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Short-term transformations of copper in copper-amended soils

Journal Article · · J. Environ. Qual.; (United States)
OSTI ID:6278380

Copper was added to three soils in the laboratory at a rate of 48 mg Cu kg/sup -1/ in the form of either CuSO/sub 4/ or a swine (Sus scrofa domesticus) manure obtained from swine fed a high-Cu ration (equivalent to 100 Mg manure ha/sup -1/ containing 1060 mg Cu kg/sup -1/). In order to assess the potential transformations of the added Cu among various chemical forms in the soils, a sequential extraction methodology was used to determine types of soil-Cu associations in samples taken 1, 4, 12, and 29 d after Cu additions to moist soils. Copper added as high-Cu manure substantially increased water-extractable Cu in all soils through the entire incubation period, while CuSO/sub 4/ additions resulted in higher exchangeable Cu levels through days 4 to 12. Most of the Cu added in both forms was recovered in specifically adsorbed forms, with 20 to 25 mg CuSO/sub 4/-Cu kg/sup -1/ being Pb-extractable and 15 to 20 mg manure-Cu kg/sup -1/ being acetic acid-extractable throughout the incubation period. Significant amounts of Cu were also associated with soil organic matter (K/sub 4/P/sub 2/O/sub 7/-extractable), more so when the Cu was added as high-Cu manure (10-15 mg Cu kg/sup -1/) than as CuSO/sub 4/ (5 mg kg/sup -1/). Some additional added Cu was associated with Mn oxides and noncrystalline Fe oxides after 12 d of incubation, particularly in the two soils containing higher amounts of these oxides. These results suggest increases in short-term availability and mobility of Cu in these soils, particularly with high-Cu manure amendment, although longer-term reversion processes may reduce bioavailability over time.

Research Organization:
Univ. of Georgia, Athens
OSTI ID:
6278380
Journal Information:
J. Environ. Qual.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Environ. Qual.; (United States) Vol. 16:2; ISSN JEVQA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English