Nutrient leaching and changes in soil characteristics of four contrasting soils irrigated with secondary-treated municipal wastewater for four years
G. P. Sparling A E , L. Barton B , L. Duncan A , A. McGill A , T. W. Speir D , L. A. Schipper A , G. Arnold C and A. Van Schaik DA Landcare Research, Private Bag 3127, Hamilton, New Zealand.
B School of Plant Biology, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia.
C Landcare Research, Private Bag 11052, Palmerston North, New Zealand.
D ESR, PO Box 50 348, Porirua, New Zealand.
E Corresponding author. Email: sparlingg@landcareresearch.co.nz
Australian Journal of Soil Research 44(2) 107-116 https://doi.org/10.1071/SR05084
Submitted: 24 June 2005 Accepted: 16 December 2005 Published: 27 March 2006
Abstract
Land treatment is the preferred option for the disposal of wastewater in New Zealand. We applied secondary-treated municipal wastewater to 4 contrasting soils (a Gley, Pumice, Recent, and Allophanic Soil) at the rate of 50 mm per week, for 4 years. Amounts of N and P in applied wastewater, leachates, and removed in herbage were measured every 1–4 weeks, and a range of soil chemical, biochemical and physical characteristics measured by destructive sampling after 2 and 4 years. After 4 years, leaching losses amounted to 290–307 kg N on the Gley and Recent Soils, representing approximately 22% of the N applied. Leaching losses from the Allophanic and Pumice Soils were 44 and 69 kg N/ha, respectively, representing <5% of that applied. More than half of the N leached was in organic forms. Leaching losses of P were <5 kg P/ha on the Pumice and Allophanic Soils (< 1% of that applied), 41 kg P/ha from the Recent Soil and 65 kg P/ha from the Gley Soil (8% and 13% of that applied, respectively). After 4 years, the total C and microbial C content in the A horizon of the irrigated Recent Soil were, respectively, 47% and 44% less than non-irrigated cores. All irrigated soils showed a rise in pH of up to 1 unit, and all had a marked increase in the exchangeable Na+ which reached 4–22% ESP. After 4 years, the saturated and near saturated hydraulic conductivity of the Gley Soil had declined from 567 and 40 mm/h to 56 and 3 mm/h, respectively. Allophanic and Pumice Soils are to be preferred over the Recent and Gley Soils for effective treatment of wastewater and to minimise the loss of nutrients to the wider environment.
Additional keywords: effluent, land treatment, leachate, soil, wastewater treatment.
Acknowledgments
We thank Waipa District Council for permission to conduct the field trial at their site, and Environment Waikato for financial assistance during the establishment of the trial. Additional technical support was provided by students from the University of Waikato. Science staff from AgResearch, Ruakura and Lincoln Environmental, Hamilton, provided advice on pasture management and irrigation. The New Zealand Foundation for Research Science and Technology provided funding under contracts C09802, C09X0217, and C09X0304.
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