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Changes in a Sandy Forest Soil Under Northern Hardwoods after 5 Years of Sewage Effluent Irrigation
Author(s) -
Harris A. Ray,
Urie Dean H.
Publication year - 1983
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/sssaj1983.03615995004700040036x
Subject(s) - humus , effluent , environmental science , forest floor , irrigation , leaching (pedology) , beech , leachate , litter , organic matter , agronomy , nitrogen , soil water , environmental chemistry , chemistry , ecology , soil science , environmental engineering , biology , organic chemistry
Thinned and unthinned plots in a 50‐year‐old beech ( Fagus sp.)‐maple ( Acer sp.) stand in northwestern lower Michigan were irrigated with sewage lagoon effluent. After 5 years of effluent application at rates of 38 and 76 mm/week, litter weights were reduced, leaching was increased, and forest floor humus weights were increased. Irrigation also resulted in decreased organic matter in the mineral soil. Nitrogen and P were leached from the litter; Ca, Mg, and Na were retained in forest floor humus and mineral soil, greatly increasing the pH and base saturation. Nitrogen concentrations measured in leachate from the 120‐cm soil depth were consistently below 10 mg·L −1 . Sodium was the predominant cation in the leachate. Irrigation over 5 years with wastewater effluent has had such minimal effects that higher irrigation rates might be considered without posing serious environmental risks.