Alum sludge land application and its effect on plant growth

Lucas, Jay B.; Dillaha, Theo A.; Reneau, R. B.; Novak, John T.; Knocke, William R.

doi:10.1002/j.1551-8833.1994.tb06275.x

Cited by 35 publications

(27 citation statements)

References 3 publications

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“…Such land application has been routinely conducted in the USA for over 50 years (Elliot and Dempsey, 1991), and studies in such areas have revealed no evidence of aluminium (or other) toxicity in any plant or animal species tested (Grabarek and Krug, 1987;Geertsema et al, 1994;Lucas et al, 1994). Indeed, other studies have shown that metals present in WTR are generally in non-labile and non-leachable forms that do not pose a toxic threat to organisms (Bugbee and Frink, 1985;Elliot and Singer, 1988;Cugley, 1994;Abdullah et al, 1995;Ahmed et al, 1998;Mahdy et al, 2008;Lombi et al, 2010).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 92%

Assessing effects of aerobic and anaerobic conditions on phosphorus sorption and retention capacity of water treatment residuals

Oliver

Grant

Murray

2011

Journal of Environmental Management

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Water treatment residuals (WTRs) are the by-products of drinking water clarification processes, whereby chemical flocculants such as alum or ferric chloride are added to raw water to remove suspended clay particles, organic matter and other materials and impurities. Previous studies have identified a strong phosphorus (P) fixing capacity of WTRs which has led to experimentation with their use as P-sorbing materials for controlling P discharges from agricultural and forestry land. However, the P-fixing capacity of WTRs and its capacity to retain sorbed P under anaerobic conditions have yet to be fully demonstrated, which is an issue that must be addressed for WTR field applications. This study therefore examined the capacity of WTRs to retain sorbed P and sorb further additional P from aqueous solution under both aerobic and anaerobic conditions. An innovative, low cost apparatus was constructed and successfully used to rapidly establish anoxic conditions in anaerobic treatments. The results showed that even in treatments with initial solution P concentrations set at 100 mg l(-1), soluble reactive P concentrations rapidly fell to negligible levels (due to sorption by WTRs), while total P (i.e. dissolved + particulate and colloidal P) was less than 3 mg l(-1). This equated to an added P retention rate of >98% regardless of anaerobic or aerobic status, indicating that WTRs are able to sorb and retain P in both aerobic and anaerobic conditions.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 92%

Assessing effects of aerobic and anaerobic conditions on phosphorus sorption and retention capacity of water treatment residuals

Oliver

Grant

Murray

2011

Journal of Environmental Management

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“…Soil amended with Al-WTRs at rates of 2 and 20 g kg 21 in a glasshouse study improved soil aggregation, but the great application rate decreased germination and decreased P uptake by maize Zea mays (Rengasamy, Oades, and Hancock 1980). Yields of fescue grass (Festuca ovina 'glauca') grown in the greenhouse decreased with increasing Al-WTR application rates (0, 10, 20, and 40 g kg 21 ) to soil, but the reduction in plant-available P was corrected with supplemental P fertilizer (Lucas et al 1994). Naylor and Carr (1997) found that application of an Al-WTR (116 g kg 21 total Al) amendment reduced exchangeable P level in the soils but did not limit plant growth.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 91%

Land Application of Aluminum Water Treatment Residual: Aluminum Phytoavailability and Forage Yield

Oladeji

Sartain

O’Connor

2009

Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis

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Negative impacts of land-applied aluminum (Al)-rich water treatment residuals (WTRs), which have been suggested to improve soil phosphorus (P) sorption, could include excessive immobilization of plant-available P and Al phytotoxicity. We studied the impacts of an Al-rich WTRs on agronomic returns and plant Al concentrations in glasshouse and field studies. The glasshouse study was a 4 6 2 6 3 factorial experiment with one control in a randomized complete block design and three replicates. Four sources of P were each applied at two agronomic rate [44 kg P ha 21 , P-based rate; and 179 kg plant-available nitrogen (PAN) ha 21 , N-based rate] to topsoil (0-15 cm) of a sandy, siliceous, hyperthermic Arenic Alaquods. Three WTR rates (0, 10, and 25 g kg 21 ovendry-weight basis) were further applied, whereas the control received neither P source nor WTRs. Bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum Fluggae), ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.), and a second bahiagrass crop were continuously grown in succession for 18 months. Applied WTRs increased soil Al but not plant Al concentrations (22-80 mg Al kg 21 ), which fell within the normal concentration range for pasture plants. In the glasshouse, when WTRs were incorporated with the soil, bahiagrass dry matter (DM) accumulation was reduced, but ryegrass DM was not affected even at 25 g kg 21 WTR. A 2-year field study, with same treatments but two rates of WTRs (0 and 10 g kg 21 WTR) surface applied to established bahiagrass on the same soil type (Spodosols) showed neither reduced yields nor increased plant Al 1483 phytoavailability in the WTR treatments. The studies show no increase in plant Al is associated with Al-WTRs applied to reduce excess soil-soluble P and P losses but plant DM accumulation may be reduced.

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“…Values of DWTR higher than 20 g/kg significantly decreased Cd plant uptake in all studied soils (Figure 1). The increased uptake of cadmium did not affect yield of corn plant grown in all DWTR-treated soils (Lucas et al 1994). Lead (Pb).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Drinking water treatment residuals as an amendment to alkaline soils: Effects on bioaccumulation of heavy metals and aluminum in corn plants

Mahdy¹,

Elkhatib²,

Fathi³

2008

PLANT SOIL ENVIRON

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An alum-based drinking water treatment residue (DWTR) is the by-product from the production of potable water. Land application of DWTR has received a considerable attention for its potential as a low-cost disposal alternative. A greenhouse experiment was conducted to quantify the effects of DWTR on bioaccumulation of some heavy metals in plant tissue and to determine the effects of the DWTR on soil aluminum and aluminum phytotoxicity for the corn plants in alkaline soils. The results indicated that land application of DWTR significantly decreased extractable heavy metals in all studied soils. Combined analyses of all soils and rates of DWTR application showed significant relationship between DTPA-extractable heavy metals and heavy metals uptake of corn plants. Addition of DWTR with different rates (10, 20, 30 and 40 g/kg) to different soil types did not cause aluminum phytotoxicity symptoms for corn plants grown in all studied alkaline agricultural soils because the application rates of DWTR did not increase extractable Al in amended soils > 8 mg Al/kg and the Al phytotoxicity may occur below pH 5.5. Extractable Al is associated with pH of the studied soils, combined analyses of all soils and rates of DWTR application showed a significant relationship between extractable Al and pH. Based on the results of current study, the DWTR is considered an ameliorating material for heavy metals removal from soils; however, additional studies are necessary to confirm these results under field conditions.

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Alum sludge land application and its effect on plant growth

Cited by 35 publications

References 3 publications

Assessing effects of aerobic and anaerobic conditions on phosphorus sorption and retention capacity of water treatment residuals

Assessing effects of aerobic and anaerobic conditions on phosphorus sorption and retention capacity of water treatment residuals

Land Application of Aluminum Water Treatment Residual: Aluminum Phytoavailability and Forage Yield

Drinking water treatment residuals as an amendment to alkaline soils: Effects on bioaccumulation of heavy metals and aluminum in corn plants

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