A critical review of nitrogen mineralization in biosolids-amended soil, the associated fertilizer value for crop production and potential for emissions to the environment

Rigby, Hannah; Clarke, Bradley O.; Pritchard, Deborah; Meehan, Barry; Beshah, Firew H.; Smith, Stephen R.; Porter, Nichola A.

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2015.08.089

Cited by 186 publications

(117 citation statements)

References 125 publications

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“…The degree of stabilization of organic-N fractions in biosolids and OMF coupled with lower N recovery in the crop compared with urea ( Fig. 4 and 6) explains this effect, and agrees with observations made in similar studies (e.g., Tejada et al, 2002;Rigby et al, 2016).…”

Section: Fertilizer Application Effects On Soilsupporting

confidence: 90%

Field‐Scale Evaluation of Biosolids‐Derived Organomineral Fertilizers Applied to Winter Wheat in England

et al. 2017

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Field-scale experiments in four crop seasons established the agronomic performance of biosolids-derived organomineral fertilizers (OMF) for winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) production in England. Two OMF formulations (OMF 10 10:4:4 and OMF 15 15:4:4) were compared with urea and biosolids granules (≈5:6:0.2) to determine crop responses and fertilizer eff ects on soil chemical properties. Fertilizers were applied at N rates between 0 and 250 kg ha -1 at regular increments of 50 kg ha -1 N. Average grain yields with OMF 10 and OMF 15 were higher than with biosolids granules, but lower than with urea (P < 0.05). Th e optimum N application rates, and corresponding grain yields, were 245 and 7900 kg ha -1 for biosolids, 257 and 9100 kg ha -1 for OMF 10 , 249 and 9500 kg ha -1 for OMF 15 , and 225 and 10350 kg ha -1 for urea, respectively. Diff erences in grain yield between fertilizer treatments were explained by diff erences in yield components, particularly number of grains and thousand-grain-weight. Grain-N recoveries were 31% for biosolids, ≈40% for OMF, and 52% for urea. Organomineral fertilizers-induced changes in soil extractable P and soil P Index were not signifi cant. Th us, application of OMF replenished P offt ake by the crop and therefore supported the choice of the proposed OMF formulations. By contrast, extractable P increased in biosolids and decreased in urea-treated soils, respectively. Heavy metals in soil were unaff ected by fertilizer treatment and lower than permissible limit values. Th e use of OMF for winter wheat production appears to be a sustainable approach to recycling biosolids to land.

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Section: Fertilizer Application Effects On Soilsupporting

confidence: 90%

Field‐Scale Evaluation of Biosolids‐Derived Organomineral Fertilizers Applied to Winter Wheat in England

et al. 2017

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“…Sevilla-Perea et al (2014) pointed out that addition of sludge resulted in mineralization of 18% organic nitrogen and up to 15% phosphate. The results by Rigby et al (2016) indicated that the proportion of mineralizable organic nitrogen were 47% for aerobic digested sludge, 40% for thermally dried sludge.…”

Section: Organic Matter Plays Crucial Role In Availability Of Heavy Mmentioning

confidence: 98%

Achilles heel of environmental risk from recycling of sludge to soil as amendment: A summary in recent ten years (2007–2016)

Liu

2016

Waste Management

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a b s t r a c tRecycling sludge as a soil amendment has both positive and negative effects because of its enrichment in both nutrients and contaminants. So far, the negative effect has to be extensively investigated that the severities of different types of contaminants also remain unclear. The environmental behavior and risk of organic contaminant and pharmaceuticals, heavy metal and salt as well as pathogenic microorganisms brought by sludge amendment are summarized and discussed here. Organic contaminants and pharmaceuticals are typically found at low concentrations in sludge, the risks from sludge-amended soil decrease over time owing to its biodegradability. On the other hand, application of sludge generally increases soil salinity, which may cause physiological damage to plants grown in sludge-amended soil. In some extent, this negative effect can be alleviated by means of dilution; however, greater attention should be paid to long term increasing possible risk of eutrophication. Heavy metal (particularly of mobile heavy metals, such as Cd) with high concentrations in sludge and soil receiving considerable sludge can cause its incremental abundance in soil and crop contamination, further posing risks to humans, but most cases showed that there remained not excessive in heavy metal caused by sludge amendment. It is worth noting that increasing soil organic matter content may reduce transfer of heavy metal from soil to crops, but not restrict its uptake by crops at all. Combined literature together, it is summarized that heavy metal becomes a relatively severe bottleneck in recycling of sludge as soil amendment due to its nonbiodegradability and potential damage to health by adventuring contamination from agricultural products. Particular attention should therefore be paid to long term monitoring the change of heavy metals concentration in sludge amended soil.

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“…According to US EPA, in temperate regions, the mineralisation factor of biosolids in the first year is 20% of the organic N fraction (Rigby et al 2016). Accordingly, it was estimated that the distribution of 20 t/ha biosolids made approximately 100-125 kg/ha of potentially mineralisable N available for plant uptake in the 4-month growing season of spring barley.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Most nitrogen (N) in biosolids is contained in the organic matter and only small amounts are present as available nitrate and ammonium (Esperschuetz et al 2016b, Rigby et al 2016. Nitrogen locked up in organic compounds is released slowly throughout the crop cycle and it thus nourishes the plants at a slow rate over a long period, more closely matching crop requirements than inorganic fertilisers (Eldridge et al 2008).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Ivy pelargonium response to media containing sewage sludge and potato pulp

Zawadzińska¹,

Salachna²

2018

PLANT SOIL ENVIRON

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In a two-year pot experiment, the effect of five growing media on the growth, flowering, decorative value of Pelargonium peltatum cv. Maxime as well as on their uptake of the nutrients and heavy metals were studied. The media were prepared from four composts (made from: sewage sludge 70% or 35%, potato pulp 35%, straw 30% or sawdust 30%) and peat in 1:1, V:V ratio. In the 1<sup>st</sup> year of research 7-month-old composts and in the 2<sup>nd</sup> year 18-month-old composts were used. Plants cultivated in 7-month-old composts showed better growth-related parameters, created more inflorescences and were more decorative than those cultivated in 18-month-old ones. The medium with compost consisting of 70% sewage sludge and 30% straw gave the best results. Composts application increased nutrients and heavy metals content in pelargonium leaves. Heavy metals content was definitely lower than the value considered toxic to plants.

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A critical review of nitrogen mineralization in biosolids-amended soil, the associated fertilizer value for crop production and potential for emissions to the environment

Cited by 186 publications

References 125 publications

Field‐Scale Evaluation of Biosolids‐Derived Organomineral Fertilizers Applied to Winter Wheat in England

Field‐Scale Evaluation of Biosolids‐Derived Organomineral Fertilizers Applied to Winter Wheat in England

Achilles heel of environmental risk from recycling of sludge to soil as amendment: A summary in recent ten years (2007–2016)

Ivy pelargonium response to media containing sewage sludge and potato pulp

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