Residual effects of sewage sludge on soybean. I. Accumulation of heavy metals. [Glycine max]
The potential for excessive crop uptake of heavy metals from land previously amended with sludge is of concern because of the persistence of heavy metals. Field studies were therefore conducted at two locations in 1983 and 1984 to examine the residual effects of sewage sludge on heavy metal uptake by soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.). Treatments considered of various sludge rates and pH regimes. The concentrations of metals in soybean shoots at the R4 growth stage varied according to sludge type, application rate, and soil pH. Metal uptake from low metal limed sludges was similar to that of controls. Metal uptake was, however, increased by unlimed sludges that were high in metal content. Digested sludge linearly increased shoot metal concentrations of Zn, Cd, C, and Ni. Compared to the unamended control, soybean Zn increased from 24 to 165 mg kg/sup -1/ and Cd increased from 0.06 to 0.25 mg kg/sup -1/ at the 112 Mg ha/sup -1/ rate. The shoot Cd concentration was over seven times higher from Cd rich Nu-Earth sludge as compared to the other sludges. Shoot Zn and Cd concentrations exhibited significant linear and quadratic relationships with rates of heat-treated and Nu-Earth sludge. There was a greater response of shoot Zn and Cd accumulation to sludge rate at low soil pH. At the 100 Mg ha/sup -1/ rate of Nu-Earth sludge, soybean Zn and Cd concentrations, respectively, were 59 and 1.75 mg kg/sup -1/ at soil pH 6.4 and 84 and 2.54 mg kg/sup -1/ at soil pH 5.8. These results indicate that sludge composition and soil pH can have a substantial influence on soybean metal uptake for at least 9 year after the initial sludge application.
- Research Organization:
- Univ. of Maryland, College Park
- OSTI ID:
- 6271631
- Journal Information:
- J. Environ. Qual.; (United States), Vol. 16:2
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
CADMIUM
BIOLOGICAL ACCUMULATION
COPPER
NICKEL
SEWAGE SLUDGE
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
LIMING
ZINC
GLYCINE HISPIDA
PH VALUE
BACTERIA
ELEMENTS
LEGUMINOSAE
METALS
MICROORGANISMS
PLANTS
RHIZOBIUM
SEWAGE
SLUDGES
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
WASTES
560300* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
320604 - Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization- Municipalities & Community Systems- Municipal Waste Management- (1980-)