Premium
Nitrogen Mobility in Biosolid‐Amended Glaciated Soil
Author(s) -
Nikolaidis Nikolaos P.,
Chheda Pradeep,
Lackovic Jeffrey A.,
Guillard Karl,
Simpson Barbara,
Pedersen Tom
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
water environment research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.356
H-Index - 73
eISSN - 1554-7531
pISSN - 1061-4303
DOI - 10.2175/106143097x122194
Subject(s) - biosolids , mineralization (soil science) , compost , leachate , leaching (pedology) , environmental science , environmental chemistry , nitrate , soil water , nitrogen , agronomy , chemistry , environmental engineering , soil science , organic chemistry , biology
The potential leaching and availability of nitrogen in biosolids and biosolid‐amended glaciated soil were investigated using mineralization and column studies. Aerobic and anaerobic mineralization studies were conducted to assess nitrogen mineralization potential from biosolid‐amended glaciated soils and estimate long‐ and short‐term mineralization rates of products. Semicontinuous column studies were conducted to assess the leachability of nitrogen from biosolid‐amended soil under simulated unsaturated soil conditions. This study used a Paxton soil because its characteristics are typical of glaciated soil found in New England. Three types of biosolids, which are representative of biosolids currently available in Connecticut, were evaluated: composted biosolids (compost), cement kiln dust stabilized (CKD) biosolids, and heat‐dried biosolids (pellet). Results indicate that the pellet product had the greatest mineralization potential (based on unmixed biosolids) at 5 317 mg N/kg, followed by compost (324 mg N/kg) and CKD biosolids (58 mg N/kg). Nitrogen mineralized for the anaerobic test (mixed with soil) varied from 56 to 90% of the total nitrogen and for the aerobic test varied from 19 to 57%. The CKD biosolids percolate consisted primarily of nitrate and nitrite, whereas the predominant nitrogen species found in compost and pellet biosolids percolate was ammonium. Results suggest that one‐time application of biosolids at agronomic or liming rates (whichever is limiting) will cause minimal effects to groundwater.