Effects of sewage sludge treatments on plant nutrients, heavy metals and tall fescue(Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) (original) (raw)

Characteristics of sewage sludge and distribution of heavy metal in plants with amendment of sewage sludge

Journal of Environmental Sciences-china, 2006

Abstrack In order to better understand land application of sewage sludge, the characterization of heavy metals and organic pollutants were investigated in three different sewage sludges in Shangh City, China. It was found that the total concentrations of Cd in all of sewage sludge and total concentrations of Zn in Jinshan sewage sludge, as well as those of Zn, Cu, and Ni in Taopu sludge are higher than Chinese regulation limit of pollutants for sludge to be used in agriculture. Leachability of Hg in all of studied samples and that of Cd in Taopu sewage sludge exceed the limit values of waste solid extraction standard in China legislation. Based on the characteristics for three kinds of sewage sludge, a pot experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of soil amended with Quyang sewage sludge on the accumulation of heavy metaL,hy Begonia sempelflorens-hybr; Ophiopogon japonicm (L.F.) Ker-Gaw; Loropetalum chindense-var. rubrum; Dendranthemu mnifolium; Viola tricolor; A ntirrhinum q ' u s ; Bww radicans Sieb; Viburnum macrocephalum; Osmanthm fragrans Lour; Cinnmmum camphora siebold and Ligwtrurn lucidurn ait. Results showed that 8 species of plant survived in the amended soil, and moreover they flourished as well as those cultivated in the control soil. The heavy metal concentration in plants varied with species, As, Pb, Cd and Cr concentration being the highest in the four herbaceous species studied, particularly in the roots of D. morijolium. These plants, however, did not show accumulator of As, Pb, Cd and Cr. The highest concentration of Ni and Hg was found in the roots of D. nwrijolium, followed by the leaves of B. sempe&rens-hybr. Levels of Zn and Cu were much higher in D. nwnifolium than in the other plant species. D. nwriifoZium accumulated Ni, Hg, Cu and Zn, which may contribute to the decrease of heavy metal contents in the amended soil. Treatment with sewage sludge did not significantly affect the uptake of heavy metals by the L. chindense-var. rubrum, however, it Significantly affected the uptake of heavy metals by D. monyoliam.

Impact of heavy metals in sewage sludge on soil and plants (colza and wheat)

We are testing the impact of heavy metals in sludge from urban and industrial wastewater treatment plants. We try to understand their influence on plant growth and their bioaccumulation. We chose two plants: the wheat and rapeseed to their specific characteristics; wheat is a herbaceous low accumulator of heavy metals, however rape (colza) is a plant of the family Brassica napus, is an excellent bio-accumulator of heavy metals. The mean levels found in the soil are organized in the following order: Fe >> Mn> Zn> Pb> Cu> Ni> Co> Cd The contents of heavy metals in the sludge is made very high and exceed European values allowed for that type of use but remain in the standard NT106 Tunisia. The effects of the contribution of sludge are manifested by a significant increase in the weight gains of the whole plant, these results in a variation of the ratio between the aerial part and roots of the plant; this ratio tends to increase with dose of mud brought in soil increase. The roots of both plants show high levels of Zn even on the ground untreated control. The contents of Ni, Pb and Zn compared to Cu and Co are higher in the roots of rape than wheat.

Heavy metals in the soil and castor bean plants fertilized with sewage sludge stabilized by different processes

Ciência Rural

ABSTRACT: This study evaluated the levels of heavy metals in the soil and castor bean plant after fertilization with sewage sludge (SS) subjected to different stabilization processes. The study was conducted in a Haplic Cambisol with the following treatments: control (CO), fertilization with solarized sewage sludge (SSS), composted sewage sludge (CSS), vermi composted sewage sludge (VSS), limed sewage sludge (LSS), and mineral fertilizer (MF). The experimental design included a subdivided plot scheme with fertilization being the primary factor and soil layers or leaf parts being the secondary factor. The data obtained were analyzed using analysis of variance and the Scott-Knott test with 5% significance. Fertilization with SSS, CSS, and LSS led to the highest increase in Zn in the soil, mainly in the surface layer. In the leaf tissues, Zn and Cu levels were higher with the CO and SSS treatments, whereas the Ni level was higher with SSS, CSS, VSS, and MF treatments. In general, Zn an...

