Use of Paper-mill Wastes on Agricultural Soils: Is This a Way to Reduce Nitrate Leaching?

2003 ◽  
Vol 53 (2) ◽  
pp. 56-63 ◽  
Author(s):  
Holger Kirchmann ◽  
Lars Bergström
Keyword(s):  
Nitrate Leaching ◽  
Agricultural Soils ◽  
Paper Mill

Fly-ash from a pulp and paper mill: A potential liming material for agricultural soils in Western Newfoundland.

2019 ◽  
Vol 61 (1) ◽  
pp. 1.9-1.15
Author(s):  
Gnanakaran Maheswaran ◽  
◽  
Manokararajah Krishnapillai ◽  
Doreen Churchill ◽  
Lakshman Galagedera ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fly Ash ◽  
Soil Ph ◽  
Element Concentration ◽  
Agricultural Soils ◽  
Heavy Metal Concentration ◽  
Paper Mill ◽  
Pulp And Paper ◽  
Pulp And Paper Mill ◽  
Quality Guidelines ◽  
Liming Material

Most agricultural soils in Western Newfoundland are acidic and need lime to raise soil pH to be productive. Corner Brook Pulp and Paper Ltd produces a substantial amount of fly-ash, disposed of at a local landfill. This study was conducted to assess the potential for using fly-ash as a liming material for agricultural soil (pH 5.5) in Western Newfoundland. Heavy metal concentration in the soil and fly-ash were analysed and compared with soil and compost guidelines. As per quality guidelines, only part of the lime requirement can be substituted by fly-ash. The percentage may vary depending on initial soil pH and the desired pH for the crop to be grown. The total lime requirement can be met when fly-ash is applied combined with other soil amendments low in trace element concentration.

scholarly journals Impact of potato-cereal rotations and slurry applications on nitrate leaching and nitrogen balance in sandy soils

2002 ◽  
Vol 82 (4) ◽  
pp. 469-479 ◽  
Author(s):  
M O Gasser ◽  
M R Laverdière ◽  
R. Lagacé ◽  
J. Caron
Keyword(s):  
Nitrate Leaching ◽  
N Uptake ◽  
Sandy Soils ◽  
Paper Mill ◽  
N Fertilizer ◽  
Pig Slurry ◽  
Mineral N ◽  
Leaching Losses ◽  
N Fertilizers ◽  
Crop N Uptake

Groundwater quality is at risk when high levels of N fertilizers are used on sandy soils. A monitoring program was initiated in the summer of 1995, to quantify nitrate leaching in sandy soils used for potato production near Quebec city, Canada. Three drainable lysimeters were installed in each of five fields, for a total of 15 lysimeters. During a 5-yr monitoring period, crop N uptake, mineral and organic N fertilizers use, nitrate concentrations and fluxes from drainage water at 1-m soil depth were assessed under potato, cereal and hay crops. In one field, a clover and timothy sod that received low mineral N fertilizer inputs generated the lowest annual nitrate leaching losses ranging from 7 to 20 kg NO3-N ha-1. High nitrate leaching losses (116 ± 40 kg N ha-1) were measured under potato crops receiving high mineral N fertilizer inputs. Cereals, including barley and wheat receiving moderate mineral N fertilizer inputs and in some instance N from pig slurry, dairy cow manure or paper mill sludge, also generated high nitrate leaching losses (88 ± 45 kg N ha-1). Only sod and oat crops generated annual flux averaged nitrate concentrations lower than 10 mg NO3-N L-1, the accepted standard for drinking water, while higher concentrations, ranging from 13 to 52 mg NO3-N L-1, were recorded under barley, wheat and potato crops receiving moderate to high amounts of mineral N fertilizer. Nitrate flux concentrations were moderate during the cropping season (May-August), highest in fall (September-December) and lowest in the winter-early spring period (January-April). After 5 yr of survey, use of pig slurry and paper mill sludge in potato-cereal crop rotations (51 to 192 kg N ha-1 annually) with mineral N fertilizers (103 to 119 kg N ha-1 annually) resulted in nitrate leaching losses (87 to 132 kg N ha-1 annually), at least 20 kg N ha-1 more than N exported by crop at harvest. More than 60% of N applied as pig slurry seemed to be unaccounted for in the partial N balance that included crop N uptake and nitrate leaching, suggesting that important losses probably occurred through ammonia volatilization, denitrification, or N immobilization in soil organic matter and crop residues. Key words: Barley, lysimeter, nitrate leaching, nitrogen balance, pig slurry, potato

