Phosphorus losses from sewage sludge disposed on a field: evidence from storm event simulations

• Published in: Water Science & Technology Vol. 42; no. 9; pp. 179 - 186
• Main Authors: BOSSCHE, H. Vanden, AUDIC, J. M, HUYARD, A, GASCUEL-ODOUX, C, TROLARD, F, BOURRIE, G
• Format: Conference Proceeding Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Pergamon Press 01.01.2000; IWA Publishing
• Subjects: Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Applied sciences; Biological and medical sciences; Distribution; Earth sciences; Earth, ocean, space; Engineering and environment geology. Geothermics; Erosion; Exact sciences and technology; Fertilizers; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General agronomy. Plant production; Heterogeneity; Life Sciences; Liquid sludge; Mineral nutrients; Organic matter; Other industrial wastes. Sewage sludge; Other nutrients. Amendments. Solid and liquid wastes. Sludges and slurries; Overland flow; Phosphorus; Pollution; Pollution, environment geology; Runoff; Sewage; Sewage sludge; Simulation; Sludge; Sludge disposal; Soil; Soil and water pollution; Soil erosion; Soil investigations; Soil science; Soil surfaces; Soil-plant relationships. Soil fertility. Fertilization. Amendments; Soils; Storm runoff; Storms; Surface runoff; Wastes; France; Bretagne; Europe; Water infiltration; Monocotyledones; Cultivated field; Zea mays; Cultivated soil; Phosphorus; Sewage sludge; Cereal crop; Eutrophication; Ecological damage; Water erosion(soil); Simulation; Gramineae; Runoff; Upgrading; Environment impact; Angiospermae; Waste reuse; Nutrient; Spermatophyta; Agriculture; Atmospheric precipitation; Organic amendment; Field study; EPANDAGE DES EAUX USEES
• ISBN: 1900222434; 9781900222433
• ISSN: 0273-1223; 1996-9732
• DOI: 10.2166/wst.2000.0201

Sewage sludge is used as fertilizer, owing to its nutrient contents. But little is known about the consequences of sludge disposal on erosion intensity and P losses from soil to runoff. This paper reports on a study of three simulated storm events (40 mm h-1 during 30 min), performed on a field supplied with liquid sludge (23 g L-1 of dry solid). The sludge phosphorus content was 26.5 g kg-1 of dry solid. The runoff and erosion intensity as well as the P losses were monitored during the experiment. The distribution of phosphorus on the soil surface, was investigated after the last simulation. Sludge disposal reduced the total amount of runoff water collected during the experiment from 290 m3 ha−1 to 134 m33 ha−1. It also decreased the quantity of sediment exported from 1200 kg ha−1 to 500 kg ha−1 and the total phosphorus loss from 2.7 kg ha-1 P to 1.4 kg ha−1 P. But, it increased the average concentration of dissolved phosphorus in the overland flow from 0.15 mg L−1 P to 0.57 mg L−1 P. The distribution pattern of P and organic matter, on the soil surface, after the simulations, showed a heterogeneity induced by the runoff processes. This effect is increased by sludge disposal.