The effect of Penicillium bilaii on wheat growth and phosphorus uptake as affected by soil pH, soil P and application of sewage sludge

ABSTRACTThis study aimed to evaluate the residual effect of sewage sludge fertilization on yield and nutrition of sunflower in its second cycle. The experiment was carried out from April to August 2012. The treatments consisted of four doses of sewage sludge (0, 10, 20 and 30 t ha-1, dry basis) applied in the first cycle of sunflower, distributed in a randomized block design, with six replicates. Sunflower stem diameter, plant height, capitulum diameter and yield increased with the increment in sewage sludge doses, with maximum values observed with the dose of 30 t ha-1. The contents of calcium and magnesium in the soil, pH, sum of bases, effective and potential cation exchange capacity and base saturation increased, while potential acidity and the contents of manganese and iron in the leaves decreased, with the increment in the residual doses of sewage sludge. There was a reduction in yield and growth characteristics of sunflower in the second cycle; thus, additional fertilization with sewage sludge is recommended in each new cycle.

Download Full-text

Modifications of phosphorus in Latosol as a function of humic acids and acidity

Revista Brasileira de Engenharia Agrícola e Ambiental ◽

10.1590/1807-1929/agriambi.v22n7p488-492 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 22 (7) ◽

pp. 488-492 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Márcia H. Beck ◽

Pedro A. V. Escosteguy ◽

Deborah P. Dick

Keyword(s):

Factorial Design ◽

Humic Acids ◽

Soil Ph ◽

Crucial Role ◽

Soil Acidity ◽

Ph Value ◽

P Availability ◽

Soil P ◽

P Content

ABSTRACT The effect of humic acids (HA) on phosphorus (P) availability is still contradictory; thus, it is necessary to identify the conditions that play a crucial role in this effect. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of HA application, combined with doses of P, on the content of this nutrient in a Latosol with and without acidity correction. Two experiments were carried out, one with HA from peat and another with HA from mineral charcoal (leonardite). Doses of these acids (0; 1.12 and 5.62 mg C g-1 of soil) and P (26.2 and 104.7 mg P g-1 of soil, 1 and 4-fold higher than recommended, respectively) were tested at soil pH 4.5 and 7.0, in a three-factorial design. The soil was incubated for 20 days and the soil-P content was measured by Mehlich-1 and remaining-P tests. The effect of HAs on P availability varied with the P doses and soil acidity. Humic acids application increases P content in Latosol when P dose is higher than recommended and there is no acidity correction (pH 4.5). However, there is no effect of HAs application on soil-P content when applying the recommended amount of this nutrient, irrespective of the pH value.

Download Full-text

Nutrient and microbial dynamics of soils amended with sewage sludge stabilized with clay minerals and biochar; a preliminary study.

10.5194/egusphere-egu21-367 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Georgios Giannopoulos ◽

Anastasia-Garyfallia Karagianni ◽

Athanasios Balidakis ◽

Ioannis Ipsilantis ◽

Theodora Matsi

Keyword(s):

Heavy Metal ◽

Sewage Sludge ◽

Clay Minerals ◽

Soil Ph ◽

Acidic Soil ◽

Alkaline Soil ◽

Critical Levels ◽

Microbial Dynamics ◽

Air Drying ◽

Organic C

Sewage sludge production from wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) progressively exceeds 60 Million m3 p.a. in the EU. Although it is rich in organic matter (OM) and essential nutrients for crop production, sewage sludge is mainly disposed in landfills. Under the framework of Cyclic Economy and EU Green Deal, sewage sludge represents an ideal soil amendment and fertilizer with a potential to increase soil OM, provide nutrients and reduce chemical fertilization. Nonetheless, its agronomic use comes with limitations due to the presence of heavy metals and pathogenic microorganisms. Several stabilization technologies, including composting, thermal treatment and liming, aim to produce safe sewage sludge products suitable for agronomic use.This incubation study investigated the effects of municipal sewage sludge (stabilized by alternative and common methods) on nutrient and microbial dynamics in two soils; an acidic (pH 5) and an alkaline (pH 8). Stabilized sewage sludge (Thessaloniki WWTP, Greece) with clay minerals (bentonite and vermiculite), biochar (pine residues), Ca(OH)2 and air-drying, was applied at 1% and 3% dw, in soil mesocosms (300 g). Non-amended soils were also included as control. Soils were incubated (15 days; 25oC) and equilibrated with periodic wetting and air-drying. Then, chemical soil properties, heavy metal concentrations and microbial abundance were determined using standard methods.Treated sewage sludge addition in the acidic soil, noticeably increased soil pH (pH 5.2 &#8211; 8.5), compared to the control treatment (pH 5.0). In the alkaline soil, pH remained at similar levels (pH 8.1 &#8211; 8.6). Interestingly, EC increased from 0.42 up to 4.10 and 0.80 up to 3.08 dS m-1 for the acidic and alkaline soils, respectively. The C/N ratio was approx. 10 for all treatments, except biochar (C/N=16). Higher NO3-&#160;concentrations were observed for (CaOH)2, biochar and vermiculite stabilized sewage sludge treatments, and higher NH4+ concentrations were observed for air-dried, bentonite and vermiculite stabilized sewage sludge treatments, in both soils, when compared to the control. Heavy metal concentration increased in all treatments, yet, it remained below legislative critical levels. Sewage sludge amendment increased total heterotroph abundance in all treatments (5.4 &#8211; 7.5 log10 CFU g-1) compared to the control. Antibiotic resistant prokaryote abundance ranged between 3.9 &#8211; 7.0 log10 CFU g-1 and no persistent pattern was found. Pathogens remained below legislative critical levels in all treatments.Our preliminary results show that stabilized sewage sludge has the potential to be a safe soil conditioner and fertilizer under the framework of Cyclic Economy and EU Green Deal. A desirable increase in soil fertility and organic C was observed for both soils, and an advantageous pH increase for acidic soil. Though, care should be taken not to exceed EC>2 dS m-1 when amending agricultural soils with sewage sludge products. Also, further experimentation is required to understand the effects of soil amendments on plant nutrition and productivity.&#160;Funding Acknowledgement: The research work was supported by the Hellenic Foundation for Research and Innovation (H.F.R.I.) under the &#8220;First Call for H.F.R.I. Research Projects to support Faculty members and Researchers and the procurement of high-cost research equipment grant&#8221; (Project Number: HFRI-FM17-1907).