Changes in soil pH and nutrient extractability after co-applying biochar and paper mill biosolids

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric Manirakiza ◽  
Noura Ziadi ◽  
Mervin St. Luce ◽  
Chantal Hamel ◽  
Hani Antoun ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Ph ◽  
Agricultural Soils ◽  
Sandy Loam ◽  
Paper Mill ◽  
Metal Mobility ◽  
P Concentration ◽  
Extractable P ◽  
Incubation Study ◽  
Loam Soil ◽  
K Concentration

Acidification and metal mobility may present challenges in soil receiving paper mill biosolids (PB). Co-applying biochar and PB could help prevent these issues, but its effect must be assessed. The objective of this 224 d incubation study was to evaluate the effect of amending two acidic soils, a clay and sandy loam, with two PB types varying in pH (PB1, pH = 7.80; and PB2, pH = 4.51) co-applied with three rates (0%, 2.5%, and 5% w/w) of pine (Pinus strobus L.) biochar on soil pH and macro- (P, K, Ca, and Mg) and micronutrients (Cu, Zn, Fe, and Mn). In both soils, co-applying biochar and PB significantly increased soil pH and extractable K concentration compared with PB-only application, whereas amending with PB significantly increased soil extractable P concentration compared with the unamended soil. In comparison with PB only, co-applying 5% biochar and PB decreased extractable Cu concentration in both soils and extractable Fe concentration in the sandy loam soil. This study showed that co-applying biochar and PB can be more beneficial to agricultural soils than application of PB alone by supplying nutrients and helping prevent metal toxicity by raising pH, especially in acidic sandy soils.

Solute transport in a hummocky landscape: I. Two-dimensional redistribution of bromide

2012 ◽  
Vol 92 (4) ◽  
pp. 609-629 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. O. Olatuyi ◽  
O. O. Akinremi ◽  
D. N. Flaten ◽  
D. A. Lobb
Keyword(s):  
Solute Transport ◽  
Nitrate Leaching ◽  
Agricultural Soils ◽  
Field Studies ◽  
N Fertilization ◽  
Two Dimensions ◽  
Slope Position ◽  
Two Dimensional ◽  
Lateral Movement ◽  
Crop Response

Olatuyi, S. O., Akinremi, O. O., Flaten, D. N. and Lobb, D. A. 2012. Solute transport in a hummocky landscape: I. Two-dimensional redistribution of bromide. Can. J. Soil Sci. 92: 609–629. Bromide has been widely used in field studies to estimate nitrate leaching in agricultural soils. This study examined the impacts of crop response to nitrogen fertilization on the vertical and lateral redistribution of bromide in the fall and spring seasons in a hummocky landscape. The study was carried out near Brandon, Manitoba, in 2007 and 2008, using two separate plots (Site-2007 and Site-2008). The plots were delineated into three landscape positions as upper (UPP), middle (MID) and lower (LOW) slope. A microplot at each landscape position received 15N labelled fertilizer (KNO3) at the rates of 0, 90 and 135 kg N ha−1, and KBr at the rate of 200 kg Br− ha−1. Site-2007 was seeded to canola while Site-2008 was seeded to winter wheat. Soil samples were taken within the microplot to a depth of 120 cm for vertical distribution, and up to 200 cm away from the microplot for lateral distribution of Br− in the top 20 cm depth. The downward movement of Br− in the soil was reduced under N fertilization. This resulted in the accumulation of Br− in fertilized plots, and a greater lateral movement of Br− in fertilized compared with unfertilized plots. The greatest vertical and lateral movement of Br− occurred at the LOW slope position. In the fall season following Br− application, 55 and 15% of the Br− applied were recovered in the vertical and lateral components of the landscape, respectively. Estimated loss of Br− due to vertical and lateral movement was 47% in the unfertilized treatment and 36% with N fertilization. The order of Br− loss in the two dimensions was: LOW (48%)>MID (40%)>UPP (37%). The study shows that crop response to N fertilization reduced the vertical movement of solute, thereby providing an experimental support for the “Campbell hypothesis” which states that N fertilization and proper rate of N application reduces nitrate leaching.

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