bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of Swine Manure Lagoon Sludge and Municipal Sewage Sludge on Growth, Nitrogen Recovery, and Heavy Metal Content of Fescuegrass
Authors: King Larry D.
Published: July 2010

Sludge from a swine manure lagoon and municipal sewage sludge were used in a greenhouse study to determine their effects on fescuegrass (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) yield, heavy metal concentrations, and N uptake. Four variables were used in the experiment: sludge (swine and municipal), soil (loamy sand and sandy clay loam), application method (surface applied and incorporated), and application rate (10, 20, and 40 kg/ha of sludge‐applied Cu). Inorganic fertilizer treatments supplying 50, 100, and 200 kg N/ha were also included.

The sludges were applied at the beginning of the experimental period and increased yields for a period of 35 weeks (five harvests), municipal sludge generally resulted in higher yields than did swine sludge during this period. Total recovery of applied N in harvested grass was 24% of the municipal‐sludge N and 16% of the swine‐sludge N for the first five harvests. Surface application resulted in greater N recovery (24%) than did incorporation (16%, average of both sludges).

Copper concentration in the grass was not affected by sludge type or soil type, but Zn concentrations were higher with municipal sludge and with the sandy clay loam. With municipal sludge the effects of soil types on the concentrations of the other metals in the grass were: Cr and Pb, no effect; Ni, higher with loamy sand; and Cd, initially higher with sandy clay loam, later higher with loamy sand. Surface‐applied sludge generally resulted in higher concentrations of metals in the grass than did incorporated sludge. A comparison of the effects of surface‐applied and incorporated sludge vs. the effect of chemical fertilizer on metal concentrations in the grass showed: Cr and Pb, no effect; Cu, slight increase due to sludge at first harvest only; and Zn, Ni, and Cd, increase due to sludge.

Heavy metal concentrations in the grass were not consistently related to the soil type. Since the soils differed in cation exchange capacity (CEC, loamy sand, 3.9 meq/100 g; sandy clay loam, 8.5 meq/100 g), it appears that a better criterion than CEC is needed for determining acceptable metal loading rates for major soils of the southeastern United States.
Permethrin Concentration on Cotton Plants, Persistence in Soil, and Loss in Runoff
Authors: Carroll B. R. , Willis G. H. , Graves J. B.
Published: July 2010

The recently‐developed synthetic pyrethroid insecticides appear to have a potential for widespread use in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.). Thus, their persistence and movement under field conditions should be evaluated to identify any possible environmental hazards. Permethrin (3‐phenoxybenzyl [±]‐cis, trans‐3‐[2,2‐dichlorovinyl]‐2,2‐dimethylcyclopropanecarboxylate) (1:1 cis/trans) was applied to cotton at a rate of 0.112 kg/ha on 10 separate dates each year in August and September of 1976 and 1977. Concentration measurements of the cis and trans isomers on cotton plants and leaf litter, and in soil and runoff (sediment + water) indicated that permethrin disappeared about 3–6 months after the last application, confirming permethrin's relatively short persistence compared with organochlorine insecticides. The ratios of the cis and trans isomers of permethrin on plants and leaf litter were near unity, but the concentration of the cis isomer usually was greater than the trans isomer in soil. Under a wide range of rainfall and runoff conditions, permethrin concentrations and losses in runoff were low. In 1976, concentrations in runoff did not exceed 0.20 ppb and the total amount recovered in runoff (water + sediment) was <0.01% of the amount applied. In 1977, an abnormally high rainfall year, concentrations in runoff were generally < 1 ppb, and the total amount recovered in runoff (water + sediment) was < 1% of that applied. Thus, even under severe runoff conditions permethrin concentrations generally were not great enough to be harmful to aquatic species.
Nitrate‐Nitrogen in Tile Drainage as Affected by Fertilization
Authors: Baker J. L. , Johnson H. P.
Published: July 2010

The volumes and NO3‐N contents of tile drainage from two plots grown to corn (Zea Mays L.) in rotation with either oats (Avena sativa L.) or soybeans (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) for 1974–1978 were measured to determine the effect of differential N fertilization on NO3‐N leaching losses. The plots, grown to corn and fertilized in even‐numbered years only, were fertilized with N at rates of 100 and 250 kg/ha in 1974 and 90 and 240 kg/ha in 1976. In 1978, both plots were fertilized with 90 kg N/ha. The NO3‐N contents of tile drainage from these plots had been established in a previous 4‐year study in which both plots received 112 kg N/ha in 1970 and again in 1972. These data provided a means of comparison on both an absolute and a relative basis for this second phase of a “before and after” study.

Although the ratios of NO3‐N concentrations in daily samples from the two plots in phase one were constant and near unity, after differential fertilization, concentrations for the higher fertility plot exceeded those of the lower fertility plot for extended periods by a factor of two after the 1974 fertilization, and by a factor of four after the 1976 fertilization. In 1974, there was a delay of about 2 months (100 mm of flow) before the effect of surface fertilization was observed in the tile drainage; a similar delay was observed in 1976. Although relative NO3‐N concentrations for the higher fertility plot eventually decreased with time after the last differential fertilization, grab samples taken 3 years later still showed the effect of the higher level of fertilization. Overall, concentrations and losses for the plot receiving 90–100 kg N/ha every‐other year averaged 20 µg/ml and 27 kg/ha; for the plot receiving the most fertilizer, the values were 40 µg/ml and 48 kg/ha. For the 9 years of record, annual flow volumes averaged 132 mm, which represents a significant contribution to stream flows in central Iowa.
Response of Corn and Soybeans to Simulated Saline Aerosol Drift from Brackish Water Cooling Towers
Authors: Mulchi Charles L. , Armbruster James A.
Published: July 2010

Field studies were conducted on corn (Zea mays L.) and soybeans (Glycine max [L.] Merr.) for 8 weeks during each summer from 1973 to 1977 to acquire information on the response of these crops to saline aerosol deposition from brackish water cooling towers. The studies involved two sources of salts (NaCl and brackish water from the Unit No. 3 cooling tower at Chalk Point, Md.) and various salt deposition rates (0.97–22.24 kg ha−1 week−1).

