Long-Term Effects of a Single Application of Municipal Sludge on Abandoned Mine Land

Sopper, William E.; Seaker, Eileen M.

doi:10.21000/jasmr90010579

Cited by 11 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 1 publication

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“…Controlled application to appropriate soil depths in the correct season with consideration of crop harvest and animal grazing undoubtedly minimizes the impact of biosolids application (Smith, 1995); however, these forms of management are unlikely to provide a complete solution to concerns about real or perceived contamination issues. Global standards exist for acceptable biosolids application rates to agricultural land (EPA-VA, 2004;NZWWA, 2003), but much higher amounts may be required to rebuild and rehabilitate forest or mine reclamation land (Sopper and Seaker, 1990). In one study, 20 yr of biosolids application to a plantation forest soil in Washington was shown to have enhanced tree growth without any apparent negative impact on either human health or the environment (Henry et al, 1994).…”

Section: Problems Associated With Land Applicationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Potential Environmental Benefits from Blending Biosolids with Other Organic Amendments before Application to Land

et al. 2017

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Section: Problems Associated With Land Applicationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Potential Environmental Benefits from Blending Biosolids with Other Organic Amendments before Application to Land

et al. 2017

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“…2) indicating that this application rate may be insufficient for long‐term neutralization of acidity. Pietz et al (1989a), Sopper and Kerr (1982), and Sopper and Seaker (1990) all reported increases in tailing pH after biosolid application, followed by a decline in pH over several years.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 94%

Accelerated Weathering of Biosolid‐Amended Copper Mine Tailings

Pond

White

Milczarek³

et al. 2005

J of Env Quality

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Application of municipal biosolids to mine tailings can enhance revegetation success, but may cause adverse environmental impacts, such as increased leaching of NO3- and metals to ground water. Kinetic weathering cells were used to simulate geochemical weathering to determine the effects of biosolid amendment on (i) pH of leachate and tailings, (ii) leaching of NO3- and SO4(2-), (iii) leaching and bioavailability (DTPA-extractable) of selected metals, and (iv) changes in tailing mineralogy. Four Cu mine tailings from southern Arizona differing in initial pH (3.3-7.3) and degree of weathering were packed into triplicate weathering cells and were unamended and amended with two rates (equivalent to 134 and 200 Mg dry matter ha(-1)) of biosolids. Biosolid application to acid (pH 3.3) tailings resulted in pH values as high as 6.3 and leachate pH as high as 5.7, and biosolids applied to circumneutral tailings resulted in no change in tailing or leachate pH. Concentrations of NO3--N of up to 23 mg L(-1) occurred in leachates from circumneutral tailings. The low pH of the acidic tailing apparently inhibited nitrification, resulting in leachate NO3--N of <5 mg L(-1). Less SO4(2-)-S was leached in biosolid-amended versus unamended acid tailings (final rate of 0.04 compared with 0.11 g SO4(2-)-S wk(-1)). Copper concentrations in leachates from acidic tailings were reduced from 53 to 27 mg L(-1) with biosolid amendment. Copper and As concentrations increased slightly in leachates from biosolid-amended circumneutral tailings. Small increases in DTPA-extractable Cu, Ni, and Zn occurred in all tailings with increased biosolid rate. Overall, there was little evidence of potential for adverse environmental impacts resulting from biosolid application to these Cu mine tailings.

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“…The underlying assumptions were (1) that biosolids would only be applied once at the higher rate and (2) that NO 3 -N leaching losses would be expected, but would not seriously degrade groundwater quality with a one-time application. Detailed research studies in Pennsylvania (Carello, 1990;Sopper and Seaker, 1990) and Virginia (Daniels and Haering, 1994) concluded that application of higher than agronomic rates of various biosolids products to coal mined lands had little, if any, short-or long-term effects on ground water NO 3 -N levels under application areas or at permitted surface water discharge points. Significant NO 3 -N leaching following heavy biosolids applications to forest lands on gravelly coarse-textured soils in the Pacific Northwest has been reported by Riekirk (1978Riekirk ( , 1981, but the observed effects were ephemeral, largely limited to the first two winters after application.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of Biosolids Application on Ground Water Nitrate-N Levels in Sand and Gravel Mine Reclamation in Virginia

Daniels¹,

Nagle²,

Whittecar³

et al. 2002

JASMR

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Sand and gravel mine reclamation in eastern Virginia is hampered by low mine soil water holding capacity and fertility levels. Application of biosolids at higher than agronomic rates has been recommended for these areas, but agency concerns over the potential for NO 3-N leaching to shallow ground water persist. In the fall of 1998 and the spring of 1999, a mixture of two different biosolids was applied to a 20-ha reclaimed site in the Virginia Coastal Plain at various rates ranging from 1.5 to 5x the agronomic N rate for corn (Zea mays). By the end of the 2000 growing season, the majority of the biosolids treated areas supported at least 90% vegetative cover, and most of the area supported 100% ground cover, with average standing biomass > 5 Mg/ha. Nitrate-N levels remained low in all wells within the treated areas over the winter/spring/summer of 1998/1999, indicating that a mixed application of two biosolids materials to the majority of the site had little effect on ground water with regard to NO 3-N. Of 13 monitoring wells under and downgradient of the application areas, only three showed any significant treatment effects, and all levels dropped to < 2 mg/L by the spring of 2001. Nitrate-N levels in several wells directly adjacent to an area receiving a 3x agronomic rate application of lime-stabilized biosolids slowly began to increase in the fall of 1999, peaked at 50 mg/L in late winter/early spring of 2000, and then dropped below drinking water standard levels (10 mg/L) by May, 2000. Neither the surface water within the site nor two external downgradient wells adjacent to the Mattaponi River showed any elevation in NO 3-N levels through the late winter of 2001. Significant background levels of NO 3-N appeared to be entering the site via ground water flow from an adjacent agricultural field. Overall, these data support earlier findings that while application of biosolids at higher than agronomic rates will lead to an ephemeral (first winter) leaching loss of NO 3-N, that the impact to ground water is highly localized, small in magnitude, and relatively short lived.

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Long-Term Effects of a Single Application of Municipal Sludge on Abandoned Mine Land

Cited by 11 publications

References 1 publication

Potential Environmental Benefits from Blending Biosolids with Other Organic Amendments before Application to Land

Potential Environmental Benefits from Blending Biosolids with Other Organic Amendments before Application to Land

Accelerated Weathering of Biosolid‐Amended Copper Mine Tailings

Effects of Biosolids Application on Ground Water Nitrate-N Levels in Sand and Gravel Mine Reclamation in Virginia

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