Biosolids recycling: Nitrogen management and soil ecology

2006 ◽  
Vol 86 (4) ◽  
pp. 613-620 ◽  
Author(s):  
C G Cogger ◽  
T A Forge ◽  
G H Neilsen
Keyword(s):  
Municipal Wastewater ◽  
Nutrient Loading ◽  
The United States ◽  
Land Application ◽  
Soil Ecology ◽  
N Availability ◽  
Forage Production ◽  
Available Nitrogen ◽  
Available N ◽  
Plant Available Nitrogen

Biosolids are municipal wastewater treatment solids that meet regulatory standards for land application. Most biosolids are a rich source of N, P, and micronutrients. Although the use of biosolids on food crops remains controversial in the public eye, decades of research have led to the development of regulations for the safe and beneficial use of biosolids in agriculture. Emerging areas of research include biosolids in commercial and home horticulture, the fate of pathogens and organics in biosolids, the use of biosolids in the remediation of contaminated sites, and biosolids effects on soil ecology. Nutrient management remains the most critical day-to-day issue for land application of biosolids. Recent research on plant-available nitrogen (PAN) in biosolids has found that N availability is similar over a range of biosolids processing types, and that growing-season climate is a key factor affecting available N. Regionally based predictions of PAN have been developed for the United States, and could be extended into Canada. Relatively little is known about the effects of biosolids applications on soil ecology, but soil nematodes offer an opportunity to evaluate the structure and function of the soil ecosystem following biosolids applications. We have studied responses of nematode communities to application of municipal biosolids and composts, in forage production systems and orchards. Both types of amendments increased the abundance of enrichment opportunists, for up to 3 yr after single applications. These data on the persistence of increased enrichment opportunists have provided insight into the longevity of amendment-induced enhancement of biological activity and nutrient cycling. Cumulative biosolids applications of 90 Mg ha-1 have caused reductions in abundance of pollutant-sensitive Dorylaimida. The extent to which this change is the result of metal or nutrient loading is unclear and deserves more detailed study. Key words: Biosolids, plant-available nitrogen, soil ecology, nematodes

scholarly journals Kentucky Bluegrass Response to Use of Aquatic Plants as a Soil Amendment

HortScience ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 40 (1) ◽  
pp. 237-241 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Fortuna ◽  
P.E. Rieke ◽  
L.W. Jacobs ◽  
B. Leinauer ◽  
D.E. Karcher
Keyword(s):  
Waste Disposal ◽  
Soil Amendment ◽  
Aquatic Plant ◽  
Nutrient Loading ◽  
Plant Biomass ◽  
N Uptake ◽  
Nutrient Content ◽  
Kentucky Bluegrass ◽  
Land Application ◽  
Available N

Rapid aquatic plant growth in Michigan's smaller lakes has reduced their navigability and recreational use. Harvested aquatic weeds have posed a new waste disposal issue for municipalities. Application of lake weeds as a soil amendment on area farms was viewed as a possible waste management option that might benefit local sod producers. The objectives of this study were to 1) estimate the amount of plant-available N (PAN) released from lake weed material, 2) determine the chemical composition of aquatic plant tissues and their effect on plant-available moisture, and 3) study turfgrass response to lake weed applications using the criteria of turfgrass quality, growth, and N uptake. Rates of lake weed refuse applied to field plots were 96, 161, and 206 Mg·ha-1. Two 47-day laboratory incubations were conducted with the same rates of refuse. Relative to biosolids, the metal content of the lake weeds was low and the nutrient content high. One megagram of lake weeds contained 0.37 kg of P and 2.5 kg of K. The decay constant for the C fraction in lake weeds was 8 to 10 days and 16 days for the N fraction. Estimates of the N supplied by lake weeds (570, 960, and 1200 kg PAN/ha) were based on data from C and N incubations. Application of lake weeds significantly increased plant-available soil moisture and significantly enhanced sod establishment and turf density, resulting in decreased weed pressure. However, excess N was present at higher application rates. Management concerns during the application of lake weeds should focus on nutrient loading and the timing of plant-available N release. Depending on methods of weed harvesting, we observed that large amounts of unwanted trash present in the plant biomass could discourage use by growers. Land application of lake weed refuse could ease waste disposal problems, reduce fertilizer inputs for sod growers, and improve the moisture status of sands. Further, this information can be of value to environmental regulatory agencies in determining safe and proper use of such waste materials.