Soybeans exhibited greater sensitivity than corn to simulated saline aerosol drift early in their growth cycle, but corn yields were impacted more than soybean yields from the foliar salt treatments. Vegetative symptoms of salt injury on corn were progressively more pronounced as the plants matured than was the case with soybeans.

Polynomial regression analyses of yields vs. salt deposition rates produced linear relationships for both crops. Corn yields were described by the relationship Yc = 97.9 − 1.94X and soybean yields by the relationship Ysb = 103.5 − 1.73X, where X equaled the rate of salt deposition, and yields (Y) were expressed as percent of nontreated controls.

Changes in leaf Cl levels in corn in response to foliar‐applied salts were described by the relationship Y = 0.20 + 0.07X − 0.001X2, and leaf Na contents by the relationship Y = 0.099 + 0.024X. Changes in leaf Cl levels in soybeans in response to foliar‐applied salts were described by the relationship Y = 0.059 + 0.073X + 0.004X2 − 0.0004X3, and leaf Na levels by the relationship Y = 0.086 + 0.011X + 0.0006X2, where X equaled the salt deposition rate (kg ha−1 week−1) and Y equaled the element contents (%).

In an effort to explore methods for assessing the levels of crop yield reductions in areas where salt deposition is suspected but no control plants are possible, corn yields were described by the relationship Yc = 105 − 35.5X1 and Yc = 102 − 63.7X2, where Yc equaled the percent of nontreated controls, and X1 and X2 equaled the Cl and Na contents (%), respectively. Soybean yields were described by the relationship Ysb = 104 − 20X1 and Ysb = 105 − 57.9X2, where X1 and X2 equaled the Cl and Na contents in leaves, respectively.
Effect of Soil Slope and Rainfall Characteristics on Phosphorus in Runoff
Authors: Ahuja L. R. , Sharpley A. N. , Lehman O. R.
Published: July 2010

Effects of soil slope length, degree of slope, soil cover, and storm size on soluble P released to runoff were investigated under controlled conditions, in 100‐ by 30‐ by 7.5‐cm soil boxes, under a simulated rainfall. These effects were related to a simplified kinetic model, presented earlier, which was developed further to incorporate the above effects conceptually. An increase in slope length from 33 to 100 cm increased the average P released per unit area of soil. Most of this increase was explained by the effect of slope length on the water to soil ratio, which influences the kinetics of release. However, the effect of overland flow, which influences the mass of soil releasing P to runoff, also increased with the increase in slope length. An increase in percent soil slope also increased the P release, directly proportional to slope between 4 and 16%. This was explained, for a slope length of 100 cm, primarily by the effect of slope on raindrop impact. Soil covers, simulated by different‐mesh screens, decreased the P release. Their effects were explained by the decreases in raindrop impact, which were determined by splash measurements. The effects of soil covers on P release increased with an increase in soil slope. The storm‐average P concentration of runoff decreased logarithmically with an increase in storm size. These experimental results could be explained by terms in the conceptual model, which were based on an analogy with a physical soil erosion mechanism. Further work is needed, however, on longer slopes and under field conditions.
Casein Whey Wastewater Effects on Soil Permeability
Authors: McAuliffe K. W. , Scotter D. R. , MacGregor A. N. , Earl K. D.
Published: July 2010

Wastewater containing casein whey can impede soil water movement. A single 35‐mm application of simulated whey effluent to “undisturbed” soil cores resulted in approximately a 50% reduction in the saturated hydraulic conductivity (K) within 2 days. Repetitive applications to some cores caused a K decrease of over 99%. Subsequently all cores showed signs of biologically induced recovery within 1 to 3 weeks of the final effluent application, and in some cores, particularly those containing earthworms, the final K value eventually exceeded the initial value. Both physical and biological processes appear responsible for the K decrease following effluent application, with the degree of physical pore blockage dependent upon the particulate matter in the effluent.

A number of practical implications can be inferred from the results. To avoid reduction in saturated hydraulic conductivity an aerobic soil environment should be maintained, thus a land disposal site should never be overloaded so that ponding occurs. A spelling interval between applications is necessary to allow K recovery. Pore blockage would be lessened, but not eliminated, if suspended solids were removed from the effluent prior to irrigation.
Stream Transport of Nutrients Through a Wetland
Authors: Peverly J. H.
Published: July 2010

The potential of managed wetlands to remove nutrients from agricultural drainage water was investigated by hydrographic and nutrient analyses for 2 years in Oak Orchard Creek, N.Y., which drains in series cultivated Histosols (upstream) and wetlands managed for waterfowl (downstream). Three stations were established, two above and one below the wetland. Creek‐water pH averaged about 7.4. Dissolved concentrations (mg/liter) ranged from 0 to 19 for N, 0.009 to 2 for P, 2 to 10 for K, 45 to 411 for Ca, and 10 to 102 for C, and were highest just below the cultivated areas. Eighty to ninety percent of the creek load was carried from December through March. The cultivated organic soils were a rich source of nutrients to the creek, and the managed wetlands acted as net nutrient sinks for N and P during the 2nd year only, when flow through the system was about half that in the 1st year. However, on an areal basis, much less nutrient material was lost from the wetlands than from other parts of the basin. The creek system seems to be N‐limited; P loads exceeded N loads during late summer. It is suggested that nutrient retention by wetlands depends on past nutrient history and current regulation of water movement through the system.
Sulfur Cycling in Douglas‐Fir on a Glacial Outwash Terrace
Authors: Stednick John D.
Published: July 2010

