HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Gestring, W. D. Articles by Jarrell, W. M. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Gestring, W. D. Articles by Jarrell, W. M. Agricola Articles by Gestring, W. D. Articles by Jarrell, W. M.

Plant Availability of Phosphorus and Heavy Metals in Soils Amended with Chemically Treated Sewage Sludge¹

ABSTRACT

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of sludge chemical treatment (Al³⁺, Fe³⁺, and Ca²⁺) on P and heavy metal availability in sludge-amended soils.

Municipal sewage sludge treated with the chemicals Al₂(SO₄)₃, FeCl₃, or Ca(OH)₂, along with untreated sludge and monocalciumphosphate (MCP; Ca(H₂PO₄)₂·H₂O) fertilizer, were applied to acid, neutral, and alkaline soils at rates equivalent to 83, 125, 250, and 500 kg P ha^–. Swiss chard (Beta vulgaris) was grown in these soils to maturity with leaf samples taken 38, 54, and 70 d after planting. Swiss chard yields were determined and plant tissue analyzed for P, Zn, Fe, Mn, Cd, Ni, and Pb. Soil samples were analyzed for HCO₃-extractable P and pH.

Zinc and Manganese concentrations in plant tissue were significantly higher (P <0.05) for the Al-treated sludge at an application rate of 500 kg P ha^–1 in the acid soil. Plant Cd levels were significantly higher (P <0.01) for the Al-treated sludge at application rates of 250 and 500 kg P ha^–1 in the acid soil. The increased plant levels of Zn, Mn, and Cd appear to be the result of a lower soil pH produced upon the addition of Al-treated sludge. No significant differences in Fe, Ni, and Pb concentrations were observed in the plant tissue for any of the treatments or application rates.

Bicarbonate-extractable P was greater where MCP was applied than where any sludge was applied in the acid and alkaline soils; however, no discernible trends in P uptake by the chard were observed for any of the fertilizer treatments or application rates. Phosphorus was equally available from the sludges and MCP in the acid and alkaline soils.

Key Words: aluminum sulfate • alum • iron chloride • calcium hydroxide • soil pH • Swiss chard • Beta vulgaris

¹ Contribution of the Dep. of Soil and Environmental Sciences, University of California, Riverside, with support from the Kearney Foundation of Soil Science, Univ. of California.

² Former Graduate Research Assistant and Assistant Professor of Soil Science, respectively.

Received for publication September 26, 1981.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				M. T. Siddique and J. S. Robinson Phosphorus Sorption and Availability in Soils Amended with Animal Manures and Sewage Sludge J. Environ. Qual., May 1, 2003; 32(3): 1114 - 1121. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]