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Chemical and Biological Phenomena Observed with Sewage Sludges in Simulated Soil Trenches
Author(s) -
Taylor J. M.,
Epstein E.,
Burge W. D.,
Chaney R. L.,
Menzies J. D.,
Sikora L. J.
Publication year - 1978
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 - 10.2134/jeq1978.00472425000700040003x
Subject(s) - sewage sludge , chemistry , environmental chemistry , anaerobic digestion , sewage , sewage sludge treatment , agronomy , soil water , environmental science , sewage treatment , pulp and paper industry , environmental engineering , methane , biology , soil science , organic chemistry , engineering
Chemical and biological observations were made on sewage sludge in a simulated trenching system in the greenhouse. Limed and unlimed raw and digested sludges were placed in simulated trenches in soil profile boxes in which corn ( Zea mays L.) was sown. During the 160‐day growth period, roots penetrated entrenched digested sludge and root growth proliferated throughout the sludge. Root penetration into the raw sludges was severely restricted. Gas analysis showed that anaerobic conditions prevailed for extensive periods during the 160 days in raw sludge. Methane and CO 2 levels reached 45 and 25%, respectively. The levels of CH 4 and CO 2 were < 3 and 21%, respectively, in the digested sludge boxes. Nitrate nitrogen, adjacent to and beneath the sludge, was generally higher with digested than with raw sludge. Zinc and copper did not move from the sludge into the surrounding soil. The increase of these metals in corn leaves was relatively low, reaching only 131 µ /g Zn and 5.9 µ /g Cu as compared with 79 µ /g Zn and 3.8 µ /g Cu in the controls. Although low levels of fecal coliforms survived in the sludge, none were found in the soil surrounding the sludge. Total coliform numbers in the sludge after 160 days were negatively correlated with NH 3 ‐N concentrations, suggesting that NH 3 , generated on dissociation on NH 4 + , may be important in reduction of human pathogens.