Influence of a One Time Biosolids Application on Elemental and Nutrient Concentrations on Mine Tailings

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michelle Ellen Harris ◽  
Wendy Christine Gardner ◽  
Thomas Pypker
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Mine Tailings ◽  
Organic Amendments ◽  
Nutrient Concentrations ◽  
Fertilizer Treatment ◽  
Application Rates ◽  
Biosolids Application ◽  
Term Benefit ◽  
Storage Facilities

Mine tailings are nutrient deficient, contain no organic matter, and have high metal concentrations preventing the long term establishment of vegetation. The use of organic amendments, including biosolids, can help the revegetation of mine tailings by adding organic matter and nutrients but can increase metals in the receiving soil. There is also uncertainty if biosolids provide a long term benefit, or if the benefits diminish with time. To test this, a study was conducted on two tailings storage facilities, a sand and a silt loam, on a copper mine in the southern interior of British Columbia, Canada. In 1998, biosolids were applied at rates between 50 and 250 Mg ha-1 and compared to a control and fertilizer treatment. Plots were sampled in 2000 and 2015 for total and available nutrients and metals. This study showed that 17 years after a one-time biosolids application at different rates, the tailing storage facilities that received biosolids had higher carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, and biomass compared to tailings that did not receive biosolids or received conventional fertilizer. Many elements such as C did not change from 2000 to 2015 in biosolids treated plots indicating a long-term benefit to the tailings. Additionally, biosolids did not result in increased concentrations of metals above the national regulatory limits for agriculture. This study suggests that a one-time biosolids application can provide a long-term benefit to tailings, while proper application rates can reduce the risks of metal exceedances.

scholarly journals Long-Term Biosolids Applications to Overgrazed Rangelands Improve Soil Health

Agronomy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 1339
Author(s):  
Cassidy M. Buchanan ◽  
James A. Ippolito
Keyword(s):  
Soil Health ◽  
Organic Amendments ◽  
Application Rate ◽  
Land Application ◽  
Health Index ◽  
Long Term Effects ◽  
Health Indices ◽  
Application Rates ◽  
Biosolids Application

Overgrazed rangelands can lead to soil degradation, yet long-term land application of organic amendments (i.e., biosolids) may play a pivotal role in improving degraded rangelands in terms of soil health. However, the long-term effects on soil health properties in response to single or repeated, low to excessive biosolids applications, on semi-arid, overgrazed grasslands have not been quantified. Using the Soil Management Assessment Framework (SMAF), soil physical, biological, chemical, nutrient, and overall soil health indices between biosolids applications (0, 2.5, 5, 10, 21, or 30 Mg ha−1) and application time (single: 1991, repeated: 2002) were determined. Results showed no significant changes in soil physical and nutrient health indices. However, the chemical soil health index was greater when biosolids were applied at rates <30 Mg ha−1 and within the single compared to repeated applications. The biological soil health index was positively affected by increasing biosolids application rates, was overall greater in the repeated as compared to the single application, and was maximized at 30 Mg ha−1. The overall soil health index was maximized at rates <30 Mg ha−1. When all indices were combined, and considering past plant community findings at this site, overall soil health appeared optimized at a biosolids application rate of ~10 Mg ha−1. The use of soil health tools can help determine a targeted organic amendment application rate to overgrazed rangelands so the material provides maximum benefits to soils, plants, animals, and the environment.

Soil organic amendments for restoring degraded drylands: strategies, recommendations and challenges for large-scale application

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paloma Hueso-Gonzalez ◽  
Miriam Muñoz-Rojas
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Organic Amendments ◽  
Renewable Resource ◽  
Biological Properties ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Soil Restoration ◽  
Application Rates

&lt;p&gt;Soil is an essential and non-renewable resource in natural and agricultural ecosystems with extremely slow formation and regeneration potential. In dryland areas, many ecosystems are being seriously affected by degradation processes because of an excessive use of agro-chemicals, deep tillage and intensive irrigation, among many other factors. The decline in soil organic matter is also becoming a major cause of soil degradation, particularly in dryland regions where low soil fertility cannot always maintain a sustainable production. The use of organic amendments in ecosystem restoration programs can be an effective technique for promoting soil restoration processes in degraded drylands and several studies have shown their bene&amp;#64257;ts for improving soil physical, chemical and biological properties. This recovery is a result of the rapid increment of organic matter and clay contents in the soil in the short term. In the long-term, soil structure becomes more stable and water holding capacity, permeability and infiltration are improved, whereas surface runoff and erosion are reduced. Nevertheless, there are many research gaps in the knowledge of the effects of climatic conditions on their application, as well as the adequate types of amendment and doses and decomposition rates. In this presentation, we evaluate the role of organic amendments as an effective strategy in dryland restoration, highlighting the effects of different amendment types, doses and application rates. We will speci&amp;#64257;cally address: (1) type of amendments and bene&amp;#64257;ts arising from their use, (2) application methods and more appropriate doses and, (3) potential risk derivates for their application. We also showcase some recent case studies using organic amendments in degraded dryland areas from Spain and Australia.&lt;/p&gt;

scholarly journals Type of organic fertilizer rather than organic amendment per se increases abundance of soil biota

