Geochemical fractions of trace metals in surface and core sections of aggregates in agricultural soils

Industrialized societies are responsible for increasing environmental pollution by trace metals, and pathogenic micro-organisms associated with products and wastes of industrial processes and agricultural production, as well as household activities. The objective of this paper is to discuss the effect of composting on the behavior of trace metals and pathogenic micro-organisms, and to present the latest finding on sanitizing and stabilizing organic fractions and trace metals in composted biosolids. Evidence provided by long-term scientific studies in North America and Europe on toxic effects of trace metals on soil micro-organisms and on pathogenic micro-organisms suggests that revisions of the current guidelines on sludge applications on agricultural soils are needed to protect long-term soil fertility. In addition, the antagonism between harmful characteristics of biosolids and their usefulness for agriculture and land reclaiming purposes could be mitigated by using efficient composting treatments. The production and use of harmless organic wastes should be one of our highest priorities in order to protect our health and environment, and to hand over a sustainable agriculture to future generations. Key words: Composting, biosolids, pathogenic micro-organisms, trace metals, sanitization

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Long-Term Biosolids Application on Land: Beneficial Recycling of Nutrients or Eutrophication of Agroecosystems?

Soil Systems ◽

10.3390/soilsystems6010009 ◽

2022 ◽

Vol 6 (1) ◽

pp. 9

Author(s):

Murray B. McBride

Keyword(s):

Trace Metals ◽

Organic Carbon ◽

Nutrient Loading ◽

Agricultural Soils ◽

Soil Health ◽

Water Soluble ◽

Amended Soils ◽

The Impact ◽

Biosolids Application

The impact of repeated application of alkaline biosolids (sewage sludge) products over more than a decade on soil concentrations of nutrients and trace metals, and potential for uptake of these elements by crops was investigated by analyzing soils from farm fields near Oklahoma City. Total, extractable (by the Modified Morgan test), and water-soluble elements, including macronutrients and trace metals, were measured in biosolids-amended soils and, for comparison, in soils that had received little or no biosolids. Soil testing showed that the biosolids-amended soils had higher pH and contained greater concentrations of organic carbon, N, S, P, and Ca than the control soils. Soil extractable P concentrations in the biosolids-amended soils averaged at least 10 times the recommended upper limit for agricultural soils, with P in the amended soils more labile and soluble than the P in control soils. Several trace elements (most notably Zn, Cu, and Mo) had higher total and extractable concentrations in the amended soils compared to the controls. A radish plant assay revealed greater phytoavailability of Zn, P, Mo, and S (but not Cu) in the amended soils. The excess extractable and soluble P in these biosolids-amended soils has created a long-term source of slow-release P that may contribute to the eutrophication of adjacent surface waters and contamination of groundwater. While the beneficial effects of increased soil organic carbon on measures of “soil health” have been emphasized in past studies of long-term biosolids application, the present study reveals that these benefits may be offset by negative impacts on soils, crops, and the environment from excessive nutrient loading.

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Sources, Enrichment, and Geochemical Fractions of Soil Trace Metals in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology ◽

10.1007/s00244-020-00748-5 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 79 (2) ◽

pp. 219-232 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Ulziibat Bilguun ◽

Dashnyam Namkhainyambuu ◽

Batbold Purevsuren ◽

Tseren-Ochir Soyol-Erdene ◽

Enkhdul Tuuguu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Trace Metals ◽

Geochemical Fractions

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Total and extractable contents of trace metals in agricultural soils of the valderas area, Spain

The Science of The Total Environment ◽

10.1016/0048-9697(89)90341-0 ◽

1989 ◽

Vol 79 (3) ◽

pp. 253-270 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

A.J. Aller ◽

L. Deban

Keyword(s):

Trace Metals ◽

Agricultural Soils

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Effects of co-composted cow manure and poultry litter on the extractability and bioavailability of trace metals from the contaminated soil irrigated with wastewater

Journal of Water Reuse and Desalination ◽

10.2166/wrd.2019.141 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

pp. 17-29

Author(s):

