Premium
Tillage effects on the accumulation of polychlorinated biphenyls in biosolid‐amended soils
Author(s) -
Düring RolfAlexander,
Gäth Stefan
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
journal of plant nutrition and soil science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.644
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1522-2624
pISSN - 1436-8730
DOI - 10.1002/1522-2624(200206)165:3<299::aid-jpln299>3.0.co;2-b
Subject(s) - loam , soil water , biosolids , environmental chemistry , amendment , chemistry , sewage sludge , organic matter , tillage , compost , total organic carbon , environmental science , agronomy , soil science , environmental engineering , sewage , organic chemistry , biology , political science , law
Soil tillage along with the application of organic waste probably affects the concentrations of organic carbon and the enrichment of introduced polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). In a three‐year experiment the PCB status of soils from three different field sites (silty clay loam, silt loam, sandy loam) which were long‐term differently tilled (NT = no‐tillage, CT = conventional plough tillage) and amended with two different organic wastes such as sewage sludge and compost (biosolids) was examined. No significant alteration in soil‐PCB quality and quantity with biosolid application could be proven within the course of the experiments. This indicates soil‐air exchange of PCBs dominates their concentrations in soil. Organic carbon in soil was significantly tillage‐dependent and determined the fate of PCBs resulting in a generally elevated PCB‐level in the non tilled soils. Linear regression of PCB load and organic matter content of all investigated untreated soils was highly significant (R 2 = 0.73). Due to already elevated PCB levels in non tilled soils with a maximum of 65 μg kg —1 in the superficial layer of the silt loam control plot, any additional potential input, i. e. through the amendment with organic wastes, should therefore be avoided.