PeerJ ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
pp. e11204
Author(s):  
Maria Viketoft ◽  
Laura G.A. Riggi ◽  
Riccardo Bommarco ◽  
Sara Hallin ◽  
Astrid R. Taylor
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Organic Amendments ◽  
Trophic Levels ◽  
Soil Biota ◽  
Organic Fertilizers ◽  
Nitrogen Fertilizers ◽  
Mineral Fertilizers ◽  
Soil Organisms ◽  
Wide Range

Addition of organic amendments is a commonly used practice to offset potential loss of soil organic matter from agricultural soils. The aim of the present study was to examine how long-term addition of organic matter affects the abundance of different soil biota across trophic levels and the role that the quality of the organic amendments plays. Here we used a 17-year-old fertilization experiment to investigate soil biota responses to four different organic fertilizers, compared with two mineral nitrogen fertilizers and no fertilization, where the organic fertilizers had similar carbon content but varied in their carbon to nitrogen ratios. We collected soil samples and measured a wide range of organisms belonging to different functional groups and trophic levels of the soil food web. Long-term addition of organic and mineral fertilizers had beneficial effects on the abundances of most soil organisms compared with unfertilized soil, but the responses differed between soil biota. The organic fertilizers generally enhanced bacteria and earthworms. Fungi and nematodes responded positively to certain mineral and organic fertilizers, indicating that multiple factors influenced by the fertilization may affect these heterogeneous groups. Springtails and mites were less affected by fertilization than the other groups, as they were present at relatively high abundances even in the unfertilized treatment. However, soil pH had a great influence on springtail abundance. In summary, the specific fertilizer was more important in determining the numerical and compositional responses of soil biota than whether it was mineral or organic. Overall, biennial organic amendments emerge as insufficient, by themselves, to promote soil organisms in the long run, and would need to be added annually or combined with other practices affecting soil quality, such as no or reduced tillage and other crop rotations, to have a beneficial effect.

scholarly journals 631 PB 487 ROOT ARCHITECTURAL RESPONSE OF BELL PEPPER TO SOIL AMENDMENTS

HortScience ◽  
1994 ◽  
Vol 29 (5) ◽  
pp. 522g-523
Author(s):  
Robert H. Snyder ◽  
Jonathan P. Lynch ◽  
Donald Kaufman ◽  
Terry Schettini
Keyword(s):  
Organic Amendments ◽  
Dairy Manure ◽  
Second Order ◽  
Bell Pepper ◽  
Fertilizer Treatment ◽  
Crown Length ◽  
Computer Based ◽  
Root Responses ◽  
Sustainable Agricultural Systems

Sustainable agricultural systems favor high organic amendments over chemical fertilizers for maintaining long-term soil fertility. To study root responses bell pepper was grown in soil treated with dairy compost, raw dairy manure, and a chemical fertilizer mix at Rodale Institute Research Center, Kutztown, Pa. Root crowns were excavated at 2-week intervals and total length determined from root subsamples by computer-based image analysis. Roots from compost amended plots displayed a simple branching pattern; a first order branch with short second order branches. Fertilizer stimulated a complex branching; short, thickened first and second order branches that supported long and thin third and fourth order roots. An intermediate form in the raw dairy plots yielded both simple and complex branching forms. All forms were dynamic within each treatment over time. Crown length averaged 250-300 m across treatments 6 weeks after transplanting. Raw dairy and fertilizer treatments decreased slightly in length by week 10, while compost remained constant. After heavy rainfall crown length increased to 400 m for compost and raw dairy, and to 750 m for the fertilizer treatment by week 13. Length for the fertilizer treatment dropped nearly 200 m by week 14. though an increase of 100-200 m occurred for compost and raw dairy treated roots respectively.

scholarly journals Impact of long term fertilization on soil water content in Haploborolls

2010 ◽  
Vol 56 (No. 9) ◽  
pp. 408-411 ◽  
Author(s):  
C.Y. Song ◽  
X.Y. Zhang ◽  
X.B. Liu ◽  
Y.Y. Sui ◽  
Z.L. Li
Keyword(s):  
Water Content ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Soil Water Content ◽  
Organic Amendments ◽  
Pig Manure ◽  
Fertilizer Treatment ◽  
Total Soil ◽  
Long Term Experiment ◽  
The Impact

Soil water content under no fertilizer (NF), fertilizer (F) (N:30; P<sub>2</sub>O<sub>5</sub>: 45 kg/ha), and fertilizer plus pig manure (FO) (N:30; P<sub>2</sub>O<sub>5</sub>: 45 kg/ha; pig manure 15 000 kg/ha in 2003; and 30 000 kg/ha in 2004 and 2005) treatments was measured using neutron probe instrument for a period three years in a long term field experiment in order to investigate the impact of different fertilization treatments on Haploborolls soil water content. Fertilization had significant effects on the soil water content. FO treatment had greater soil water content in 10 cm depth than F treatment with average 9.9% increase (P &lt; 0.05) but lower than NF treatment; however, in the depth from 30 to 90 cm, there was no water content difference between F and FO treatments. Treatment with organic amendments reduced total soil water content on the long term experiment basis. Across the three years, no fertilizer treatment had total soil water content higher by 1.2% and 3.1% than fertilizer treatment and fertilizer plus pig manure treatment within 10 to 210 cm soil profile in most of the months, respectively.