In a study to determine if a temperate forest site would exhibit accelerated nutrient cycling or increased sulfur accumulation with an increased precipitation input of S, a second‐growth Douglas‐fir ecosystem (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb) Franco) on a glacial outwash terrace accumulated 2.2 kg ha−1 year−1 of S. Prior to Mount St. Helen's activity, an atmospheric input as precipitation of 8.9 kg ha−1 year−1 of sulfate‐S was augmented by an additional 8.1 kg ha−1 year−1 in throughfall. Sulfate‐sulfur leaching decreased with increased soil depth: 8.4 kg ha−1 year−1 leached through the forest floor, 10.5 through the A horizon, 6.7 through the B horizon, and 3.2 at 1.5 m in the C horizon. This S budget was not complete, since gaseous forms and movements were not monitored. Sulfate‐sulfur mobility accounted for an average 25% of the cation leaching through the soil profile. Sulfur utilization did not measurably change from a similar stand with lower S inputs. The increased SO4‐S input did not accelerate nutrient cycling, rather SO4‐S accumulated in the soil, presumably by sorption. Sulfate‐sulfur mobility is defined by the sorption mechanism within the soil.
Effects of Sulfuric Acid Rain on Major Cation and Sulfate Concentrations of Water Percolating Through Two Model Hardwood Forests
Authors: Lee Jeffrey J. , Weber David E.
Published: July 2010

Acid precipitation falls on vast areas of forested land, including most of the eastern deciduous forest of the United States. Forest productivity, ground‐water quality, and surface waters might all be affected. To document and quantify ecosystem response to the onset of acid precipitation, simulated sulfuric acid (H2SO4) rain was applied to model forest plots of sugar maple (Acer saccharum Marsh.) and red alder (Alnus rubra Bong). One set of four plots (two alder and two maple) received a control rain consisting of a stock solution equilibrated with atmospheric CO2 to approximately pH 5.7. For three sets of four plots, sufficient H2SO4 was added to the stock solution to lower the pH to 4.0, 3.5, or 3.0. Nozzles were used to apply simulated acid rain at the rate of 2.8 mm/hour (maple) or 3.7 mm/hour (alder) for 3 hours/day, 3 days/week, throughout the year. Water samples were collected above and below the canopy, below the litter layer, and from 20‐cm and 1‐m depths below the surface of the soil.

While constituents of the throughfall were similar to those of the simulated rain, the litter leachate (the actual input to the soil) had consistently higher concentrations of SO42−, Ca2+, and Mg2+, and higher pH, than the acid rain.

For the first 6 months, SO42− adsorption by the soil prevented any apparent differences in the SO42−, Ca2+, or Mg2+ concentrations or the pH of samples taken from a depth of 20 cm from plots receiving either acid or control treatments. Then, SO42− concentrations at this depth on plots receiving the most acidic rain (pH 3.0) became increasingly higher than on the other plots until, after 3 years, they were approximately equal to SO42− concentrations in the rain. Soil solutions from the pH 3.5 and 4.0 treatments responded similarly starting 10 months and 1 year, respectively, after initiation of exposure to acid rain. Increased Ca2+, Mg2+, and, to a lesser extent, K+ concentrations and lowered pH in solutions from the 20‐cm depths occurred simultaneously with increased SO42− concentrations. At a depth of 1 m, no acid‐rain‐related effects were evident after 2.5 years exposure to pH 3.0 H2SO4 rain. Results showed that a hardwood canopy and litter layer can alter the input of chemicals to the soil from acid rain, that the relative sensitivity of ions to mobilization by acid rain is not the same for all components of an ecosystem, and that acid rain can alter the chemical composition of water within the root zone within a few years, even if the soil is a strong sulfate adsorber.
Nitrous Oxide Emissions from Barley Plots Treated with Ammonium Nitrate or Sewage Sludge
Authors: Mosier A. R. , Hutchinson G. L. , Sabey B. R. , Baxter J.
Published: July 2010

Application of 56, 112, or 224 kg N ha−1 as ammonium nitrate (NH4NO3) (AN) to barley (Hordeum vulgare) plots in northeastern Colorado led to a marked, but short‐lived, increase in nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions that was linearly related to the amount of AN applied. The AN treatment effects became statistically insignificant after about 6 weeks. Compared with total N2O emissions of 0.54 kg N ha−1 from the control plots, totals from the AN‐treated plots ranged from 0.93 to 1.43 kg N ha−1, representing an average 0.5% of the fertilizer added. Nitrous oxide emissions from plots treated with 16.7 metric tons ha−1 dry anaerobically digested sewage sludge (SS) totaled 1.09 kg N ha−1 and exhibited temporal variability similar to that of AN‐treated plots, while the emissions from plots treated with 83.5 metric tons SS ha−1 were significantly larger than from the other treatments throughout the 155‐day study period and totaled 4.19 kg N ha−1. The increase in N2O emissions that results from application of organic or inorganic N amendments appears to be much smaller than assumed by models developed to describe the effect of agricultural fertilizers upon stratospheric ozone depletion.
Neutralization and Dissolution of High‐Calcium Fly Ash
Authors: Hodgson L. , Dyer Dan , Brown D. A.
Published: July 2010

The burning of coal for the production of energy is anticipated to increase tremendously during this decade. This will result in large quantities of fly ash that must be disposed of or utilized. One possible use of Ca‐rich fly ash is as a supplement to agricultural lime.

