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Metal Accumulation in Corn and Barley Grown on a Sludge-amended Typic Ochraqualf¹

ABSTRACT

A field experiment was conducted during the 1984 and 1985 growing seasons in the Atlantic Coastal Plain region to evaluate heavy metal accumulation in corn (Zea mays L.) grain and stover and in barley silage (Hordeum vulgate L.) grown on a poorly drained, sludge-amended soil. The study was conducted using in situ controlled lateral flow plots (1.5 by 2.3 m) on Acredale silt loam (fine-silty, mixed, thermic, Typic Ochraqualfs) with a cation exchange capacity of 6.9 mol_c kg^–1 and a pH of 6.6. An aerobically digested sludge from a wastewater treatment plant with major industrial inputs was applied to the plots in 1984 at rates of 0, 42, and 84 dry Mg ha^–1. At the highest application rate, 1.8, 304, 17.2, and 248 kg ha^–1 of Cd, Cu, Ni, and Zn were applied, respectively. Cadmium concentration was <0.01 mg kg^–1 in the corn grain in both 1984 and 1985. Sludge application increased the concentration of Ni and Zn in the corn grain in 1984 and 1985. Levels of Cd and Cu were unaffected by sludge application in the corn grain for both years. Copper, Ni, and Zn levels were increased in the barley silage by sludge application. Levels of DTPA (diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid)-extractable metal in the Ap horizon were increased by sludge applicatioo and were 0.25, 60, 2, and 30 mg Cd, Cu, Ni, and Zn kg^–1 in the highest sludge treatment, respectively. The DTPA-extractable Cd, Cu, Ni, and Zn within the soil profile indicated no downward metal movement. On this poorly drained soil, phytotoxicity due to metals did not occur even where Cu was applied in excess of 280 kg ha^–1, which is the maximum amount of Cu that could be applied to the soil based on USEPA guidelines.

Key Words: DTPA-extractable metals • poorly drained soils • trace elements • Zea mays L. • Hordeum vulgare L.

¹ Contribution of the Dep. of Agronomy, Virginia Polytechnic Inst. and State Univ., Blacksburg, VA 24061. The research upon which this paper is based was supported in part by funds provided by the Virginia Water Resources Research Center.

² Former Graduate Project Assistant (now Environmental Soil Chemist, A.T. Kearney, Inc., 699 Prince St., P.O. Box 1405, Alexandria, VA 22313), Professors, and Associate Professor of Agronomy, respectively.

Received for publication April 28, 1986.