POP accumulation in the food chain: Integrated risk model for sewage sludge application in agricultural soils

The mineralisation of organic matter (OM) when sewage sludge was used as amendment in 70 contrasting agricultural soils from Spain was analysed. Soils received a single dose of sewage sludge (equivalent to 50t dry weight ha-1) and the O2 consumption was continuously monitored for 30 days using a multiple sensor respirometer in a laboratory experiment. The cumulative O2 consumption and rates after 8 and 30 days of incubation (O2 cum 8d, 30d and O2 rate 8d, 30d), the respiratory quotient (RQ), the maximum O2 rates over the incubation period (O2 max) and time from the beginning of the incubation when O2 max occurred (Tmax), were determined in both amended and non-amended soils. Sewage sludge application resulted in increased values for O2 max, O2 rate 8d, and O2 cum 30d. Differences were minor for Tmax, RQ 8d and O2 rate 30d. A considerable amount of the initial OM applied was mineralised during the first 8 days. Organic matter decomposition (as expressed by O2 cum 30d) was favoured in soils with high values of pH, carbonates, soil organic carbon and low values of amorphous Mn. Soils with these characteristics may potentially lose soil C after sewage sludge application.

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Contribution of a sewage sludge application to the short-term carbon sequestration across a wide range of agricultural soils

Environmental Earth Sciences ◽

10.1007/s12665-010-0474-x ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 61 (8) ◽

pp. 1613-1619 ◽

Cited By ~ 21

Author(s):

José Martín Soriano-Disla ◽

J. Navarro-Pedreño ◽

I. Gómez

Keyword(s):

Carbon Sequestration ◽

Sewage Sludge ◽

Agricultural Soils ◽

Short Term ◽

Wide Range ◽

Sludge Application

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Fate of microplastic particles in agricultural soil systems: Transport and accumulation processes in contrasting environments

10.5194/egusphere-egu2020-16710 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Rachel Hurley ◽

Jill Crossman ◽

Theresa Schell ◽

Andreu Rico ◽

Martyn Futter ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Sewage Sludge ◽

Agricultural Soils ◽

Soil Core ◽

Spatial And Temporal Scales ◽

Treatment Processes ◽

Soil Systems ◽

Spatio Temporal ◽

First Time ◽

Sludge Application

There is a paucity of data regarding the sources and fate of microplastics in agricultural settings. This is despite indication that these environments may receive significant contributions of microplastics from a range of inputs. Several studies have documented the enrichment of sewage sludge by microplastic particles as a result of wastewater treatment processes. In many countries, sludge is applied to agricultural soils as a soil conditioner. Based on the extent of application and microplastic loads in sludge material, it is expected that sludge application to land represents a considerable release pathway for microplastic particles to the environment. The fate of these particles across spatial and temporal scales is, however, unknown. This includes the potential for the propagation of contamination to connected aquatic systems and beyond.The Water JPI-funded IMPASSE project addresses significant gaps in our understanding of microplastic contamination in agricultural systems. As part of this project, two case study locations in contrasting environments were selected for study: the semi-arid Henares catchment in central Spain and the humid continental Beaver and Orillia catchments in the Lake Simcoe watershed in Ontario, Canada. Agricultural fields subjected to different sludge application treatments (timing and origin of material) were assessed for microplastic contamination through repeat soil core sampling. This was coupled with runoff experiments using modified Pinson collectors to track the mobilisation of sewage sludge-derived particles from soils. Laboratory analysis was performed according to Hurley et al. (2018). Thorough characterisation of all microplastics particles down to a lower size limit of 50 &#181;m was achieved, including particle size, morphology, polymer type, and estimated mass. Microplastic loads in soils increased following sludge application. The dynamics of contamination from soil core analyses show complex spatio-temporal patterns of accumulation and vertical and lateral transport of particles. Through the use of experimental runoff plots, the mobilisation of microplastic particles from agricultural soils has been documented for the first time. Preferential accumulation and transport of different particle morphologies &#8211; e.g. fibres vs fragments &#8211; was also observed. These findings form the basis of innovative modelling work in the case study catchments to predict dynamics of agricultural microplastic contamination and subsequent transfer to aquatic environments.

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Sewage Sludge Application Enhances the Growth of Corchorus olitorius Plants and Provides a Sustainable Practice for Nutrient Recirculation in Agricultural Soils

Journal of soil science and plant nutrition ◽

10.1007/s42729-019-00113-z ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 20 (1) ◽

pp. 149-159 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Ebrahem M. Eid ◽

Ahmed A. Hussain ◽

Mostafa A. Taher ◽

Tarek M. Galal ◽

Kamal H. Shaltout ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Sewage Sludge ◽

Agricultural Soils ◽

Corchorus Olitorius ◽

Sludge Application ◽

Sustainable Practice

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Copper, nickel and zinc phytoavailability in an oxisol amended with sewage sludge and liming

Scientia Agricola ◽

10.1590/s0103-90162003000400021 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 60 (4) ◽

pp. 747-754 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

Adão Luiz Castanheiro Martins ◽

Ondino Cleante Bataglia ◽

Otávio Antonio de Camargo

Keyword(s):