scholarly journals Nitrogen Dynamics Associated with Organic and Inorganic Inputs to Substrate Commonly Used on Rooftop Farms

HortScience ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 50 (6) ◽  
pp. 806-813 ◽  
Author(s):  
Angela Y.Y. Kong ◽  
Cynthia Rosenzweig ◽  
Joshua Arky
Keyword(s):  
The United States ◽  
Organic N ◽  
N Availability ◽  
Inorganic N ◽  
Available N ◽  
Nutrient Runoff ◽  
Swiss Chard ◽  
Rooftop Farming ◽  
N Input ◽  
Synthetic Fertilizer

Employing rooftops for the cultivation of crops in limited urban space has garnered interest in densely populated cities in the United States, where there is a growing demand for locally sourced vegetable products. Fertility management recommendations for rooftop farming, however, are scant. With insufficient research on nutrient cycling within rooftop farming systems, which tend to use soilless substrates with low organic matter content, the potential tradeoffs between the negative impacts (e.g., nutrient runoff) and the benefits (e.g., increased locally produced vegetables, stormwater retention, etc.) associated with rooftop farms are unclear. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of organic and inorganic nitrogen (N) inputs on the N dynamics within substrate typically used on rooftop farms. Substrate without added N inputs (control) was compared with substrates receiving N sources that are both realistic for and/or reflective of amendments currently applied on urban rooftop farms: a synthetic fertilizer (Osmocote® 14N–4.2P–11.6K), and three organic N inputs—composted poultry manure, municipal green waste (MGW) compost, and vermicompost. Aboveground crop biomass and yields of Beta vulgaris (swiss chard), along with inorganic N availability (ammonium: and nitrate: ), potentially mineralizable nitrogen (PMN), leachate-inorganic N concentrations, and pH and electrical conductivity (EC) levels were measured during an 8-week greenhouse experiment. Despite differences in carbon-to-nitrogen ratios (C:N), few differences in N cycling and yields were found among the treatments receiving organic N inputs. Crop yields from the synthetic fertilizer and MGW compost treatments were higher than the other organic N input treatments. Inorganic N levels in the synthetic fertilizer treatment decreased from 129 mg N/L at the start of the season to 113 mg N/L at the end of the season, while nearly 10-fold decreases of inorganic N concentrations in the substrate of the control and organic N input treatments from week 0 (79.5–117.8 mg N/L) to week 8 (12.8–16.6 mg N/L) were observed. Greater N availability at critical periods during the season may have promoted greater crop N uptake efficiency and, therefore, higher yields in the system receiving synthetic fertilizer. However, the greatest losses of and via leachate were also measured from this treatment. Our results show that the type of N input influenced plant-available N and yields and that the MGW compost treatment best achieved the balance between higher yields and reduced N losses to potential roof runoff. Furthermore, additional N inputs to these systems, particularly to the treatments receiving organic composts, will likely be necessary if a high N-demanding crop (such as swiss chard) is to be grown in the same substrates for more than 8 weeks. Rooftop farming is an emergent component of urban agriculture; regulations and guidelines for nutrient management of rooftop farms are necessary to optimize productivity and long-term benefits and to minimize negative environmental impacts.

An assessment of the guidelines in Victoria, Australia, for land application of biosolids based on plant-available nitrogen

Soil Research ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 51 (6) ◽  
pp. 529 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sami Al-Dhumri ◽  
Firew H. Beshah ◽  
Nichola A. Porter ◽  
Barry Meehan ◽  
Roger Wrigley
Keyword(s):  
Production Systems ◽  
Sandy Loam ◽  
Land Application ◽  
Organic N ◽  
Clay Loam ◽  
Recycled Water ◽  
Available Nitrogen ◽  
Total N ◽  
Application Rates ◽  
Plant Available Nitrogen