The neutralization reactions of three high‐Ca fly ashes with HCl, and the concomitant dissolution of Ca, Mg, and Al are reported. The end products of the dissolution of the ash were measured under controlled and replicated conditions after 2 weeks of incubation. The acid neutralization was measured after 2 weeks and 6 months. The ratio of acid to fly ash varied from 0 to 15 meq H3O+/g ash. Plots of pH and the percent dissolution of Ca, Mg, and Al are reported for each system.

The neutralization reaction for each fly ash showed three distinct buffer zones: a high‐pH region (pH 12.0‐10.5) accompanied by dissolution of Ca, a second region (pH 9.2‐8.5) with the concomitant dissolution of Mg, and a third region (below pH 4.2), in which Al was released from the fly‐ash matrix. The neutralization curve for an artificially prepared fly‐ash material followed the same trend.

The neutralization capacity (NC) in meq H3O+/g ash at a particular pH value was predicted from the percent Ca and Mg contents over the pH range 8.0‐5.0 by the equation: NC = 4.08 + 1.20 (Mg) + 0.37 (Ca) − 0.75 (pH) (n = 63, r2 = 0.99, p < 0.0001) for the 2‐week period, and NC = 3.64 + 1.44 (Mg) + 0.32 (Ca) − 0.57 (pH) n = 48, r2 = 0.98, p < 0.0001), for the 6‐month period.

Electron micrographs of untreated and acid‐treated fly ash exhibited deterioration of the particles and re‐crystallization of dissolved salts onto particle surfaces.
Apparent Adsorption and Microbial Degradation of Phenol by Soil
Authors: Scott H. D. , Wolf D. C. , Lavy T. L.
Published: July 2010

The adsorption of labile organic chemicals by soil and sediment surfaces may be influenced by degradation of the parent molecule. The objective of this study was to determine effects of pretreatment, equilibrium time, and concentration on adsorption of the labile organic chemical phenol by two soils: Captina silt loam (Typie Fragiudult) and Palouse silt loam (Ultic Haploxeroll). Adsorption of phenol by soil was determined by radioassay using the “batch” technique. Since loss from solution is equated with adsorption with the batch method, degradation of phenol is also recorded as adsorption. Therefore, the term “apparent adsorption” was used to describe the total disappearance from solution, which included adsorption plus decomposition.

The apparent adsorption of phenol was influenced by pretreatment, equilibration time, and concentration applied. Adsorption of phenol was low, as evidenced by Freundlich K values of 0.57 and 1.19 for the sterile Captina and Palouse soils, respectively. The addition of water, glucose, or nutrient broth to the non‐sterile soil increased the apparent adsorption by reducing the phenol concentration in the solution phase. As equilibration time increased, the apparent adsorption of phenol by the non‐sterile soil also increased. When compared with the sterilized soil, this increase suggested that the loss of phenol from solution was largely due to microbial decomposition. As the concentration of phenol increased, there was a corresponding increase in the lag phase and a decrease in the degradation rate constant indicating inhibition and microbial activity by phenol at higher concentrations. The length of time in the lag phase was linearly related to the log of the phenol concentration. At a given concentration, the lag phase of the Captina soil was longer and more sensitive to changes in phenol concentration than was the lag phase in the Palouse soil. This was attributed to its lower phenol adsorption, organic matter content, and initial microbial population.
Seasonal Stream Temperature Changes Following Forest Harvesting
Authors: Rishel Gregg B. , Lynch James A. , Corbett Edward S.
Published: July 2010

Exposing headwater streams to direct solar radiation by removing forest cover has the potential to cause drastic changes in streamwater temperature regimes. A study was conducted to evaluate the maximum potential impacts and to evaluate the effectiveness of management practices used to control these detrimental effects. The control watershed approach was utilized.

A clearcut‐herbicide experiment on a small, headwater stream increased maximum stream temperatures as early as February and as late as November. The average monthly maximum stream temperature increase was 4.4°C. Stream temperatures above 21°C occurred nearly every day during the summer. Stream temperatures above 25°C were recorded as early as May. The highest stream temperature recorded was 32°C. On an adjacent forested watershed, stream temperatures rarely exceeded 20°C; the highest recorded temperature was 22°C. Minimum stream temperatures on the clearcut‐herbicided watershed increased an average of 2°C during the summer months, but were as much as 3.9°C lower during the fall and winter months. Diurnal fluctuations in stream temperature were also increased. Diurnal fluctuations as high as 17°C occurred on the clearcut‐herbicided watershed compared with only 4°C on the forested watershed. On an adjacent commercially clearcut watershed, where a buffer zone was left along the perennial stream channels, only slight changes in stream temperature were observed. The average monthly maximum stream temperature increase was <1°C; the highest temperature recorded was 23°C. Minimum temperatures remained generally unchanged.
Distribution of Phosphorus in Soils Irrigated with Municipal Waste‐Water Effluent: A 5‐Year Study
Authors: Latterell J. J. , Dowdy R. H. , Clapp C. E. , Larson W. E. , Linden D. R.
Published: July 2010