Use of sewage sludge in growth media for ornamental plants and its effects on growth and heavy metal accumulation

Sewage sludge is a thick sludge of solid materials which settle out from wastewater during the treatment process, whether the wastewater is being moved through a home septic system or a commercial sewage treatment plant. The sewage sludge tends to concentrate heavy metals and poorly biodegradable trace organic compounds as well as potentially pathogenic organisms. In this study, the use of sewage sludge obtained from Adana West Wastewater Treatment Plant as component of growth media for ornamentals, Aptenia cordifolia, Carpobrotus edulis and Bryophyllum tubiflorum was investigated. The study includes three treatments, sewage sludge + diatomite, sewage sludge + basaltic tuff and natural soil. The experimental period was sustained 90 days, and plants were irrigated by C1S1 class water in laboratory conditions. Plant growth, fresh and dry biomass production and heavy metal accumulation of plants were determined. The results of the study imply that the addition of sewage sludge to tuff enhanced plant growth. There was no difference between treatments for Aptenia cordifolia and Bryophyllum tubiflorum leaf, stem and root characteristics, but Carpobrotus edulis turned to brown in the end of the tenth week and they died in the natural soil and sewage sludge + diatomite treatments. The addition of sewage sludge to diatomite on the other hand increased the heavy metal uptake of plants. All of the plant roots accumulate significantly greater concentration of metals than stems. Every three ornamental plant species are an effective plant for possible remediation treatment in some contaminated and spoilt landscapes can be recovered.

Effect of the Long-Term Application of Sewage Sludge to A Calcareous Soil on Its Total and Bioavailable Content in Trace Elements, and Their Transfer to the Crop

Minerals, 2021

Sewage sludge (SS) can be used as an organic amendment in agricultural soils, provided they comply with the relevant legislation. This use can incorporate traces of metals into the soil, which can cause environmental or human health problems. In the study period between 1992 and 2018 (26 years), it was observed that the use of SS as an organic fertilizer significantly increased the total concentration of Zn, Cu, Cr, Ni and Hg of this study between 55.6% (Hg) and 7.0% (Ni). The concentration of Zn, Cu, Pb, Ni and Cd extracted with DTPA, also increased between 122.2% (Zn) and 11.3% (Cd). In contrast, the Mn concentrations extracted with Diethylene Triamine Pentaacetic Acid (DTPA)were 6.5% higher in the treatments without SS. These changes in the soil had an impact on the crop, which showed a significant increase in the concentration of Zn, Cu and Cr in the grain, between 15.0% (Cr) and 4.4% (Cu), and a decrease in the concentration of Mn, Cr and Ni in the barley straw when SS was adde...

Effects of sewage sludge amendment on heavy metal accumulation and consequent responses of Beta vulgaris plants.

Use of sewage sludge, a biological residue produced from sewage treatment processes in agriculture is an alternative disposal technique of waste. To study the usefulness of sewage sludge amendment for palak (Beta vulgaris var. Allgreen H-1), a leafy vegetable and consequent heavy metal contamination, a pot experiment was conducted by mixing sewage sludge at 20% and 40% (w/w) amendment ratios to the agricultural soil. Soil pH decreased whereas electrical conductance, organic carbon, total N, available P and exchangeable Na, K and Ca increased in soil amended with sewage sludge in comparison to unamended soil. Sewage sludge amendment led to significant increase in Pb, Cr, Cd, Cu, Zn and Ni concentrations of soil. Cd concentration in soil was found above the Indian permissible limit in soil at both the amendment ratios. The increased concentration of heavy metals in soil due to sewage sludge amendment led to increases in heavy metal uptake and shoot and root concentrations of Ni, Cd, Cu, Cr, Pb and Zn in plants as compared to those grown on unamended soil. Accumulation was more in roots than shoots for most of the heavy metals. Concentrations of Cd, Ni and Zn were more than the permissible limits of Indian standard in the edible portion of palak grown on different sewage sludge amendments ratios. Sewage sludge amendment in soil decreased root length, leaf area and root biomass of palak at both the amendment ratios, whereas shoot biomass and yield decreased significantly at 40% sludge amendment. Rate of photosynthesis, stomatal conductance and chlorophyll content decreased whereas lipid peroxidation, peroxidase activity and protein and proline contents, increased in plants grown in sewage sludge-amended soil as compared to those grown in unamended soil. The study clearly shows that increase in heavy metal concentration in foliage of plants grown in sewage sludge-amended soil caused unfavorable changes in physiological and biochemical characteristics of plants leading to reductions in morphological characteristics, biomass accumulation and yield. The study concludes that sewage sludge amendment in soil for growing palak may not be a good option due to risk of contamination of Cd, Ni and Zn and also due to lowering of yield at higher mixing ratio.

