Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Fertilization Value of Biosolids on Nutrient Accumulation and Environmental Risks to Agricultural Plants

  • Published:
Water, Air, & Soil Pollution Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Amendment with treated biosolids can increase soil fertility and plant nutrition to the soil, but the fertilization value compared with other commercial soil amendments on the soil ecosystem is poorly understood. The effects of different proportions (0%, 5%, 10%, and 15%) of thermal and pH-treated biosolid applications on the growth performance, nutrient contents, and toxicity performance of carrots (Daucus carota L.) and choy sum (Brassica chinensis var. parachinensis) were studied. Different commercial organic soil amendments, such as biochar, chicken manure (CM), and food waste compost (FWC), were also used as a comparison in the experiment to determine the feasibility of biosolid application on agricultural use. All four soil amendments resulted in similar growth trends for the carrots and choy sum, and this information can be applied in selecting the appropriate species of plants. Through thermal and pH treatments, the treated biosolids decreased environmental risks and resulted in higher amounts of N and P in comparison to the other soil amendments. The results showed that 10% biosolid-amended soil performed best in terms of plant growth, biomass, and nutrient content for both carrots and choy sum. Nutrient analysis (N, P, and K) and heavy metal analysis (As, Cd, and Pb) on both soil and plants were conducted. It was proven that biosolid application was as functional as CM application and could be used as organic fertilizer to replace biochar and FWC for agricultural use. No heavy metals were found in the pure biosolids, which were safe to use as fertilizers. Utilizing biosolids as fertilizers could be an effective way to address the problem of waste disposal and landfill loading for the environment.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • AFCD. (2018a). Agriculture, Fisheries & Conservation Department Hong Kong: The Facts -Agriculture and Fisheries. https://www.afcd.gov.hk/tc_chi/agriculture/agr_hk/agr_hk.html. Accessed 16th Jul 2020.

  • AFCD. (2018b). Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department. Agriculture in HK. http://www.afcd.gov.hk/english/agriculture/agr_hk/agr_hk.html. Accessed 16th Jul 2019.

  • Allen, S. E., Grimshaw, H. M., Rowland, A. P. (1986). Chemical analysis. In: Moore PD, Chapman SB (eds) Methods in plant ecology. Blackwell, Oxford, pp 285–344.

  • Arduni, I., Cardelli, R., & Pamoana, S. (2018). Biosolids affect the growth, nitrogen accumulation and nitrogen leaching of barley. Plant, Soil and Environment, 64, 95–101.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • ASTM. (2006). Standard test methods for specific gravity of soil solids by water pycnometer(Standard D854–06). In Annual Book of ASTM Standards: Soil and Rock (II). American Society for Testing and Materials, West Conshohocken, PA. V4.08.

  • ASTM. (2007). Standard test method for particle-size analysis of soils (Standard D422-63(2007)). In Annual Book of ASTM Standards: Soil and Rock (I). American Society for Testing and Materials, West Conshohocken, PA.

  • ATSM. (2009). Standard test methods for laboratory determination of density (Unit Weight) of soil specimens (Standard D7263-09). In Annual Book of ASTM Standards: Soil and Rock (II). American Society for Testing and Materials, West Conshohocken, PA. V4.09.

  • Baligar, V., Fageria, N., & He, Z. (2001). Nutrient use efficiency in plants. Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis, 32, 921–950.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Balkhair, K. S., & Ashraf, M. A. (2016). Field accumulation risks of heavy metals in soil and vegetable crop irrigated with sewage water in western region of Saudi Arabia. Saudi Journal of Biological Sciences, 23, S32–S44.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Brisolara, K. F., & Qi, Y. (2015). Biosolids and sludge management. Water Environment Research, 87, 1147–1166.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Case, S. D., McNamara, N. P., Reay, D. S., Stott, A. W., Grant, H. K., & Whitaker, J. (2015). Biochar suppresses N2O emissions while maintaining N availability in a sandy loam soil. Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 81, 178–185.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chau, K. C., & Chan, W. Y. (2000). Planter soils in Hong Kong: I. Soil properties and characterization. Journal of Arboriculture, 24, 59–74.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Corrêa, R. (2004). Efficiency of five biosolids to supply nitrogen and phosphorus to ryegrass. Pesquisa Agropecuária Brasileira, 39, 1133–1139.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dad, K., Wahid, A., Khan, A. A., Anwar, A., Ali, M., Sarwar, N., & Gulshan, A. B. (2018). Nutritional status of different biosolids and their impact on various growth parameters of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Saudi Journal of Biological Sciences, 26, 1423–1428.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dauda, S. N., Ajayi, F. A., & Ndor, E. (2008). Growth and yield of water melon (Citrullus lanatus) as affected by poultry manure application. Journal of Agricultural Economics and Social Sciences, 4, 121–124.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dede, G., Özdemir, S., Dede, Ö., Altundağ, H., Dündar, M., & Kızıloğlu, F. (2017). Effects of biosolid application on soil properties and kiwi fruit nutrient composition on high-pH soil. International journal of Environmental Science and Technology, 14, 1451–1458.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • DIN 384141-S7. (1983). German standard methods for the estimation of water, waste water and slud-ges, soils and sediments (group S), digestion with aqua regia for subsequent determination of the acid soluble proportion of metals. Berlin: Beuth Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Eskin, M. (1989). Quality and preservation of vegetables. Boca Raton: CRC Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ewing, L. J., Almgren, H. H., & Culp, R. L. (1978). Effects of thermal treatment of sludge on municipal wastewater treatment costs. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., EPA/600/2-78/073 (NTIS PB285707).