Download Full-text

The influence of long-term sewage sludge application on the activity of phosphatases in the rhizosphere of plants

Plant Soil and Environment ◽

10.17221/2294-pse ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 53 (No. 9) ◽

pp. 375-381 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

J. Balík ◽

D. Pavlíková ◽

V. Vaněk ◽

M. Kulhánek ◽

B. Kotková

Keyword(s):

Sewage Sludge ◽

Fertilizer Application ◽

Water Soluble ◽

Organic Fertilizers ◽

Lower Content ◽

Alkaline Phosphatases ◽

Soil P ◽

Water Soluble P ◽

Soluble P

Model experiments using rhizoboxes were carried out in order to evaluate the influence of different plants (wheat, rape) on the changes in water extractable contents of P, the pH/H2O value and the activity of acidic and alkaline phosphatase in soil of plant rhizosphere. For this experiment, a Cambisol with different long-term fertilizing systems was used: (i) control (with no fertilizer application), (ii) sewage sludge, and (iii) manure. A lower content of water-soluble P was observed in close vicinities of root surfaces (up to 2 mm) at all the studied variants. The control (non-treated) variant reflected a significantly lower content of water-soluble P in the rhizosphere compared to the fertilized ones. The activities of the acidic and alkaline phosphatases were significantly higher in the rhizosphere compared to the bulk soil (soil outside the rhizosphere). The long-term application of organic fertilizers significantly increased phosphatase activity; the activity of the acidic phosphatase was significantly higher in the rhizosphere of rape plants compared to wheat. The variant treated with manure exhibited an increased activity of both the acidic and alkaline phosphatases compared to the variant treated with sewage sludge. In the case of the variant treated long-term with sewage sludge, the portion of inorganic P to total soil P content proportionally increased compared to the manure-treated variant. Soil of the rape rhizosphere showed a trend of lower pH/H2O value of all variants, whereas the wheat rhizosphere showed an opposite pH tendency.

Download Full-text

Spatial variation features description of soil available P, K, Mg and soil pH by proportional effect

Plant Soil and Environment ◽

10.17221/3344-pse ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 52 (No. 1) ◽

pp. 41-46 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

L. Brodský ◽

J. Száková ◽

M. Bazalová ◽

V. Penížek

Keyword(s):

Spatial Variation ◽

Soil Ph ◽

Correlation Coefficients ◽

Available P ◽

Relationship Strength ◽

Soil P ◽

Linear Relationships ◽

Field Fluctuations ◽

Proportional Effect ◽

The Relationship

This paper investigates the proportional effect of selected soil properties – low spatial variation changes are related to their local magnitudes (here standard deviation vs. mean). Content of available P, K, and Mg, and soil pH were analysed on nine agricultural fields of the Xzech Republic. Firstly, strong direct within-field proportional effect based on Moving Window Statistics (MWS) was found for soil P and K, while Mg did not exhibit any clear proportionality. Soil pH showed indication of inverse proportional effect with high field-to-field fluctuations. The relationship strength of the effect was functionally related to the asymmetry (skewness) of distribution (r = 0.31 × skew 0.08). Secondly, between-field proportional effect of 9 surveyed fields, as a measure at different scale, showed generally parallel results with the MWS approach. Proportionality is therefore not scale dependent. However, slopes of linear relationships were different for the two scales. Finally, models for prediction of proportional variogram parameters were calculated. Correlation coefficients of relationship between semivariance parameters and mean proved that sill-nugget is more stable (r = 0.74 for P and 0.83 for K) than nugget (r = 0.30 for P and 0.53 for K).