scholarly journals Soil properties and not inputs control carbon : nitrogen : phosphorus ratios in cropped soils in the long term

SOIL ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 83-99 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emmanuel Frossard ◽  
Nina Buchmann ◽  
Else K. Bünemann ◽  
Delwende I. Kiba ◽  
François Lompo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Soil Organic Matter ◽  
Microbial Biomass ◽  
Soil Properties ◽  
Nutrient Concentrations ◽  
Nutrient Ratios ◽  
Plant Residues ◽  
Wagga Wagga ◽  
Positive Correlation

Abstract. Stoichiometric approaches have been applied to understand the relationship between soil organic matter dynamics and biological nutrient transformations. However, very few studies have explicitly considered the effects of agricultural management practices on the soil C : N : P ratio. The aim of this study was to assess how different input types and rates would affect the C : N : P molar ratios of bulk soil, organic matter and microbial biomass in cropped soils in the long term. Thus, we analysed the C, N, and P inputs and budgets as well as soil properties in three long-term experiments established on different soil types: the Saria soil fertility trial (Burkina Faso), the Wagga Wagga rotation/stubble management/soil preparation trial (Australia), and the DOK (bio-Dynamic, bio-Organic, and “Konventionell”) cropping system trial (Switzerland). In each of these trials, there was a large range of C, N, and P inputs which had a strong impact on element concentrations in soils. However, although C : N : P ratios of the inputs were highly variable, they had only weak effects on soil C : N : P ratios. At Saria, a positive correlation was found between the N : P ratio of inputs and microbial biomass, while no relation was observed between the nutrient ratios of inputs and soil organic matter. At Wagga Wagga, the C : P ratio of inputs was significantly correlated to total soil C : P, N : P, and C : N ratios, but had no impact on the elemental composition of microbial biomass. In the DOK trial, a positive correlation was found between the C budget and the C to organic P ratio in soils, while the nutrient ratios of inputs were not related to those in the microbial biomass. We argue that these responses are due to differences in soil properties among sites. At Saria, the soil is dominated by quartz and some kaolinite, has a coarse texture, a fragile structure, and a low nutrient content. Thus, microorganisms feed on inputs (plant residues, manure). In contrast, the soil at Wagga Wagga contains illite and haematite, is richer in clay and nutrients, and has a stable structure. Thus, organic matter is protected from mineralization and can therefore accumulate, allowing microorganisms to feed on soil nutrients and to keep a constant C : N : P ratio. The DOK soil represents an intermediate situation, with high nutrient concentrations, but a rather fragile soil structure, where organic matter does not accumulate. We conclude that the study of C, N, and P ratios is important to understand the functioning of cropped soils in the long term, but that it must be coupled with a precise assessment of element inputs and budgets in the system and a good understanding of the ability of soils to stabilize C, N, and P compounds.

scholarly journals Modelling of long term Zn, Cu, Cd, Pb dynamics from soils fertilized with organic amendments

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claudia Cagnarini ◽  
Stephen Lofts ◽  
Luigi Paolo D'Acqui ◽  
Jochen Mayer ◽  
Roman Grüter ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sewage Sludge ◽  
Agricultural Soils ◽  
Farmyard Manure ◽  
Organic Amendments ◽  
Dynamic Simulations ◽  
Application Rates ◽  
Input Flux ◽  
Lateral Mixing ◽  
Definition Of

Abstract. Soil contamination by trace elements (TEs) is a major concern for sustainable land management. One potential source of excessive inputs of TEs into agricultural soils are organic amendments. Here, we use dynamic simulations carried out with the IDMM-ag model to describe observed trends of topsoil Zn, Cu, Pb and Cd concentrations in a long-term crop trial in Switzerland, where soils plots have been treated with differing organic amendments, particularly farmyard manure, sewage sludge and compost. IDMM-ag requires the definition of a parsimonious set of boundary conditions. The model adequately reproduced the metal EDTA-extractable concentrations in ZOFE when site-specific soil lateral mixing, due to mechanically ploughing of small plots, was introduced. Calibration of an additional metal input flux was necessary to fit the measured data, indicating that knowledge gaps in quantifying historical metal inputs can affect field-scale simulations even in a well-characterized field. Projections of soil metal content in the long-term showed that, under stable organic amendment application rates, Zn and Cu labile concentrations might pose toxicological hazard for the soil ecosystem, particularly in the sewage sludge-amended plots. The sewage sludge topsoil was characterized by some variability in the organic matter composition, potentially due to the applied sewage sludge quality, which might affect the metal lability: this effect should be accounted for in models. This study takes a step forward in assessing potential and limitations of the IDMM-ag model to predict TEs long-term dynamics in agricultural fields, paving the way to quantitative applications of TEs modelling at field and larger scales.

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