This 5‐year field study of phosphate (PO4) management was conducted on Waukegan silt loam (Typic Hapludoll) soil, which has a water table at about the 140‐ to 150‐cm depth. The results of municipal waste‐water irrigation, with annual application means of 0, 126, and 237 cm, indicates that in terms of PO4 management, soils receiving comparable quantities of PO4 from either waste water or mineral fertilizer (rates for good crop management) behaved in similar manner. Sharp increases in organic‐P were found in the surface horizon of soil receiving effluent, while increased levels of available‐P were observed to a depth of 60 cm in the high‐treatment area (mean annual P addition of 160 kg/ha). Phosphate‐adsorption studies, with the aid of the Langmuir equation, showed that the adsorption power of soil from the higher effluent application rates (237 cm/year) had been reduced. This was substantiated by higher P concentrations (0.01 vs. 0.07 mg/liter) observed in soil water at the 60‐cm depth of the high‐treatment areas. These observations were fitted into a simplified model that described the fate of effluent PO4 applied to soil.
A Contribution to Simplified Models of Field Solute Transport
Authors: Rose C. W. , Chichester F. W. , Williams J. R. , Ritchie J. T.
Published: July 2010

Based on mass conservation of water and solute, general one‐dimensional theory is given for predicting change in mean solute penetration or depth of solute peak (α) for solutes which undergo no processes other than convection, dispersion, and diffusion. Assuming a soil drains to a field capacity at which the volumetric water content is θf, the theory shows that dα/dt = q/θfc, where q is the volume flux density of solution past the depth, α.

For convenience of calculation, this theory is also cast in discontinuous form, allowing calculation of α for any known sequence of infiltration and evapotranspiration events where θfc is also known as a function of depth. This theory was applied to data from two different field experiments employing undisturbed and back‐filled lysimeters, respectively. Predicted time of emergence in the percolate from the lysimeters of the solute peak resulting from fertilizers applied to the surface was compared with observation. Agreement between the two was obtained within the limits of experimental uncertainty.
Solid Phase Forms of Heavy Metals in Sewage Sludge‐Treated Soils
Authors: Emmerich W. E. , Lund L. J. , Page A. L. , Chang A. C.
Published: July 2010

A sequential extraction procedure was used to fractionate Cd, Cu, Ni, and Zn in sludge‐treated soils into the designated forms of exchangeable, adsorbed, organically bound, carbonate, and residual. Samples were obtained from a soil column study where anaerobically digested sewage sludge in either liquid or air‐dried form was mixed into the top 15 cm of three reconstructed soil profiles and leached for 25 months with Colorado River water. The applied sewage sludge and uncontaminated soil samples were also sequentially extracted. The metals added into the soil had not moved out of the sludge‐soil layers during the course of leaching. The chemical forms present in the sludge‐soil layers at the termination of the leaching process were compared with those initially present in the soil and sludge. Most of each of the metals studied in the columns were found in the organically bound, carbonate, or residual forms, with the relative distribution among these forms depending on whether samples were taken in or below the sludge‐soil layer. Less than 36% of each metal in the sewage sludge was in the residual form, while, except for Cd, the soils contained > 65% of each metal studied in this form. It appeared that Cd, Ni, and Zn were all shifting to the residual form. The chemical forms of Cu had not changed significantly during the study. The occurrence of metals in the stable organically bound, carbonate, and residual forms in the sludge, coupled with a shift toward the more stable form (residual) after soil incorporation, contributed to the lack of metal movement in the soil profiles.
Predicted Solution Phase Forms of Heavy Metals in Sewage Sludge‐Treated Soils
Authors: Emmerich W. E. , Lund L. J. , Page A. L. , Chang A. C.
Published: July 2010

Chemical speciation of selected elements in the soil solution of sewage sludge‐treated soils was studied with aid of the computer program, GEOCHEM. Soil solutions were obtained by the saturation extract method from reconstructed soil profiles where anaerobically digested sewage was incorporated into the top 15 cm of the soil and the soils were leached for 25 months. Total concentrations of Cd, Cu, Ni, and Zn in the soil solutions were elevated by the sewage sludge addition, but in most cases were within ranges found in a survey of soils untreated with sludge. Concentrations of the metals were so low that their contribution to metal movement over the duration of the study was negligible. Concentration changes in solution metals across the sludge‐soil interface in most columns was dramatic. For Cd, Ni, and Zn between 50 and 60, 60 and 70 and 60 and 70%, respectively, of the total metal in solution was found to be in the free ionic form. Copper was almost exclusively in organically compelxed forms in sludge‐soil layers, and below these layers the form of Cu shifted to the free ionic form as the pH decreased. Activities of the metals indicated undersaturation with respect to established minerals in soils.
Cadmium Availability to Sudangrass Grown on Soils Amended with Sewage Sludge and Fly Ash
Authors: Adriano D. C. , Page A. L. , Elseewi A. A. , Chang A. C.
Published: July 2010

Greenhouse experiments were conducted using sudangrass (Sorghum vulgare L.) as an indicator crop to evaluate the feasibility of co‐recycling sewage sludge and coal fly ash on croplands. The rationale was that the contrasting acid‐base properties of the two waste materials would be complementary, i.e., the acidifying tendency of protons from organic matter decomposition and N mineralization when applying sludge would offset the alkalizing tendency of the hydrolysis of CaO and MgO in fly ash. The fly ash, derived from lignite coal, was effective in raising the soil pH. Alkalinity and salinity were the two most immediate and apparent effects of fly ash application on soil properties; the former depressed Cd concentrations and uptake by plants, while the latter reduced plant growth. Leaching and carbonation of unweathered fly ash alleviated the salinity problem permitting much larger quantities of ash to be applied to soils without adverse effects on plant growth. Weathering, induced by carbonation, not only maintained the fly ash pH buffering capacity but also reduced its harmful salinizing effect. Large increases in soil pH caused by fly ash addition, concomitant with large reductions in Cd uptake by plants, indicate the potential for fly ash as a companion soil amendment for sludge.
Trace Metal Deposition in an Agricultural Environment Near the Chalk Point Generating Station
Authors: Mastradone Paul J. , Mulchi Charles L. , Armbruster James A. , Douglass Lawrence W.
Published: July 2010