  • Graham, M. H., Haynes, R. J., & Meyer, J. H. (2002). Changes in soil chemistry and aggregate stability induced by fertilizer applications, burning and trash retention on a long-term sugarcane experiment in South Africa. European Journal of Soil Science, 53, 589–598.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • HKEB. (2013). Hong Kong Environment Bureau. In Hong Kong Blueprint for Sustainable Use of Resources 2013 – 2022. Waste Plan. https://www.enb.gov.hk/en/files/WastePlan-E.pdf. Accessed 16th Jul 2020.

  • Hooda, P. S., McNulty, D., Alloway, B. J., & Aitken, M. N. (1997). Plant availability of heavy metals in soils previously amended with heavy applications of sewage sludge. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, 73, 446–454.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hummel, R. L., C. Cogger, C., Bary, A., & Riley, R. (2014). Marigold and pepper growth in container substrates made from biosolids composted with carbon-rich organic wastes. HortTechnology, 24, 325–333.

  • Ippolito, J. A., Laird, D. A., & Busscher, W. J. (2012). Environmental benefi ts of biochar. Journal of Environmental Quality, 41,967–972.

  • ISO. (2012). Soil quality-effects of pollutants on earthworms (Eisenia fetida) Part 1: Determination of acute toxicity using artificial soil substrate. ISO 11268-1:2012(E), Annex C. International Organization for Standardization, Geneva, Switzerland.

  • Jackson, M. L. (1973). Soil chemical analysis. Englewood Cliffs: Prentice-Hall, Inc.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jacobs, L. W., & McCreary, D.S. (2001). Applying Biosolids to Land in Michigan. MichiganI State University Extension. E-2780:1-8.

  • Khaleel, R., Reddy, K. R., & Overcash, M. R. (1980). Changes in soil physical properties due to organic waste applications: A review. Journal of Environmental Quality, 10, 133–141.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kookana, R. S., Sarmah, A. K., Zwieten, L. V., Krull, E., & Singh, B. (2011). Chapter three - biochar application to soil: Agronomic and environmental benefits and unintended consequences. Advances in Agronomy, 112, 103–143.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Laird, D., Fleming, P., Wang, B., Horton, R., & Karlen, D. (2010). Biochar impact on nutrient leaching from a Midwestern agricultural soil. Geoderma, 158, 436–442.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Leila, S., Mhameda, M., Hermann, H., Mykola, K., Oliver, W., Christin, M., Elena, O., & Nadia, B. (2017). Fertilization value of municipal sewage sludge for Eucalyptus camaldulensis plants. Journal of Applied Biotechnology Reports, 13, 8–12.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li, S. M., Zhu, L., Li, J., Ke, X., Wu, L. H., Luo, Y. M., & Christie, P. (2020). Influence of long-term biosolid applications on communities of soil fauna and their metal accumulation: A field study. Environmental Pollution, 260, 114017.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Liu, L., Chen, H., Cai, P., Liang, W., & Huang, Q. (2009). Immobilization and phytotoxicity of Cd in contaminated soil amended with chicken manure compost. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 163, 563–567.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lu, Q., He, Z. L., & S. P.J. (2012). Land application of biosolids in the USA: A review. Applied and Environmental Soil Science, 2012, 1–11.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Molz, F. J. (1981). Models of water transport in the soil-plant system: A review. Water Resources Research, 17, 1245–1260.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mossa, A. W., Bailey, E. H., Usman, A., Young, S. D., & Crout, N. M. J. (2020). The impact of long-term biosolids application (>100 years) on soil metal dynamics. Science of the Total Environment, 720, 137441.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Odedina, J., Ojeniyi, S., Odedina, S., Fabunmi, T., & Olowe, V. (2015). Growth and yield responses of cassava to poultry manure and time of harvest in rainforest agro-ecological zone of Nigeria. International Journal of Agricultural Resources, 2, 67–72.

