 1990 at both sites, but soil pH was unaffected by sludge treatment. No significant differences were found for DTPA-extractable Cu, Pb, and Zn in the upper 15 cm (6 in) of soil. Forage tissue analyses revealed greater crude protein, but no differences in Cu, Pb, and Zn concentrations in treated compared to control plants. Guidelines for land application of sludge in West Virginia have been refined accordingly, and from 1988 to 1990, land applied sludge doubled from 4,150 to 8,520 Mg (4,5 70 to 9,430 tons). 38 refs., 2 figs., 5 tabs.
- OSTI ID:
- 6223533
- Journal Information:
- Journal of Soil and Water Conservation; (United States), Vol. 48:2; ISSN 0022-4561
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES
CROPS
PLANT GROWTH
METALS
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
LEACHING
SEWAGE SLUDGE
LAND RECLAMATION
BIOMASS
DTPA
FERTILIZERS
FOOD CHAINS
FORAGE
MUNICIPAL WASTES
SOILS
WEST VIRGINIA
AMINO ACIDS
ANIMAL FEEDS
BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
BIOLOGICAL WASTES
CARBOXYLIC ACIDS
CHELATING AGENTS
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
DISSOLUTION
DRUGS
ELEMENTS
ENERGY SOURCES
FOOD
GROWTH
MATERIALS
NORTH AMERICA
ORGANIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
RADIOPROTECTIVE SUBSTANCES
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SEWAGE
SLUDGES
USA
WASTES
540220* - Environment
Terrestrial- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)
320604 - Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization- Municipalities & Community Systems- Municipal Waste Management- (1980-)
553000 - Agriculture & Food Technology