In the application of biosolids to land for agricultural purposes, the supply of plant-available nitrogen (PAN) should match the crop requirements. This ensures that the crop yield is maximised while minimising the environmental risk from over-application. In Victoria, the amount to be applied is usually calculated according to the State EPA guidelines using the nitrogen limited biosolids application rates (NLBAR). These guidelines specify the mineralisation rates to be used in the NLBAR calculation for different types of biosolids. However, these rates have not been validated for Victorian soils and agricultural production systems. To test the veracity of these rates, this study quantified the amount of PAN for two different biosolids (anaerobically digested biosolids, ANDB; and aerobically digested biosolids, ADB) added to two types of soils, a sandy loam at Lara and a clay loam at the Melton Recycled Water Plant, Surbiton Park, Melton. The PAN was calculated by determining the N fertiliser equivalence of the biosolids. To achieve this, two field calibration plots were prepared, one for the biosolids and one for urea as the N fertiliser. Biosolids were applied based on total N at six rates (0, 68, 136, 204, 340 and 510 kg N ha–1); urea was applied at six rates (0, 60, 120, 180, 240 and 280 kg N ha–1). Perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) was planted 1 day after the application of biosolids and harvested after 120 days. The calculated amount of mineralisable organic N in ANDB was estimated to be 41% and 39% when applied to the clay loam and sandy loam soils, respectively; for ADB, it was 12% and 9%, respectively. These values indicate that the organic N mineralisation rates provided in the EPA Victoria guidelines (15% for ANDB and 25% for ADB) might not always be applicable. Also of note is that the values obtained for the each of the biosolids appear to be independent of the soil type.

Plant-available nitrogen supply from granulated biosolids: implications for land application guidelines

Soil Research ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 46 (5) ◽  
pp. 423 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. M. Eldridge ◽  
K. Y. Chan ◽  
Z. H. Xu ◽  
C. R. Chen ◽  
I. Barchia
Keyword(s):  
Land Application ◽  
Organic Wastes ◽  
Organic N ◽  
Current Guideline ◽  
Available Nitrogen ◽  
Mineral N ◽  
Application Rates ◽  
Incubation Study ◽  
Field Incubation ◽  
Plant Available Nitrogen

Current State government guidelines attempt to ensure that the supply of plant available nitrogen (PAN) from land-applied biosolids does not exceed the crop’s requirement for mineral nitrogen (N), in order to minimise the risk of excess nitrate contaminating surface and groundwater. In estimating a suitable application rate, current guideline methodology assumes a fixed proportion of the organic N in the biosolids will be mineralised in the first year following the application for all situations. Our study included a field trial and a field incubation study to assess N mineralisation for both a granulated biosolid and a dewatered biosolid product, together with an additional laboratory incubation study for the granulated biosolid product. The application rates were 12, 24, and 48 dry t/ha for the granulated biosolids and 22 dry t/ha for the dewatered biosolids. Our results showed that the guideline procedure underestimated the supply of mineral N from the biosolid-treated soils, with more than 3 times the predicted amount being supplied by the biosolids at all application rates. The excess supply of mineral N was due to a much larger proportion of the biosolid organic N being mineralised than the assumed 25%, as well as a significant contribution of mineral N from the soil itself (which is ignored in the estimation calculation). The proportion of biosolid organic N mineralised in the 12-month field incubation study for the 3 granulated biosolid treatments (12, 24, and 48 dry t/ha) and the dewatered biosolid treatment (22 dry t/ha) were estimated to be 54%, 48%, 45%, and 53%, respectively, in our field incubation study. Both the laboratory and field incubation studies found that most of the biosolid mineralisable organic N was mineralised rapidly during the early stages of the incubation. In the field incubation, the 24 dry t/ha granulated biosolid treatment had 35% of its organic N mineralised within the first 2 months following application, while all granulated biosolid treatments in the laboratory incubations had by, day 29, supplied >50% of the mineral N they would supply for the whole 216-day incubation. This release pattern for the supply of PAN from biosolid organic N should be factored into fertiliser application strategies. Our study reveals some of the shortcomings of the currently recommended ‘one size fits all’ approach for estimating the PAN supply from land-applied biosolids. Further research on the development of an effective rapid assessment for the mineralisable N content in organic wastes and soils, in combination with modelling, may improve our capacity to predict PAN supply from land-applied organic wastes in the future.

