Free Standard AU & NZ Shipping For All Book Orders Over $80!
Register      Login
Soil Research Soil Research Society
Soil, land care and environmental research
Shopping Cart: ( empty )
You are here: Home > Journals > SR > SR06030
RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 44(7)

Using undisturbed columns to predict long term behaviour of effluent irrigated soils under field conditions

L. Dawes A B and A. Goonetilleke A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A School of Urban Development, Queensland University of Technology, GPO Box 2434, Brisbane, Qld 4001, Australia.

B Corresponding author. Email: l.dawes@qut.edu.au

Australian Journal of Soil Research 44(7) 661-676 https://doi.org/10.1071/SR06030
Submitted: 28 March 2006  Accepted: 8 September 2006   Published: 20 October 2006

Abstract

Soils have only a finite capacity for the removal of wastewater pollutants, and with time this capacity could decline. Not all soil types have the capacity to provide adequate treatment and dispersal of sewage effluent. For continued long-term application to be successful, it is essential that infiltration and drainage characteristics of soils do not decline. Also critical is how long-term application of nutrients and cations affects the soils and whether any leaching occurs. The research project described compares the outcomes of detailed field studies with results from an undisturbed soil column study where typical soils in the south-east region of Queensland, Australia, have been subjected to sewage effluent application over a period of 12 months. Multivariate analysis helped to classify the influential soil characteristics and to identify relative changes in each soil after the application of effluent. Identification and correlation of influential soil characteristics in field and accelerated column studies confirmed that undisturbed soil column studies can be useful in predicting long-term behaviour of effluent-irrigated soils.

Additional keywords: on-site sewage treatment, soil chemistry, multivariate statistics, soil columns.


References


Adams MJ (1995) ‘Chemometrics in analytical spectroscopy.’ (Springer Verlag: New York)

APHA (1999) ‘Standard methods for the examination of water and wastewater.’ 19th edn (American Public Health Association, American Water and Wastewater Association and Water Environment Federation)

Balks MR, Bond WJ, Smith CJ (1998) Effects of sodium accumulation on soil physical properties under an effluent irrigated plantation. Australian Journal of Soil Research 36, 821–830.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Bish D , Post J (1989) ‘Modern powder diffraction. Reviews in mineralogy.’ Vol. 20. (Mineralogical Society of America: Washington, DC)

Borden D, Giese RF (2001) Baseline studies of the clay minerals society source clays: cation exchange capacity measurements by the ammonia-electrode method. Clays and Clay Minerals 49, 444–445.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Brejda JJ, Karlen DL, Smith JL, Allan DL (2000) Identification of regional soil factors and indicators. Journal of Soil Science Society of America 64, 2125–2135. open url image1

Carroll S, Goonetilleke A, Khalil W, Frost R (2005) Assessment via discriminant analysis of soil suitability for effluent renovation using undisturbed soil columns. Geoderma 131, 201–217.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Cliver DO (2000) Research needs in decentralised wastewater treatment and management: fate and transport of pathogens. In ‘Proceedings of the National Research Needs Conference: Risk-Based Decision Making for On-Site Wastewater Treatment’. Palo Alto, CA. pp. 1–31. (EPRI)

Coppin F, Berger G, Bauer A, Castet S, Loubet M (2002) Sorption of lanthanides on smectite and kaolinite. Chemical Geology 182, 57–68.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Coppola A, Santini A, Botti P, Vacca S, Comegna V, Severino G (2004) Methodological approach for evaluating the response of soil hydrological behaviour to irrigation with treated municipal wastewater. Journal of Hydrology 292, 114–134.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Crescimanno G, Iovino M, Provenzano G (1995) Influence of salinity and sodicity on soil structural and hydraulic characteristics. Journal of Soil Science Society of America 59, 1701–1708. open url image1

van Cuyk S, Siegrist R, Logan A, Masson S, Fescher E, Figueroa L (2001) Hydraulic and purification behaviours and their interactions during wastewater treatment in soil infiltration systems. Water Research 35, 953–964.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | PubMed | open url image1

Dawes L, Goonetilleke A (2003) An investigation into the role of site and soil characteristics in on-site sewage treatment. Journal of Environmental Geology 44, 467–477.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Dawes L, Goonetilleke A, Cox M (2005) Assessment of physical and chemical attributes of sub-tropical soil to predict long term effluent treatment potential. Journal of Soil and Sediment Contamination 14, 211–229.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

DeBorde DC, Woessner WW, Lauerman B, Ball PN (1998) Virus occurrence and transport in a school septic system and unconfined aquifer. Ground Water 36, 825–834.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Einax JW , Zwanzinger HW , Geib S (1998) ‘Chemometrics in environmental analysis.’ (VHA A Wiley Company: Weinheim)

Endo T, Yamamoto S, Honna T, Eneji A (2002) Sodium-calcium exchange selectivity as influenced by clay minerals and composition. Soil Science 167, 117–125.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Falkiner RA, Smith CJ (1997) Changes in soil chemistry in effluent irrigated Pinus radiata and Eucalyptus grandis plantations. Australian Journal of Soil Research 35, 131–147.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Geary PM , Gardner E (1998) Sustainable on-site treatment systems. In ‘Proceedings of the 8th National Symposium on Individual and Small Community Sewage Systems’. pp. 12–19. (ASAE: St Joseph, MI)

Halliwell DJ, Barlow KM, Nash DM (2001) A review of the effects of wastewater sodium on soil physical properties and their implications for irrigation systems. Australian Journal of Soil Research 39, 1259–1267.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Heng LK, Tillman RW, White RE (1999) Anion and cation leaching through large undisturbed soil cores under different flow regimes. Australian Journal of Soil Research 37, 711–726. open url image1

Isbell RF (2002) ‘The Australian Soil Classification.’ (CSIRO Publishing: Melbourne, Vic.)