Dustfall deposition samples were collected during the months of June, July, and August for 2 years prior (1973 and 1974) and 2 years following (1976 and 1977) the addition of an oil‐fired, 660 MW generating unit (No. 3) to two 330 MW coal‐fired units (No. 1 & 2) at Chalk Point located in Prince Georges County, Md. Triplicate collectors were placed at 12 research sites located at distances of 1.6, 4.8, and 9.6 km in the north, east, south, and west directions from the power plant and were analyzed for water‐insoluble particulate matter and soluble and water‐insoluble Zn, Cu, Mn, Pb, and Ni contents.

The average rates of deposition for water‐insoluble particulates declined from 4.73 ± 3.67 g m−2 month−1 during 1973 and 1974 to 1.9 ± 1.79 g m−2 month−1 during 1976 and 1977. The reductions in particulate deposition rates coincided with a 37% reduction in power generation output from Units 1 and 2 and the onset of Unit 3 operations.

Prior to Unit 3 operations, soluble and total Ni deposition rates were found to be significantly (p < 0.05) related to direction; however, the rates of Cu, Mn, and Pb deposition were observed to be significantly (p < 0.05) higher at 1.6‐km than at 4.8‐ or 9.6‐km distances from the facility. After Unit 3 began operating, rates for Cu, Mn, Zn, and Pb deposition were significantly (p < 0.05) reduced and showed no relationships to distance or directions from the source. The shifts in soluble Ni and soluble Pb deposition rates from pre‐ to post‐Unit 3 operations were particularly noteworthy. The concentrations of Cu, Mn, and Zn in water‐insoluble particulates were higher with increased distance and showed significant (p < 0.05) increases after Unit 3 began operation.

The relative rankings for average rates of total deposition for the five metals during pre‐Unit 3 operations were Pb (191 µg m−2 day−1) > Cu ≅ Zn > Mn > Ni (11 µg m−2 day−1), which changed to Cu (98 µg m−2 day−1) > Pb ≅ Zn > Mn > Ni (12 µg m−2 day−1) after Unit 3 began operations.
Ammonia‐Oxidizing Bacteria Populations and Activities in Soils Irrigated with Municipal Waste Water Effluent
Authors: Chopp K. M. , Clapp C. E. , Schmidt E. L.
Published: July 2010

Land application of waste water when properly managed has the beneficial result of providing nutrients and water to crops without adverse environmental effects. Populations and activities of NH3‐oxidizing bacteria were studied during one growing season of corn (Zea mays L.) on soil irrigated with municipal waste‐water effluent. The method used to recover these bacteria from soil was shaking 1 hour in Soriano‐Walker medium. Soil populations of one serotype each of the genera Nitrosomonas, Nitrosolobus, and Nitrosospira were enumerated by the fluorescent antibody (FA) technique. Populations of the three genera peaked at different times, with “total FA‐detectable” populations fluctuating only slightly over the entire season. Higher effluent (220 cm, 470 kg N/ha) treatments tended to have slightly lower populations than either fertilized control (336 kg N/ha) or low effluent (120 cm, 250 kg N/ha) treatments. Ammonia‐oxidation activity was significantly (5% level) higher for soils treated with high rates of effluent. Soil N levels showed NH4‐N decreasing sharply when the population of NH3‐oxidizers peaked in June, but accumulating in the fall when populations declined. Concentrations of NO3‐N in soil were directly related to effluent and fertilizer applications. Nitrate concentrations in soil water and ground water peaked approximately 1 month after the maximum NO3‐N concentrations occurred in the soil.
Identification of Free Organic Chemicals Found in Composted Municipal Refuse
Authors: Gonzalez‐Vila F. J. , Saiz‐Jimenez C. , Martin F.
Published: July 2010

Composted municipal refuse can be considered as a low‐grade fertilizer, but its use on land is limited by the level of contamination from heavy metals and toxic chemicals. In order to evaluate the qualitative composition of the organic fraction of these materials, three Spanish refuse composts were analyzed.

The samples were sequentially extracted with ether and ethanol, which constitute the total lipids extract. The nonsaponifiable fraction is made up of n‐alkanes, in the range of C18 to C32, as well as olefins. The saponifiable fraction contains n‐fatty acids from C14 to C26 and some branched fatty acids. The method used for separation and identification of specific organic compounds in sediments was adapted for municipal composts and the resulting methylene chloride extract subjected to gradient chromatography on alumina. The fractions eluted from the column with pentane, and pentane‐methanol contained aliphatic hydrocarbons; the benzene fraction was made up of phthalate esters, and the benzene‐methanol and methanol fractions contained a mixture of aliphatic hydrocarbons, phthalate esters, n‐fatty acid methyl esters, and some individual compounds. The presence of aliphatic hydrocarbons and fatty acids in municipal composts suggested a microbial origin, while phthalate esters may arise from the debris of plastic packaging.
Disposal of Feedlot Lagoon Water by Irrigating Bromegrass: I. Crop Removal of Nitrogen
Authors: Olson R. V. , Terry R. V. , Powers W. L. , Swallow C. W.
Published: July 2010

Beef‐feedlot lagoon water was used to irrigate bromegrass (Bromus inermis) at four rates in three replications for 4 years to determine effectiveness of the grass in removing N. Microplots within the main plots of two treatments received lagoon water enriched with 15N. Bromegrass was harvested two or three times each year. Yields and total N uptake were determined for the main plots, and yields, total N uptake, and lagoon water N uptake for microplots.