scholarly journals Effect of ISPAD Anaerobic Digestion on Ammonia Volatilization from Soil Applied Swine Manure

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susan King ◽  
Michael Schwalb ◽  
David Giard ◽  
Joann Whalen ◽  
Suzelle Barrington
Keyword(s):  
Anaerobic Digestion ◽  
Sandy Loam ◽  
Swine Manure ◽  
Exchange Capacity ◽  
Land Application ◽  
Available Nitrogen ◽  
Fertilizer Value ◽  
Plant Available Nitrogen ◽  
Solids Content ◽  
Tunnel Monitoring

Swine manure subjected to in-storage psychrophilic anaerobic digestion (ISPAD) undergoes proteins degradation but limited NH3volatilization, producing an effluent rich in plant-available nitrogen. Accordingly, ISPAD effluent can offer a higher fertilizer value during land application, as compared to manure of similar age stored in an open tank. However, this additional nitrogen can also be lost by volatilization during land application. The objective of this study was therefore to measure NH3volatilization from both ISPAD and open tank swine manures when applied to 5 different soils, namely, washed sand, a Ste Rosalie clay, an Upland sandy loam, a St Bernard loam, and an Ormstown loam. This research was conducted using laboratory wind tunnels simulating land application. The five experimental soils offered similar pH values but different water holding capacity, cation exchange capacity, cation saturation, and organic matter. After 47 h of wind tunnel monitoring, the % of total available nitrogen (TAN orNH4 +and NH3) volatilized varied with both manure and soil type. For all soil types, the ISPAD manure consistently lost less NH3as compared to the open tank manure, averaging 53% less. Lower volatile solids content improving manure infiltration into the soil and a more complex ionic solution explain the effect of the ISPAD manure advantages. This was reinforced by the St Bernard sandy loam losing the same nitrogen mass for both manures, because of its higher pH and buffer pH coupled with an intermediate CEC resulting in more soil solution NH3. Within each manure type, % TAN volatilized was highest for washed sand and lowest for the clay soil. As a result, ISPAD manure can offer up to 21% more plant-available nitrogen fertilizer especially when the manure is not incorporated into the soil following its application.

Nitrogen dynamics in soil amended with composted cattle manure

2007 ◽  
Vol 87 (1) ◽  
pp. 43-50 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bobbi L Helgason ◽  
Francis J Larney ◽  
H. Henry Janzen ◽  
Barry M Olson
Keyword(s):  
N Uptake ◽  
Wood Chip ◽  
N Fertilizer ◽  
Organic N ◽  
Inorganic N ◽  
Available Nitrogen ◽  
N Content ◽  
Total N ◽  
Available N ◽  
Plant Available Nitrogen

The amount and pattern of plant-available nitrogen (N) release from composts are variable and not well-defined. We used a 425-d canola (Brassica napus L.) bioassay to follow the release of N from eight composted cattle manures applied to soil at 20 g kg-1. Two stockpiled manures, one inorganic fertilizer and an unamended control were also included for comparison. Eight consecutive 30-d growth cycles were conducted in a controlled environment chamber (20°C) and plant N uptake was measured. Total N uptake was greatest from the N fertilizer and least from the wood-chip bedded manure. Addition of compost increased N uptake by 27–99% compared with that in the control. Nitrogen uptake from compost was directly proportional to its inorganic N content (r2 = 0.98; P < 0.0001) showing that the initial inorganic N content of compost, analyzed prior to its application can be used to predict plant available N. In seven of the eight composts studied, less than 5% of organic N was mineralized over 425 d, suggesting that little of the organic N in compost becomes available in the year of application. Compost is a valuable organic amendment, but co-application of N fertilizer is recommended to supply adequate N and optimize the benefits of compost for crop growth. Key words: Plant-available nitrogen, compost, nitrogen mineralization, beef manure

scholarly journals Pig slurry in carpet grass pasture: Yield and plant-available nitrogen