Jenssen PD, Siegrist RL (1990) Technology assessment of wastewater treatment by soil infiltration systems. Water Science and Technology 22, 83–92. open url image1

Khalil WA-S, Goonetilleke A, Kokot S, Carroll S (2004) Use of chemometric methods and mulitcriteria decision-making for site selection for sustainable on-site sewage effluent disposal. Analytica Chimica Acta 506, 41–56.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Kravchenko AN, Bollero GA, Omonode RA, Bullock DG (2002) Quantitative mapping of soil drainage classes using topographical data and soil electrical conductivity. Journal of Soil Science Society of America 66, 235–243. open url image1

Loch RJ , Smith GD (1988) Soil factors affecting soil physical properties. In ‘Understanding soils and soils data: Invited lectures’. pp. 135–150. (Australian Society of Soil Science)

Magnesan GN, Williamson JC, Sparling GP, Schipper LA, Lloyd-Jones AR (1999) Hydraulic conductivity in soils irrigated with wastewaters of different strengths: Field and laboratory studies. Australian Journal of Soil Research 37, 391–402.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Massart DL , Vandeginste BGM , Deming SM , Michotte Y , Kaufman L (1988) ‘Chemometrics—a text book.’ (Elsevier: Amsterdam)

McDonald RC , Isbell RF , Speight JG , Walker J , Hopkins MS (1998) ‘Australian soil and land survey field handbook.’ 3rd edn (CSIRO Publishing: Melbourne, Vic.)

McLaren RG, Clucas LM, Taylor MD, Hendry T (2003) Leaching of macronutrients and metals from undisturbed soils treated with metal-spiked sewage sludge. 1. Leaching of macronutrients. Australian Journal of Soil Research 41, 571–588.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Menneer JC, McLay CDA, Lee R (2001) Effects of sodium contaminated wastewater on soil permeability of two New Zealand soils. Australian Journal of Soil Research 39, 877–891.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

NRCS (1999) ‘Soil Taxonomy: A basic system of soil classification for making and interpreting soil surveys.’ Agriculture Handbook No. 436. (United States Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service)

Peverill KI , Sparrow LA , Reuter DJ (Eds) (1999) ‘Soil analysis: An interpretation manual.’ (ASPAC, CSIRO Publishing: Melbourne, Vic.)

Phillips IR (2002) Nutrient leaching from undisturbed soil cores following application of piggery wastewater. Australian Journal of Soil Research 40, 515–532.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Rayment GE , Higginson FR (1992) ‘Australian laboratory handbook of soil and water chemical methods.’ (Inkata Press: Melbourne, Vic.)

Roberts A , Withers P (2004) ‘StatistiXL – Statistical Power for MS Excel.’ Version 1.4, Western Australia.

Scandura JR, Sobsey MD (1997) Viral and bacterial contamination of groundwater from on-site sewage treatment systems. Water Science and Technology 35, 141–146.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Sena MM, Frighetto RTS, Valarini PJ, Tokeshi H, Poppi RJ (2002) Discrimination of management effects on soil parameters by using principal component analysis: a multivariate analysis case study. Soil and Tillage Research 67, 171–181.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Shaw RJ , Coughlan KJ , Bell LC (1997) Root zone sodicity. In ‘Sodic soils: distribution, properties, management and environmental consequences’. pp. 95–106. (Oxford University Press)

Sparling GP, Schipper LA, Russell JM (2001) Changes in soil properties after application of dairy factory effluent to New Zealand volcanic ash and pumice soils. Australian Journal of Soil Research 39, 505–518.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Standards Australia (2000) AS/NZS 1547:2000. On-site domestic-wastewater management. Standards Australia/New Zealand, Strathfield, Australia.

Tillman RW, Scotter DR (1991) Movement of solutes associated with intermittent soil water flow: II Nitrogen and cations. Journal of Soil Research 29, 173–183. open url image1

USEPA (2002) On-site wastewater treatment systems manual, EPA/615/R-00/008, Office of Water, USEPA, February 2002.

Vance WH, McKenzie BM, Tisdall JM (2002) The stability of soils used for cropping in northern Victoria and southern New South Wales. Australian Journal of Soil Research 40, 615–624.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Wang Z, Chang AC, Wu L, Crowley D (2003) Assessing the soil quality of long-term reclaimed wastewater-irrigated cropland. Geoderma 114, 261–278.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Wilson DI (2002) Derivation of the chalk superficial deposits of the North Downs, England: an application of discriminant analysis. Geomorphology 42, 343–364.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1