Yields and total N uptake increased with lagoon water rates, but declined with time on the main plots because of effects of excessive moisture on stands. In the microplots, reseeded to maintain stands, yields increased with time. With both main plots and microplots, more total N was removed by the hay than was applied with the 2.5‐ and 5.1‐cm treatments, but the opposite prevailed for 7.6‐ and 10.2‐cm irrigations.

Uptake of lagoon water N was 1.8 times more for the 10.2‐ than for the 5.1‐cm treatment. The percentage of lagoon water N removed increased with time but seemed to be leveling off at about 40 after 4 years.

Crop removal of N in waste water can be a major N disposal method if crop yields are high. Bromegrass is not the best crop because stands are reduced by excessive moisture. Low rates of lagoon water are more effective than high rates because they leave less lagoon water N in the soil and more total N is taken up than applied.
Metal Concentrations in Tissues of Meadow Voles from Sewage Sludge‐Treated Fields
Authors: Anderson T. J. , Barrett G. W. , Clark C. S. , Elia V. J. , Majeti V. A.
Published: July 2010

Food‐chain uptake of Cd, Pb, Zn, and Cu by meadow voles (Microtus pennsylvanicus) was assessed in wheat (Triticum aestivum var. Ranger) and old‐field plant communities receiving sludge or fertilizer applications. Sixteen 0.1‐ha enclosures received either 8,963 kg ha−1 year−1 Milorganite (6‐2‐0, N‐P‐K) or 1,569 kg ha−1 year−1 ureaphosphate fertilizer (34‐11‐0), or were untreated (controls).

Mean Cd concentrations in livers and kidneys of voles (all age/sex groups) from sludge‐treated fields in the second year of application were significantly higher (p < 0.05) than controls; in the first year only females from sludge‐treated wheat fields had higher levels than controls. Ranges of mean Cd concentrations in voles from sludge‐treated fields were 0.1–1.1 µg g−1 wet weight in liver samples and 0.4–6.6 µg g−1 in kidneys; ranges in controls were 0.01–0.04 µg g−1 in liver and 0.01–1.6 µg g−1 in kidneys. Cadmium concentrations in voles from fertilizer‐treated fields did not differ from controls.

Liver and kidney Cu concentrations were elevated in some age/sex groups from sludge‐ and fertilizer‐treated fields. There were no treatment differences in Pb or Zn concentrations, nor in organ or whole‐body weights.

Short‐term (2‐year) effects on mammals of sludge application to land appear to be benign, despite accumulation of metals in vital organs.
Ammonia and Amine Emissions from a Large Cattle Feedlot
Authors: Hutchinson G. L. , Mosier A. R. , Andre C. E.
Published: July 2010

Volatilization of ammonia (NH3) and amines is widely recognized as an important mechanism for loss of feedlot waste nitrogen to air and water resources, but quantitative measurements of these emissions have not been made. We used a micrometeorological technique to determine vertical NH3 and amine flux densities above a large cattle feedlot in northeastern Colorado. The NH3 flux density averaged 1.4 ± 0.7 kg N/ha per hour in periodic measurements during the spring and summer of 1977, and was estimated to have a similar magnitude during the previous fall and winter. Somewhat lower fluxes were recorded when the feedlot surface was wet, but these were offset by higher‐than‐average fluxes as the surface dried. The amine‐N flux was < 1% as great as that of NH3‐N and made an insignificant contribution to the feedlot's N balance. Trimethylamine flux was always the highest and exceeded the sum of all other amine fluxes. Total NH3 and amine emissions represented about one‐half the rate of urinary N deposition, or about one‐fourth the rate of total N deposition, estimated for this feedlot. Our data support the hypothesis advanced by other authors that animal wastes are a major source of atmospheric NH3, and in some areas are the principal source.
Effect of Tile Drainage on Disposal of Septic Tank Effluent in Wet Soils
Authors: Wilson S. A. , Paeth R. C. , Ronayne M. P.
Published: July 2010

A field‐performance study was conducted to determine the feasibility of artificially draining wet soils to permit satisfactory operation of septic tank effluent disposal fields. Tile drains placed 1.2 and 1.8 m deep with 3‐ and 6‐m horizontal separations, respectively, around disposal fields were monitored during wet winter months. Ground‐water drawdown beneath septic tank disposal fields was measured and tile drainage water was analyzed for NO3‐N, total coliform, and fecal coliform.

