Field response of soil physical properties to sewage sludge

• Published in: Journal of environmental quality Vol. 27; no. 3; pp. 534 - 542
• Main Authors: Lindsay, B.J, Logan, T.J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Madison, WI American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America, and Soil Science Society of America 01.05.1998; Crop Science Society of America; American Society of Agronomy
• Subjects: Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; APPLICATION METHODS; APPLICATION RATES; Biological and medical sciences; BOUE RESIDUAIRE; DOSE D'APPLICATION; DOSIS DE APLICACION; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General agronomy. Plant production; LOAM SOILS; LODOS RESIDUALES; METHODE D'APPLICATION; METODOS DE APLICACION; Other nutrients. Amendments. Solid and liquid wastes. Sludges and slurries; Physical properties; PROPIEDADES FISICO-QUIMICAS SUELO; PROPRIETE PHYSICOCHIMIQUE DU SOL; SEWAGE SLUDGE; SILTY SOILS; SOIL CHEMICOPHYSICAL PROPERTIES; Soil physical properties; Soil-plant relationships. Soil fertility. Fertilization. Amendments; SOL LIMONEUX; SOL SABLOLIMONEUX; SUELO FRANCO; SUELO LIMOSO; Property of soil; Soil quality; Application method; Sewage sludge; Physical properties; Organic amendment
• ISSN: 0047-2425; 1537-2537
• DOI: 10.2134/jeq1998.00472425002700030009x

An anaerobically digested sewage sludge was applied to a Miamian silt loam (fine, mixed, mesic Typic Hapludalfs) at rates of 0, 7.5, 15, 30, 60, 90, 120, 150, 188, 225, and 300 Mg/ha. Surface soils (0-15) cm were sampled 4 yr after sludge application and analyzed for bulk density, particle density, porosity, saturated hydraulic conductivity, moisture retention, aggregate stability, shrinkage, liquid and plastic limits, and total C. Bulk density significantly decreased, and porosity, moisture retention at 5.9 kPa, 33 kPa, and 1.5 MPa, percentage water stable aggregates, mean weight diameter of aggregates, and liquid and plastic limits increased with increasing sludge application. Sludge application had no significant effect on particle density, available water, saturated hydraulic conductivity, and shrinkage. Physical property responses to sludge application were linear except aggregate stability and mean weight diameter of aggregates that showed a maximum effect at 60 Mg/ha sludge application rate. Organic C increased linearly with sludge application, and 4 yr after application there was three times as much C in the 300 Mg/ha plots as in the zero sludge control plots. It is likely that many of the observed differences in soil physical properties are due to effects of added organic matter and these effects have persisted for at least 4 yr