Heavy metal availability and uptake by barley and swiss chard from a calcareous soil fertilized with sewage sludges
Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) and Swiss chard (Beta vulagris L.) were grown on calcareous Millville silt loam in field plots to determine mainly (1) the effects of single and repeated sludge applications on the plant accumulation of Cd, Zn, Cu, Ni, Pd, and Cr, and (2) the extent of the hazard of heavy metal uptake. A Chicago sludge high in selected metals, a Salt Lake sludge and an Idaho Falls sludge were used. Of the three sludges only the Idaho Falls sludge, with its low metal and high P and K contents was considered suitable for use. Lower rates of the other sludges could allow them to be used. After 5 years of sludge application, there was no significant metal movement below the incorporate depth. Following the sludge applications, elevated levels of selected heavy metals were observed in all harvested plant materials. The heavy metal concentrations increased with the amount of applied sludges; however, subsequent applications did not increase the levels significantly. Results of 5 year sludge suggested that the heavy metal contents of crops harvested from oil with repeated sludge applications was most affected by the most recent sludge application, rather than an affect of the cumulative total metal content added to soil. Although Cd concentrations in barley and Swiss chard grown in Millville were lower than most suggested hazardous limits, the concentration in barley and Swiss chard leaves were high enough to warrant some concern in applying these sludges to similar soils.
- Research Organization:
- Utah State Univ., Logan (USA)
- OSTI ID:
- 7247486
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
Terrestrial-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
553000 -- Agriculture & Food Technology
60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES
BARLEY
BIOLOGICAL ACCUMULATION
CADMIUM
CEREALS
CHEMISTRY
CHROMIUM
COPPER
ELEMENTS
FEDERAL REGION V
FEDERAL REGION VIII
FEDERAL REGION X
FERTILIZERS
FOOD
GRASS
IDAHO
ILLINOIS
LEAD
METALS
NICKEL
NORTH AMERICA
PLANTS
SEWAGE
SEWAGE SLUDGE
SLUDGES
SOIL CHEMISTRY
SOILS
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
USA
UTAH
VEGETABLES
WASTES
ZINC