Heavy Metal ◽

Sewage Sludge ◽

Inductively Coupled Plasma ◽

Agricultural Soils ◽

Heavy Metal Accumulation ◽

Inductively Coupled ◽

Long Term Effect ◽

Set Up ◽

Sludge Application ◽

Cu And Zn

Contents of heavy metal on agricultural soils have been raised by land applications of sewage sludge and may constitute a hazard to plants, animals and humans. A field experiment was carried out from 1983 to 1987, to evaluate the long-term effect of sewage sludge application, with and without liming, on heavy metal accumulation and availability in a Rhodic Hapludox soil grown with maize (HMD 7974 hybrid). Trials were set up in a completely randomized blocks design with four replications. Each block was split in two bands, one with and another without liming. The sludge was applied in each band at rates: 0, 20, 40, 60 and 80 Mg ha-1 (dry basis) in a single application; and 40, 60 and 80 Mg ha-1 split in two, three and four equal yearly applications, respectively. The soil was sampled for chemical analysis each year after harvest. Soil samples were analysed for Cu, Ni and Zn in extracts obtained with DTPA and Mehlich-3 solutions, and in extracts obtained by digestion with nitric-perchloric acid (total metal contents), using an inductively coupled plasma (ICP) spectrometer. In general, Zn, Cu and Ni concentrations in DTPA and Mehlich-3 extracts increased linearly with sludge application. Total Cu and Zn concentrations increased when sludge was applied, whereas total Ni concentrations were not affected. Both extractants were suitable to evaluate Cu and Zn availability to corn in the soil treated with sewage sludge. Liming reduced the DTPA extractability of Zn. DTPA-extractable Cu concentrations were not significantly affected by liming. Mehlich-3-extractable Cu and Zn concentrations increased with liming. Only DTPA extractant indicated reduction of Ni concentrations in the soil after liming.

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A Spatial Multicriteria Decision Analysis to Manage Sewage Sludge Application on Agricultural Soils

Advances in Environmental Engineering and Green Technologies - Environmental Modeling for Sustainable Regional Development ◽

10.4018/978-1-60960-156-0.ch011 ◽

2011 ◽

pp. 221-241 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Ana Passuello ◽

Marta Schuhmacher ◽

Montse Mari ◽

Oda Cadiach ◽

Martí Nadal

Keyword(s):

Sewage Sludge ◽

Decision Analysis ◽

Soil Amendment ◽

Decision Problem ◽

Agricultural Soils ◽

Multicriteria Decision Analysis ◽

Spatial Problem ◽

Multicriteria Decision ◽

Agricultural Site ◽

Sludge Application

In this chapter, the spatial problem of disposing sewage sludge on agricultural soils is addressed. Sewage sludge application on agricultural soils is recommended by governments in order to recycle nutrients and organic matter. Moreover, a new utility is given to a by-product of wastewater treatment. However, this managing practice may lead to environmental and human health risks. Soil amendment has also several related economic costs. In order to solve this decision problem, a spatial multicriteria decision analysis is presented. This method allows solving the decision problem taking into account the geographical peculiarities of each agricultural site. The purpose of this chapter is to present a methodology to solve the decision problem of managing sewage sludge on agricultural soils. For that, the most used multicriteria decision analysis procedures reported in the literature are reviewed and other novel methods are suggested. By the end of the chapter, a brief example of the method application is presented.

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Sewage sludge application on cultivated soils: effects on runoff and trace metal load

Scientia Agricola ◽

10.1590/s0103-90162009000300012 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 66 (3) ◽

pp. 368-376 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Marcelo Valadares Galdos ◽

Isabella Clerici De Maria ◽

Otávio Antonio de Camargo ◽

Sonia Carmela Falci Dechen

Keyword(s):

Trace Metals ◽

Sewage Sludge ◽

Trace Metal ◽

Agricultural Soils ◽

Trace Metal Concentration ◽

High Concentration ◽

Runoff Water ◽

Total Runoff ◽

Water And Sediment ◽

Sludge Application

The use of sewage sludge in agricultural soils as a macro and micronutrient source and as a soil conditioner has been one of the alternatives for its disposal. However, sewage sludge contains trace metals, which are potential sources of pollution. The goal of this study was to evaluate the effect of sewage sludge application on surface water contamination through runoff when it was applied in a soil cultivated with corn. The effect of sludge application on the concentration and load of copper, nickel and zinc and the volume of runoff water and sediment were evaluated. The experiment was set up in plots used to study erosion losses in Campinas, Sao Paulo State, Brazil. The soil is a clayey Rhodic Hapludox. Three treatments were studied: no sewage sludge, sewage sludge to supply the N required by the crop and twice that amount, with four replications. The water and sediment lost by runoff were measured after each rainfall, and sampled for chemical analysis. The volumes of water and sediment lost by runoff decreased after sewage sludge application. The waste application increased trace metal concentration in the runoff water and sediment, especially zinc, which was present in high concentration in the sewage sludge used. Nevertheless, the load of trace metals transported from the plot was mostly dependent on the total runoff volume. Most of the Cu, Zn and Ni losses were via sediment, and occurred in a few highly erosive rainfall events in the period studied.

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