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Carbon mineralization, biological indicators, and phytotoxicity to assess the impact of urban sewage sludge on two light‐textured soils in a microcosm
Author(s) -
Hechmi Sarra,
Hamdi Helmi,
MokniTlili Sonia,
Zoghlami Inès Rahma,
Khelil Mohamed Naceur,
Benzarti Saoussen,
Hassen Abdennaceur,
Jedidi Naceur
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
journal of environmental quality
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.888
H-Index - 171
eISSN - 1537-2537
pISSN - 0047-2425
DOI - 10.1002/jeq2.20011
Subject(s) - microcosm , soil water , loam , mineralization (soil science) , environmental chemistry , chemistry , environmental science , incubation , agronomy , soil science , biology , biochemistry
The agricultural reuse of urban sewage sludge (USS) modifies soil properties depending on sludge quality, management, and pedo‐environmental conditions. The aim of this microcosm study was to assess C mineralization and subsequent changes in soil properties after USS addition to two typical Mediterranean soils: sandy (Soil S) and sandy loam (Soil A) at equivalent field rates of 40 t ha −1 (USS‐40) and 120 t ha −1 (USS‐120). Outcomes proved the biodegradability of USS through immediate CO 2 release inside incubation bottles in a dose‐dependent manner. Accordingly, the highest rates of daily C emission were recorded with USS‐120 (3.7 and 3.9 mg kg −1 d −1 for Soils S and A, respectively) after 84 d of incubation at 25 °C. The addition of USS also improved soil fertility by enhancing soil macronutrients, microbial proliferation, and protease activity. Protease showed significant correlation with N, total organic C, and heterotrophic bacteria, reflecting the biostimulation and bioaugmentation effects of sludge. Soil indices like C/N/P stoichiometry and metabolic quotient ( q CO 2 ) varied mostly with mineralization rates of C and P in both soils. Despite a significant increase of soil salinity and total heavy metal content (lead, nickel, zinc, and copper) with USS dose, wheat germination was not affected by these changes. Both experimental soils showed intrinsic (Soil A) and incubation‐induced (Soil S) phytotoxicities that were alleviated by USS addition. This was likely due to the enhancement of biodegradation and/or retention of phytotoxicants originating from previous land uses. Urban sewage sludge amendments could have applications in soil remediation by reducing the negative effects of allelopathic and/or anthropogenic phytoinhibitors.