Mineralization and mobilization of biosolids phosphorus in soil: A concise review

Abstract

Biosolids are the product of wastewater or municipal solid waste collected through sewerage treatment; the processes of obtaining the biosolids involve various treatment processes, which include digestion, thermal stabilization, thickening, dewatering, and drying, in order to obtain free pathogen granules. These processes undergone by wastewater in the treatment plant ultimately clean the wastewater and remove the solids which are further treated to an acceptable standard for beneficial soil amendments. The application of biosolids are considered to improve soil organic matter, moisture content, and provided essential nutrients, such as nitrogen and phosphorus in arable land as potential plant nutrients supplements for crop optimum yield. Incubation studies on the biosolids-amended soils have shown significant increases in soil phosphorus content being released as plant available P in the soil, and therefore could be a good source of phosphorus in deficient native phosphorus soil. Field-scale experiments on wheat are grown with sewage sludge have also shown yield production comparable to mineral fertilizer-treated soils. This review is thereby aimed at explaining the concept behind the mineralization and mobilization of biosolids phosphorus in soil. In this review paper, an overview of the method of preparations, origin, and sources, its application in agriculture and the environment, chemical composition, the environmental risk, soil amendments potentials of the biosolid sand regulatory, and global perspective of sewage sludge disposal all are reviewed. From the review, it was concluded that mineralization and mobilization of biosolids phosphorus in soil have beneficial input to both environment and soil nutrient amendment. It is thereby recommended that more research studies should be carried out on the mineralization and mobilization of another essential element, such as nitrogen and biochar although more research should be done with respect to mineralization and mobilization of biosolids phosphorus in soil.

Enhancing Phosphorus and Nitrogen Uptake in Maize Crops with Food Industry Biosolids and Azotobacter nigricans

“…Organic soil particles come from the products of the microbial decomposition of dead plants, animals, and microorganisms [46]. In the present study, the organic matter content, which was determined through ignition, may have come from organic remains and may have helped to increase the nutrient content of the soil and the cation exchange capacity [40]. These factors make this parameter especially useful for indirectly knowing the fertility of a given soil.…”

“…Even though biosolids are considered a source of nutrients and organic matter [40], the Z. mays seedlings presented deficient development when they were added at a 100% concentration; a concentration of 25% (v/v) was favorable for the development of bending strength plants. It was assumed that the ability of A. nigricans to fix nitrogen and solubilize phosphates favored root development.…”

“…Biosolids are known for their high phosphorus and nitrogen content, which gives them fertilizing properties. Regarding the A. nigricans strain, it is assumed that its ability to solubilize phosphates and produce growth hormones in plants could favor the development of an extensive root system in maize plants [39,40]. These characteristics would potentially improve nutrient uptake, even in soils with low moisture retention capacity.…”