Tile placed at either depth lowered ground water sufficiently to prevent saturated soil conditions in disposal fields. Vertical mean groundwater separation distances of as little as 23 cm below disposal trench bottoms with a horizontal setback of 3 m between the tile drain and disposal field resulted in acceptable quality for drainage water discharges based on Oregon Department of Environmental Quality standards. Results indicated that design specifications were a practical means of overcoming wetness limitations for onsite sewage disposal on drainable soils in western Oregon.
Heavy Metal Concentrations in Earthworms From Soil Amended with Sewage Sludge
Authors: Beyer W. Nelson , Chaney Rufus L. , Mulhern Bernard M.
Published: July 2010

Metal concentrations in soil may be elevated considerably when metal‐laden sewage sludge is spread on land. Metals in earthworms (Lumbricidae) from agricultural fields amended with sewage sludge and from experimental plots were examined to determine if earthworms are important in transferring metals in soil to wildlife. Earthworms from four sites amended with sludge contained significantly (P < 0.05) more Cd (12 times), Cu (2.4 times), Zn (2.0 times), and Pb (1.2 times) than did earthworms from control sites, but the concentrations detected varied greatly and depended on the particular sludge application. Generally, Cd and Zn were concentrated by earthworms relative to soil, and Cu, Pb, and Ni were not concentrated. Concentrations of Cd, Zn, Cu, and Pb in earthworms were correlated (P < 0.05) with those in soil. The ratio of the concentration of metals in earthworms to the concentration of metals in soil tended to be lower in contaminated soil than in clean soil. Concentrations of Cd as high as 100 ppm (dry wt) were detected in earthworms from soil containing only 2 ppm Cd. These concentrations are considered hazardous to wildlife that eat worms. Liming soil decreased Cd concentrations in earthworms slightly (P < 0.05) but had no discernible effect on concentrations of the other metals studied. High Zn concentrations in soil substantially reduced Cd concentrations in earthworms.
Ozone and Sulfur Dioxide Effects on Tall fescue: I. Growth and Yield Responses
Authors: Flagler R. B. , Youngner V. B.
Published: July 2010

The effects of ozone (O3) and sulfur dioxide (SO2) on growth and yield components of tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb. ‘Alta’) were studied in a greenhouse experiment. Four O3 treatments ranging from 0 to 0.30 ppm in equally spaced intervals and two SO2 treatments, 0 and 0.10 ppm, were arranged factorially in a randomized complete block design utilizing three blocks. Each block was exposed to the pollutants 6 h/d, once a week, for 12 weeks. Statistical analysis was by analysis of variance and regression techniques.

Ozone significantly affected root/shoot ratio and all dry weight fractions. A reduction of total dry weight of 52.5% was found due to 0.30 ppm O3. A cubic regression model of O3 concentration on total dry weight accounted for 93% of the variation in total dry weight. Partitioning the dry weight into shoot and root components revealed a reduction in shoot weight of up to 46% and a reduction in shoot weight of up to 46% and a reduction in root weight of up to 63.6% due to the high‐O3 treatment. Both variables had significant cubic regressions of O3 on dry weight with the cubic model accounting for 93 and 89% of the variation in shoot and root weights, respectively. Root/shoot ratio declined from 0.58 for control plants to 0.41 for plants exposed to 0.30 ppm O3. A significant cubic regression of O3 on root/shoot ratio accounted for 78% of the variation in this variable. Tiller weight was also affected adversely by O3 with a linear decrease (r2 = 0.85) of > 44% at the highest O3 level. SO2 also affected tall fescue, but not nearly as severely as O3. Total dry weight was reduced by 7.3% due to SO2. Root weight was decreased by 11%, but shoot weight was unaffected. Root/shoot ratio was lowered about 7% due to the pollutant. Weight per tiller was unaffected by SO2. Number of tillers was significantly reduced by an interaction of the two pollutants. Neither O3 or SO2 had an effect singly, but at the high O3 level, the addition of SO3 caused an 18.6% reduction in number of tillers. This was the only significant pollutant interaction noted.
A Bench‐Scale System to Study the Composting of Organic Wastes
Authors: Ashbolt N. J. , Line M. A.
Published: July 2010

In an investigation of the composting of eucalypt bark, a bench‐scale composter was designed to provide strict control over air composition, moisture content, temperature, and mixing. The composter consisted of six 4‐L capacity gas‐tight units of PVC plastic, each of which was provided with a mixing paddle coupled to a common drive. Natural temperature rise was simulated by having the units immersed in a water bath, with the temperature increased at rates consistent with those observed in large‐scale compost heaps. This provided a comparatively inexpensive versatile system, with rates of CO2, NH3, CH4, and H2S production and O2 consumption manually monitored by gas chromatography. The reproducibility of the system was as good as the best reported.
Ozone and Sulfur Dioxide Effects on Three Tall Fescue Cultivars
Authors: Flagler R. B. , Youngner V. B.
Published: July 2010

Although many reports have been published concerning differential susceptibility of various crops and/or cultivars to air pollutants, most have used foliar injury instead of the marketable yield as the factor that determined susceptibility for the crop. In an examination of screening in terms of marketable yield, three cultivars of tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.), ‘Alta,’ ‘Fawn,’ and ‘Kentucky 31,’ were exposed to 0–0.40 ppm O3 or 0–0.50 ppm SO2 6 h/d, once a week, for 7 and 9 weeks, respectively. Experimental design was a randomized complete block with three replications. Statistical analysis was by standard analysis of variance and regression techniques. Three variables were analyzed: top dry weight (yield), tiller number, and weight per tiller. Ozone had a significant effect on all three variables. Significant linear decreases in yield and weight per tiller occurred with increasing O3 concentrations. Linear regressions of these variables on O3 concentration produced significantly different regression coefficients. The coefficient for Kentucky 31 was significantly greater than Alta or Fawn, which did not differ from each other. This indicated that Kentucky 31 was more susceptible to O3 than either of the other cultivars. Percent reductions in dry weight for the three cultivars at highest O3 level were 35, 44, and 53%, respectively, for Fawn, Alta, and Kentucky 31. For weight per tiller, Kentucky 31 had a higher percent reduction than the other cultivars (59 vs. 46 and 44%). Tiller number was generally increased by O3, but this variable was not useful for determining diffferential susceptibility to the pollutant. Sulfur dioxide treatments produced no significant effects on any of the variables analyzed.