Bushra Haroon ◽

Amjad Hassan ◽

Arshad Mehmood Abbasi ◽

An Ping ◽

Shao Yang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Trace Metals ◽

Contaminated Soil ◽

Plant Biomass ◽

Agricultural Soils ◽

Poultry Litter ◽

Wastewater Irrigation ◽

Plant Residues ◽

Cow Manure ◽

Combined Use

Abstract It is generally recognized that agricultural soils accumulate toxic metals after long-term wastewater irrigation. The removal of trace metals (TMs) from the soil is not possible. Therefore, this study investigated the effects of the addition of manure on the extractability and bioavailability of TM from the contaminated soil after wastewater irrigation. Soils samples were treated with co-composted cow manure (CM) and poultry litter (PL) at 10 and 20 t ha−1. The study showed that addition of manure enhanced fenugreek biomass and reduced TM uptake depending on the combination of composted manures used. TM concentrations in the fenugreek shoots varied in the order of Pb > Ni > Zn > Cu > Cd. A higher amount of manure mixture especially composted with the privet and cypress residues decreased the extractability of TM from the contaminated soil. Soils amended with PL reduced TM concentrations more than CM; this is also true for the plant uptake. The variation of TM in plants was positively associated with their concentrations in the soil and adversely related to the plant biomass. This study confirmed that the combined use of composted manure with plant residues can be an effective addition for ameliorating the TM pollution in soils and crops.

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Assessment of the Transfer of Trace Metals to Spontaneous Plants on Abandoned Pyrrhotite Mine: Potential Application for Phytostabilization of Phosphate Wastes

Plants ◽

10.3390/plants11020179 ◽

2022 ◽

Vol 11 (2) ◽

pp. 179

Author(s):

Meryem El Berkaoui ◽

Mariam El Adnani ◽

Rachid Hakkou ◽

Ahmed Ouhammou ◽

Najib Bendaou ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Trace Metals ◽

Mine Tailings ◽

Mine Drainage ◽

Agricultural Soils ◽

Soil Analysis ◽

Translocation Factor ◽

Mining Operations ◽

Rehabilitation Process ◽

Spontaneous Vegetation ◽

High Concentrations

The abandoned Kettara pyrrhotite mine (Marrakech region, Morocco) is a real source of acid mine drainage (AMD) and heavy metal pollution from previous mining operations—which has spread, particularly because of wind erosion. A store-and-release cover system made of phosphate wastes was built on the site for preventing AMD. To ensure the integrity of this cover and its durability, it is desirable to revegetate it (phytostabilization) with plants adapted to the edaphoclimatic conditions of the region. In this paper, a study was carried out on the spontaneous vegetation around the phosphate cover in order to consider the selection of plants to promote the stabilization of the Kettara mine tailings pond. Nine species of native plants with their rhizospheric soils growing in agricultural soils and tailings from the Kettara mine were collected, and metals (As, Cd, Co, Cu, Pb, Zn, Ni, Cr) were analyzed. The soil analysis showed that the tailings contained high concentrations of Cu (177.64 mg/kg) and Pb (116.80 mg/kg) and that the agricultural soil contained high concentrations of As (25.07 mg/kg) and Cu (251.96 mg/kg) exceeding the toxicity level (Cu > 100 mg/kg, Pb > 100 mg/kg, As > 20 mg/kg). The plant analysis showed low trace metal accumulation in Scolymus hispanicus, Festuca ovina, Cleome brachycarpa, Carlina involucrata and Peganum harmala. These species had a bioconcentration factor (BCF) greater than 1 and a translocation factor (TF) less than 1, demonstrating a high tolerance to trace metals. Therefore, they are good candidates for use in the phytoremediation of the Kettara mine tailings. These species could also potentially be used for the phytostabilization of the phosphate waste cover of the Kettara mine, thus completing the rehabilitation process of this area.

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Trace Metal Content and Availability of Essential Metals in Agricultural Soils of Alicante (Spain)

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su10124534 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 10 (12) ◽

pp. 4534 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Jose Navarro-Pedreño ◽

María Almendro-Candel ◽

Ignacio Gómez Lucas ◽

Manuel Jordán Vidal ◽

Jaume Bech Borras ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Trace Metals ◽

Soil Properties ◽

Agricultural Soils ◽

Microwave Digestion ◽

Calcareous Soils ◽

Essential Elements ◽

Organic Fertilizers ◽

Essential Metals ◽

Mean Values ◽

Trace Metal Content

This article analysed the presence of trace metals (essential elements and pollutants) and soil properties in rural abandoned soils of a Mediterranean region. The soil properties determined were texture, pH, equivalent calcium carbonate, soil organic matter, availability of micronutrients (Fe, Mn, Cu, and Zn), and acid microwave digestion extraction to measure the trace metals considered as main pollutants (Cu, Zn, Cd, Cr, Ni, and Pb). Descriptive statistics and correlations were used to determine the relations among these parameters. pH, soil organic carbon (SOC), and clay were the main properties that controlled the availability of essential metals. pH was the main factor related to these metals in these calcareous soils. However, SOC, which can be incremented by adding organic fertilizers for soil rehabilitation as a sustainable practice, played an important role. Mean values of the metal composition in soils (Cu, Zn, Cd, Cr, Ni, and Pb) obtained in this study were similar to values reported for other areas in the Mediterranean basin.

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