Determination of heavy metals and their availability to plants in soil fertilized with different waste substances

Environmental Monitoring and Assessment

Field trials were conducted in 2004-2015, in Bałcyny, on haplic Luvisol formed out of light boulder clay. The experiment consisted of the following treatments: control (no fertilization), NPK, manure (FYM), dried pelleted sewage sludge (DPSS), composted sewage sludge (CSS), compost made from municipal sewage sludge and straw (SSCS), compost Dano made from unsorted household waste (CUHW), and compost produced from urban green waste (CUGW). Over a period of 12 years, 30 t DM/ha of each manure and composts were used, that is, 10 t DM/ha in each rotation of a crop rotation sequence. Nitrogen fertilization was kept on the same level on all experimental plots. Soil samples from the 0-to 20-cm horizon were collected after the third rotation crop, which was winter wheat harvested in 2015. It has been demonstrated that CUHW raised the soil total Cu content the highest, while the soil content of Zn was elevated the most by DPSS. The content of the remaining heavy metals (Pb, Ni, Cr, Mn, and Fe) increased as well, but to a lesser extent. The soil abundance of phytoavailable forms of copper improved even greater (from 75% when fertilized with CUGW or CSS, up to 124% when treated with CUHW). Soil content of soluble forms of such metals as Zn, Pb, Cr, Mn, and Fe changed less. The content of all analyzed heavy metals in soil (a form approximating the total content) was significantly positively correlated with the content of organic carbon (C-org.). This is the evidence for stronger adsorption of the above elements in soil richer in organic matter. On the other hand, the content of available forms of heavy metals depended more on the soil pH than on its content of C-org.

Distribution of heavy metals in plants cultivated with wastewater irrigated soils during different periods of time

Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section B: Beam Interactions with Materials and Atoms, 2005

The Mezquital valley is a vast area near Mexico city that has been irrigated with wastewater from Mexico city for more than 50 years. At present, this water source continues to be used while new irrigation areas are being incorporated according to rural demand. This research study was conducted to evaluate the relationship between the accumulation of metals in soils and plants and the physicochemical properties of soils irrigated in this manner for 50 and 100 years, respectively. Soil properties such as pH and total organic carbon (TOC) were determined by conventional methods. Plant and soil total trace metals Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn and Pb were determined using particle induced X-ray emission (PIXE). Lower pH and TOC contents were obtained for soils irrigated during 100 years, indicating a higher metal bioavailability. This is not reflected in plant content for most of the reported elements, but Zn and Pb show a higher absorption in 100 years old plots (26-79%) than in 50-year-olds plots, indicating a pH dependence. Ó 2005 Published by Elsevier B.V.

Accumulation of multiple heavy metals in plants grown on soil treated with sewage sludge for more than 50 years presents health risks and an opportunity for phyto-remediation

Water SA

Long-term application of sewage leads to heavy metal accumulation in soils, causing serious risks to plants, humans, animals and the environment, and phytoremediation could be essential. A study was conducted to determine the concentration of heavy metals in self-seeding vegetables, amaranthus (Amaranthus dubius), tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), black nightshade (Solanum nigrum), Rumex pulcher and turf grass, grown on land treated with sewage sludge for over 50 years. A pot experiment was conducted to determine phytoremediation potential of Indian mustard (Brassica juncea), lucern (Medicago sativa), vetch (Vicia sativa), rape (Brassica napus) and ryegrass (Lolium perenne), using the same soil. Another pot experiment was conducted to determine effects on tissue metal composition of Indian mustard of adding increasing concentrations of EDTA. All the self-seeding vegetables had tissue Zn, Cu, Cr, Ni, Cd and Pb concentrations higher than toxicity thresholds. Turf grass tissue had higher ...

Heavy Metals Behavior in Soil/Plant System after Sewage Sludge Application

Energies, 2021

One of the possibilities of removing heavy metals (HMs) from soil is the use of phytoremediation techniques supported with biosolids, which also allow for their disposal. Therefore, the objective of the research was the determination of the sewage sludge suitability after its application to urban soil in order to increase the phytoremediation efficiency of contaminated soil. A field experiment was established on lawns in Białystok (Poland) in two locations with different traffic. The research plots were fertilized with sludge in doses of 14.5 t DM/ha and 29 t DM/ha. A mixture of lawn grasses was sown on the prepared plots. During two years of experiment soil/plant samples were collected, and pH, organic matter, dehydrogenase and catalase activity (soil), the total content of Cd, Cr, Cu, Mo, Ni, Pb, Zn, and Hg (soil/plant), and their fractions (soil) were determined. The HMs in soil were present mainly in residual and reducible fractions. Zn had the highest share in acid-soluble frac...