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The Behavior of Nutrient Elements Added to a Forest Soil with Sewage Sludge
Author(s) -
Riekerk H.
Publication year - 1978
Publication title -
soil science society of america journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.836
H-Index - 168
eISSN - 1435-0661
pISSN - 0361-5995
DOI - 10.2136/sssaj1978.03615995004200050032x
Subject(s) - environmental science , nutrient , aeration , sewage sludge , plough , agronomy , environmental chemistry , environmental engineering , chemistry , sewage , biology , organic chemistry
Sludge applications were made at a rate of 247 metric tons/ha dry weight to a cleared gravelly Douglas fir forest soil to test limits of nutrient conservation mechanisms. First year losses due to treatments were 8% of added N, 15% of Ca, 1% of K, and none of P. Predictably, NO 3 ‐N was the dominant mobile anion significantly increasing the calcium nitrate level in the ground water. Differences between sludge treatments, including plowing, reflected the degree of aeration and decomposition of NO 3 ‐N production and P‐fixation. These differences were more pronounced deeper in the soil, except for K which was more controlled by the stage of weathering. A very heavy sludge application rate (618 metric tons/ha) had less impact on soil nutrient behavior due to a high water absorption capability. Alternate ways of reducing NO 3 ‐N leakage from the forest soil are being investigated.