Nitrogen compound pollution associated with the use of sewage sludge compost and limestone outcrop residue under saline irrigation

Abstract

Purpose The use of composted sewage sludge and limestone outcrop residue in land rehabilitation, soil improvement, and technosol making can influence the mobility of nitrogen compounds in groundwater. Materials and methods This experiment analyzed this source of possible pollution under an experimental design based on the use of columns (0-30 cm) formed by both wastes and a heavy irrigation regime. Two waters of different quality (saline and non-saline) were used for irrigation. The presence of nitrate, nitrite, and ammonium in the leachates was checked. Results and discussion The environmental risk due to the presence of nitrogen species associated with the use of these materials was very low in general, although nitrate was the most important compound affected by the use of sewage sludge compost and saline water. Conclusions The combination of saline water for irrigation with the compost has to be seriously considered as a source of pollution for surface and ground waters, and the use of both resources may be a key factor to be studied (low-quality water and sewage sludge compost).

Groundwater Salinity Susceptibility Mapping Using Classifier Ensemble and Bayesian Machine Learning Models

“…As the recovery from salinity and other contaminations may take a long time (due to the slow movement of groundwater), the environmental protection policies have been focused on prevention [36]. Delineation of high-risk zones, mapping vulnerable areas to salinity, and hazard prediction have become essential for sustainable land use planning, agricultural strategies and crop selection, water supply management, water security, and policy-making [37]- [42]. Literature includes various scenarios of risk maps and hazard prediction models used for informed policy-making in arid areas around the world [43]- [50].…”

The Use of Composted Municipal Solid Waste under the Concept of Circular Economy and as a Source of Plant Nutrients and Pollutants

“…The application of MSW as a source of organic matter and nutrients has been described for agriculture, mining restoration, and gardening [39,40]. But it carries the associated risk of possible pollution, focused mainly in the nitrate contamination of surface and groundwater, since the mineralization of this organic matter can release large amounts of ammonium that will oxidize to nitrate [41,42]. However, there are also other risks derived from the composition of MSW (hazardous materials) and the presence of plant nutrients as phosphorus [43], chloride, and sulfur [44].…”

“…Nitrate is the preferable chemical form for the absorption of most of the plants. However, this is a very mobile chemical form [42]. In order to minimize the risk of groundwater contamination, Jorge-Mardomingo et al [41] recommend the use of stable organic amendments (with a more stabilized organic matter), which could produce a lower content of leachable nitrogen forms.…”

Oxygen demand of waters associated with the use of sewage sludge compost and limestone outcrop as a filtration system

“…Most of the experiments done to determine the pollution of waters based on the use of these wastes as filtration systems or amendment materials include (1) the presence of heavy metals in leachates [16e18], (2) the determination of nitrogen pollution [19,20], (3) some of them in the concentration of DOM [21,22], and (4) treating the leachates to reduce the presence of the organic matter [13,14,23].…”