2016 ◽  
Vol 20 (9) ◽  
pp. 795-799 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karen D. Brustolin-Golin ◽  
Simone M. Scheffer-Basso ◽  
Pedro A. V. Escosteguy ◽  
Mario Miranda ◽  
Magdalena R. L. Travi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ammonium Nitrate ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Block Design ◽  
Pig Slurry ◽  
Available Nitrogen ◽  
Agronomic Efficiency ◽  
Available N ◽  
Randomized Block Design ◽  
Plant Available Nitrogen ◽  
Pasture Yield

ABSTRACT This study evaluated the response of carpet grass to pig slurry fertilization in order to estimate the agronomic efficiency and the plant-available nitrogen (N) of such manure. A field test was conducted during two years, following a randomized block design with six replicates of the treatments: 0, 100, 200, 300, 400 and 500 kg N ha-1 year-1, which resulted in 0, 60, 120, 180, 240 and 300 m3 ha-1 (2008/09), and 0, 42, 84, 126, 168 and 210 m3 ha-1 (2009/10), according to the N content of the pig slurry used in each year. These treatments were compared with ammonium nitrate (200 kg N ha-1 year-1), in order to estimate the plant-available nitrogen of the manure for the pasture. Pig slurry doses increased linearly the dry matter yield. In 2008/2009, it was increased from 2,600 (0 kg N ha-1) to 7,718 kg ha-1 (500 kg N ha-1), while in 2009-2010 it ranged from 4,310 (0 kg N ha-1) to 12,321 kg ha-1 (500 kg N ha-1). The average agronomic efficiency of the manurewas 15 kg DM kg-1 N and it was lower than that found with ammonium nitrate (27 kg DM kg-1 N).The estimated plant-available N of the pig slurry was similar between the growing years. The N fraction of this manure available to the pasture was 0.64 (2008-09) and 0.60 (2009-10).

scholarly journals Occurrence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in Six Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plants at the Early Stage of COVID-19 Pandemic in The United States

Pathogens ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 798
Author(s):  
Samendra P. Sherchan ◽  
Shalina Shahin ◽  
Jeenal Patel ◽  
Lauren M. Ward ◽  
Sarmila Tandukar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Wastewater Treatment ◽  
Municipal Wastewater ◽  
Wastewater Treatment Plants ◽  
Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction ◽  
The United States ◽  
Secondary Effluent ◽  
Untreated Wastewater ◽  
Treatment Processes ◽  
Wastewater Samples

In this study, we investigated the occurrence of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) RNA in primary influent (n = 42), secondary effluent (n = 24) and tertiary treated effluent (n = 34) collected from six wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs A–F) in Virginia (WWTP A), Florida (WWTPs B, C, and D), and Georgia (WWTPs E and F) in the United States during April–July 2020. Of the 100 wastewater samples analyzed, eight (19%) untreated wastewater samples collected from the primary influents contained SARS-CoV-2 RNA as measured by reverse transcriptase quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) assays. SARS-CoV-2 RNA were detected in influent wastewater samples collected from WWTP A (Virginia), WWTPs E and F (Georgia) and WWTP D (Florida). Secondary and tertiary effluent samples were not positive for SARS-CoV-2 RNA indicating the treatment processes in these WWTPs potentially removed SARS-CoV-2 RNA during the secondary and tertiary treatment processes. However, further studies are needed to understand the log removal values (LRVs) and transmission risks of SARS-CoV-2 RNA through analyzing wastewater samples from a wider range of WWTPs.

Fate of trace organics during land application of municipal wastewater

1985 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 355-416 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. R. Hutchins ◽  
M. B. Tomson ◽  
P. B. Bedient ◽  
C. H. Ward ◽  
John T. Wilson
Keyword(s):  
Municipal Wastewater ◽  
Land Application ◽  
Trace Organics

The Reduction of Plant-Available Nitrogen by Cover Crop Mulches and Subsequent Effects on Soybean Performance and Weed Interference

2013 ◽  
Vol 105 (2) ◽  
pp. 539-545 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. S. Wells ◽  
S. C. Reberg-Horton ◽  
A. N. Smith ◽  
J. M. Grossman
Keyword(s):  
Cover Crop ◽  
Available Nitrogen ◽  
Weed Interference ◽  
Plant Available Nitrogen
Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document