Yield and elemental concentration of sweet corn grown on tannery waste-amended soil

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

OSTI ID:7003575

Stomberg, A L; Hemphill, Jr, D D; Volk, V V

Tannery waste was applied to Willamette silt loam soil (fine-silty, mixed, mesic, Pachic Ultic Argixeroll) to determine possible elemental toxicities and N availability to 'Jubilee' sweet corn (Zea mays L.). Sweet corn yields; Cr, Cu, Mn, Zn, and N concentrations in soil and in leaves and kernels of sweet corn; and the organic matter content, electrical conductivity, and pH of soils were measured. Sweet corn yields increased with waste application in 1978 but not in 1979. Leaf N, Mn, and Zn and kernel Mn concentrations increased with waste application in both years. Leaf and kernel Cu and Cr concentrations did not increase significantly with waste application and no metal toxicity symptoms were observed in either year. Total Cr and extractable Cu, Mn, and Zn concentrations of soils increased with waste application. Extractable Cu, Mn, and Zn concentrations declined 1 y after application, suggesting reduced metal availability with time. Metals applied with the waste did not move through the soil profile. Soil pH, electrical conductivity, organic matter content, total Kjeldahl N (TKN), and NH/sub 4/- and NO/sub 3/-N concentration increased with waste application. A significant increase in soil NO/sub 3/-N concentration at the 90-cm depth followed waste application. Tannery waste could provide significant N and lime for crops, but application at high rates may be limited by salt content, heavy metal accumulation, or potential movement of NO/sub 3/-N into groundwater.

• Research Organization: Oregon State Univ., Corvallis
• OSTI ID: 7003575
• Journal Information: J. Environ. Qual.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Environ. Qual.; (United States) Vol. 13:1; ISSN JEVQA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

520200 -- Environment
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54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
560303* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology-- Plants-- (-1987)
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
CEREALS
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
CHROMIUM
COPPER
DATA
ELECTRIC CONDUCTIVITY
ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES
ELEMENTS
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
FERTILIZERS
GRAMINEAE
GRASS
GROUND WATER
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INDUSTRIAL WASTES
INFORMATION
MAIZE
MANGANESE
MASS TRANSFER
METALS
NITROGEN
NONMETALS
NUMERICAL DATA
ORGANIC MATTER
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PH VALUE
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
PLANTS
PRODUCTIVITY
QUANTITY RATIO
SALINITY
SOILS
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
USES
WASTES
WATER
ZINC