Download Full-text

High rates of domestic sewage sludge on a calcareous soil and their effect on wheat growth using a pot experiment

Zeitschrift für Pflanzenernährung und Bodenkunde ◽

10.1002/jpln.19901530502 ◽

1990 ◽

Vol 153 (5) ◽

pp. 297-300 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Zahir Rawajfih ◽

Sameh Gharaibeh

Keyword(s):

Sewage Sludge ◽

Calcareous Soil ◽

Domestic Sewage ◽

Pot Experiment ◽

Wheat Growth

Download Full-text

AVAILABILITY OF ZINC, COPPER AND NICKEL TO PLANTS GROWN IN SEWAGE-TREATED SOILS

Canadian Journal of Soil Science ◽

10.4141/cjss78-045 ◽

1978 ◽

Vol 58 (3) ◽

pp. 381-389 ◽

Cited By ~ 21

Author(s):

A. J. MACLEAN ◽

A. J. DEKKER

Keyword(s):

Sewage Sludge ◽

Toxic Effect ◽

Soil Ph ◽

Clay Soil ◽

Pot Experiment ◽

Toxic Effects ◽

Order Of Magnitude ◽

Loam Soil ◽

Extractable Metals

In a pot experiment with additions of Zn, Cu and Ni to a loam soil (pH, 6.3) at rates up to 480 ppm, sewage sludge eliminated the toxic effect of Cu and reduced the toxic effect of Ni on corn, reduced the concentrations of Zn and Ni in the plants, and reduced the amounts of DTPA-extractable metals and of 0.01 M CaCl2-soluble Zn and Ni in the soil. Lettuce grown with the metals and sludges was more susceptible than corn to the toxic effects of the three metals in the loam soil and to Zn in a clay soil (pH 5.9). In the latter soil, Ni was less toxic to lettuce than to corn. The concentrations of metals were considerably higher in lettuce than in corn. Liming of the clay soil to a pH of 6.5 eliminated the toxic effect of Ni on corn and of Zn and Ni on lettuce and reduced the concentrations of the metals in the plants and the amounts of DTPA-extractable and CaCl2-soluble metals in the soil. The order of magnitude of the DTPA-extractable metals was Cu > Zn > Ni whereas the order for CaCl2-soluble metals was Ni > Zn> Cu. Variability in the effect of the metals between crops and soils precluded the use, except as a preliminary guide, of a Zn equivalent concept based on the assumption that Cu is twice as toxic and Ni is eight times as toxic as Zn.

Download Full-text

Wheat genotypes differ in growth and phosphorus uptake when supplied with different sources and rates of phosphorus banded or mixed in soil in pots

Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture ◽

10.1071/ea01087 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 42 (8) ◽

pp. 1103 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

G. R. Valizadeh ◽

Z. Rengel ◽

A. W. Rate

Keyword(s):

Root Exudation ◽

Phosphorus Uptake ◽

Iron Phosphate ◽

Aluminium Phosphate ◽

Wheat Growth ◽

Wheat Genotypes ◽

Phosphorus Fertiliser ◽

Phosphate Treatment ◽

Fertiliser Application ◽

Phosphorus Application

The growth response of wheat genotypes supplied with phosphorus fertiliser at different rates (banded or mixed throughout the soil) and sparingly soluble phosphorus sources (aluminium phosphate and iron phosphate) is not known. Eleven wheat genotypes and 1 rye genotype were tested at 3 rates of phosphorus fertiliser application (5, 10 and 20 mg P/kg soil) in a pot study. Another experiment compared 4 wheat genotypes at 2 rates of phosphorus application (deficient and sufficient) and 2 application methods (banding and mixing throughout the soil). The selected wheat genotypes were also used to investigate growth and root exudation response to iron phosphate and aluminium phosphate supply. Banding of phosphorus fertiliser increased the uptake of phosphorus and wheat growth compared with mixing phosphorus throughout the soil. Wheat genotypes did not differ significantly in growth and phosphorus uptake at the low rate of application. With increasing rates of phosphorus supply, the 2 phosphorus-fertiliser-responsive wheat genotypes (Wawht 2074 and Aroona) had significantly increased phosphorus uptake and root and shoot weights. When supplied with aluminium phosphate and iron phosphate, the 2 phosphorus-fertiliser-responsive genotypes had larger roots and higher concentration of phosphorus in the shoots and roots, while the phosphorus utilisation-efficient wheat genotypes (Westonia and Gutha) had higher shoot weights than phosphorus fertiliser-responsive ones. All wheat genotypes produced quantitatively and qualitatively similar root exudates in the iron phosphate, aluminium phosphate and zero-phosphorus treatments. The aluminium phosphate treatment caused genotypes to increase root exudation of oxalic anions, uptake of phosphorus and growth, compared with the iron phosphate treatment. It was concluded that the choice of genotypes for achieving increased wheat growth would depend on the phosphorus source in soil and the rate of application of phosphorus fertiliser.

Download Full-text