    Google Scholar 

  • Oliveira, F. C., & Mattiazzo, M. E. (2001). Metais pesados em Latossolo tratado com lodo de esgoto e em plantas de cana-de-açúcar. Scientia Agricola, 58, 581–593.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pan, M. (2020). Biochar adsorption of antibiotics and its implications to remediation of contaminated soil. Water, Air, & Soil Pollution, 231, 221.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pan, M., & Chu, L. M. (2017). Transfer of antibiotics from wastewater or animal manure to soil and edible crops. Environmental Pollution, 231, 829–836.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pan, M., & Chu, L. M. (2018). Occurrence of antibiotics and antibiotic resistance genes in soils from wastewater irrigation areas in the Pearl River Delta region, southern China. Science of the Total Environment, 624, 145–152.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pessenda, L. C. R., Gouveia, S. E. M., & Aravena, R. (2001). Radiocarbon dating of total soil organic matter and humin fraction and its comparison with 14C ages of fossil charcoal. Radiocarbon, 43, 595–601.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rouch, D. A., Fleming, V. A., Pai, S., Deighton, M., Blackbeard, J., & Smith, S. R. (2011). Nitrogen release from air-dried biosolids for fertilizer value. Soil Use and Management, 27, 294–304.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sax, M. S., & Scharenbroch, B. (2017). Assessing alternative organic amendments as horticultural substrates for growing trees in containers. Journal of Environmental Horticulture, 35(2), 66–78.

  • Schjegel, A. J. (1992). Effect of composted manure on soil chemical properties and nitrogen use by grain sorghum. Journal of Production Agriculture, 5, 153–157.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stamatiadis, S., Werner, M., & Buchanan, M. (1999). Field assessment of soil quality as affected by compost and fertilizer application in a broccoli field (San Benito County, California). Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment Applied Soil Ecology, 12, 217–225.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stehouwer, R., Day, D. R., & Macneal, K. E. (2006). Nutrient and trace element leaching following mine reclamation with biosolids. Journal of Environmental Quality, 35, 1118–1126.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sullivan, P. F., Ellison, S. B. Z., McNown, R. W., Brownlee, A. H., & Sveinbjörnsson, B. (2015). Evidence of soil nutrient availability as the proximate constraint on growth of treeline trees in northwest Alaska. Ecology Ecological Society of America, 96, 716–727.

    Google Scholar 

  • Torri, S. I. (2014). Soil carbon sequestration resulting from biosolids application. Applied and Environmental Soil Science, 821768, 1–9.

  • TPARK. (2018). Environmental Protection Department. Ash and Residue Handling. https://www.epd.gov.hk/epd/english/environmentinhk/waste/prob_solutions/WFdev_IWMFtech.html. Accessed 16th Jul 2020.

  • White, R., Torri, S., & Corrêa, R. (2011). Biosolids soil application: Agronomic and environmental implications. Applied and Environmental Soil Science, 2011, 1–3.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wilber, W. L., & Williamson, J. G. (2008). Effects of fertilizer rate on growth and fruiting of containerized southern highbush blueberry. Hortscience, 43, 143–145.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • William, K., & Qureshi, R. A. (2015). Evaluation of biochar as fertilizer for thr growth of some seasonal vegetables. Journal of Bioresource Management, 2, 41–46.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wong, V. N. L., Greene, R. S. B., Dalal, R. C., & Murphy, B. W. (2002). Soil carbon dynamics in saline and sodic soils: A review. Soil Use and Management, 26, 2–11.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wong, J. W. C., Fung, S. O., & Selvam, A. (2009). Coal fly ash and lime addition enhances the rate and efficiency of decomposition of food waste during composting. Bioresource Technology, 100, 3324–3331.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Funding

This work was supported by a grant from the Research Grants Council of Hong Kong (Grant No. UGC/FDS25/M02/19).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Design and Environment, Technological and Higher Education Institute of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China

    Hoi Yan Chow & Min Pan

Authors
  1. Hoi Yan Chow
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Min Pan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Min Pan.

Additional information

Publisher’s Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Supplementary Information

ESM 1

(DOCX 21 kb)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Chow, H.Y., Pan, M. Fertilization Value of Biosolids on Nutrient Accumulation and Environmental Risks to Agricultural Plants. Water Air Soil Pollut 231, 578 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-020-04946-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-020-04946-8

Keywords

Search

Navigation