Premium
Denitrifying Bacteria Populations and Nitrogen Removal in Soil Columns Intermittently Flooded with Secondary Sewage Effluent
Author(s) -
Gilbert R. G.,
Lance J. C.,
Miller J. B.
Publication year - 1979
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/jeq1979.00472425000800010022x
Subject(s) - denitrifying bacteria , effluent , infiltration (hvac) , denitrification , sewage , environmental chemistry , chemistry , nitrogen , total organic carbon , bacteria , environmental engineering , environmental science , biology , materials science , organic chemistry , composite material , genetics
The effects of infiltration rates and carbon treatments on denitrifying bacteria populations and N‐removal in soil columns intermittently flooded with secondary sewage effluent (SSE) were determined. At low infiltration rates of 10 to 15 cm/day, N‐removal by denitrification was >80% and enrichment of the SSE with organic carbon did not further enhance N loss, even though the denitrifying bacteria populations were increased. However, at higher infiltration rates (15 to 40 cm/day), the physiologically active denitrifying bacteria populations were effective in net N‐removal, and carbon enrichment of the SSE was essential for maintaining >80% N‐removal. Continuous carbon treatments were more effective than 2‐day pulse treatments for increasing the numbers of denitrifying bacteria and N‐removal. With continuous carbon treatments of 200 mg/liter, >80% N‐removal was obtained at infiltration rates of 40 cm/day. These results indicated that the activity of denitrifying bacteria and the N‐removal capacity of high‐rate land treatment systems could be enhanced by the timely additions of organic carbon to the SSE applied to the soil infiltration basins.