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

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.

Download Full-text

Composting organic residues: Trace metals and microbial pathogens

Canadian Journal of Soil Science ◽

10.4141/s00-077 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 81 (3) ◽

pp. 357-367 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

S. Dumontet ◽

H. Dinel ◽

M. Schnitzer ◽

T. Paré ◽

A. Scopa

Keyword(s):

Trace Metals ◽

Agricultural Production ◽

Agricultural Soils ◽

Microbial Pathogens ◽

Organic Residues ◽

Household Activities ◽

Organic Fractions ◽

Micro Organisms ◽

Current Guidelines

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

Download Full-text

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.

Download Full-text

Geochemical assessment, distribution, and dynamics of trace elements in urban agricultural soils under long-term wastewater irrigation in Kano, northern Nigeria

Journal of Plant Nutrition and Soil Science ◽

10.1002/jpln.201000333 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 174 (3) ◽

pp. 447-458 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Nafiu Abdu ◽

John O. Agbenin ◽

Andreas Buerkert

Keyword(s):

Trace Elements ◽

Agricultural Soils ◽

Wastewater Irrigation ◽

Northern Nigeria ◽

Geochemical Assessment

Download Full-text

Biouptake Responses of Trace Metals to Long-Term Irrigation with Diverse Wastewater in the Wheat Rhizosphere Microenvironment

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph16173218 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 16 (17) ◽

pp. 3218

Author(s):

Renfei Li ◽

Yuan Zhang ◽

Hong Yu ◽

Qiuling Dang ◽

Hanxia Yu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Trace Metals ◽

Trace Metal ◽

Rhizosphere Soil ◽

Metal Speciation ◽

Wastewater Irrigation ◽

Soil Redox Potential ◽

Wheat Rhizosphere ◽

Different Sources ◽

Trace Metal Speciation

Wastewater irrigation is widely practiced and may cause serious environmental problems. However, current knowledge on the effects of long-term irrigation with wastewater from different sources on the biouptake of trace metals (TMs) in the rhizosphere zone by plants in farmlands is limited. Here, we analyzed wheat rhizosphere soil and wheat roots collected from a typical wastewater irrigation area in North China to evaluate the influence of wastewater irrigation from different sources on the bioavailability of trace metals in soils. Results showed that irrigation with tanning and domestic wastewater helped enhance the bioavailability of trace metals in rhizosphere soil by increasing the active organic carbon content, soil redox potential, and catalase activity, thus enhancing the proportion of the potentially bioavailable part of trace metal speciation. Conversely, irrigation with pharmaceutical wastewater can reduce the bioavailability of trace metals in rhizosphere soil by increasing total soil antibiotics and thus decreasing the proportions of bioavailable and potentially bioavailable parts of trace metal speciation. These findings can provide insights into the migration and transformation of trace metal speciation in soil rhizosphere microenvironments under the context of wastewater irrigation.

Download Full-text

Fractionation of heavy metals in contaminated soil after amendment with composted cow manure and poultry litter

Arabian Journal of Geosciences ◽

10.1007/s12517-019-4395-z ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 12 (6) ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Bushra Haroon ◽

Muhammad Irshad ◽

Farhan Hafeez ◽

Arshid Pervez ◽

Faridullah

Keyword(s):

Heavy Metals ◽

Contaminated Soil ◽

Poultry Litter ◽

Cow Manure

Download Full-text

Antioxidant System Alterations and Biological Health Status of Earthworms Following Long-term Exposure to Antibiotics Contaminated Poultry Litter

10.21203/rs.3.rs-595228/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Sidney Fernandes Sales Junior ◽

Evelyn Oliveira da Silva ◽

Gabriel de Farias Araujo ◽

Lorena Oliveira Souza Soares ◽

Cláudio Ernesto Taveira Parente ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Health Status ◽

Antioxidant System ◽

Sublethal Effects ◽

Agricultural Soils ◽

Poultry Litter ◽

Principal Component ◽

Recovery Capacity ◽

Biomarker Response ◽

Biological Health

Abstract Poultry litter is widely applied as a fertilizer even though it is one of the main antibiotic sources for agricultural soils. Long-term sublethal effects (56 days) on the antioxidant system of Eisenia andrei earthworms following exposure to fluoroquinolone-contaminated poultry litter (enrofloxacin + ciprofloxacin) at 5.0, 10 and 20 g kg-1 were evaluated. The following biomarkers were assessed: superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione-S-trasferase (GST), reduced glutathione (GSH) and a lipid peroxidation (LPO) proxy. Significant CAT and SOD increases and a moderate positive correlation (ρ = 0.67, p < 0.05) between these enzymes was observed. Glutathione-S-trasferase levels increased significantly at 10 g kg-1, while GSH exhibited a dose-dependent response at 5.0 mg kg-1 (4 - 106%), 10 mg kg-1 (28 - 330 %) and 20 mg kg-1 (45 - 472%). LPO levels exhibited a decreasing trend with increasing poultry litter concentrations of 8 - 170% (5.0 g kg-1), 7 - 104% (10 mg kg-1) and 3 - 6% (20 mg kg-1). A Principal Component Analysis (PCA) highlighted increased SOD and CAT activities, possibly due to increases in reactive oxygen species (ROS) concentrations. Biological Health Status assessments based on the Biomarker Response Index indicate major alterations in the first month of exposure, changing to moderate in the second month. These findings indicate an antioxidant system attenuation trend. It is possible, however, that successive poultry litter applications may reduce the long-term recovery capacity of the evaluated biomarkers.

Download Full-text