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Effects of sewage sludge amendment on soil aggregation
Author(s) -
Sort X.,
Alcañiz J. M.
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
land degradation and development
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.403
H-Index - 81
eISSN - 1099-145X
pISSN - 1085-3278
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1099-145x(199901/02)10:1<3::aid-ldr305>3.0.co;2-0
Subject(s) - sewage sludge , amendment , organic matter , aggregate (composite) , environmental science , soil structure , sewage , soil conditioner , soil science , environmental engineering , chemistry , soil water , materials science , political science , law , organic chemistry , composite material
Sewage sludge in doses of 200 and 400 Mg ha −1 (dry weight) were applied in an experimental rehabilitation of a limestone quarry to improve soil physical condition. The effect of this organic waste on soil aggregation and structural stability has been tested measuring aggregate size distribution by dry‐ and wet‐sieving procedures over a period of 28 months. We discuss the influence of the organic components of aggregates on soil structure. The main effect of sewage sludge was to increase aggregate stability to raindrop impact (splash) just after application of the former but one year later this effect decreased notably. Organic matter is distributed in different ways between macro‐ and microaggregates, and this parameter seems to be responsible for the structure changes observed. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.