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 > SR08127
RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 46(8)

Fate of applied biosolids nitrogen in a cut and remove forage system on an alluvial clay loam soil

Guixin Pu A C , Mike Bell B , Glenn Barry A and Peter Want B
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Land and Vegetation Science, Natural Resource Sciences, Queensland Department of Natural Resources and Water, 80 Meiers Road, Indooroopilly, Qld 4068, Australia.

B Plant Science, Queensland Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries, PO Box 23, Kingaroy, Qld 4610, Australia.

C Corresponding author. Email: grant.pu@nrw.qld.gov.au

Australian Journal of Soil Research 46(8) 703-709 https://doi.org/10.1071/SR08127
Submitted: 13 November 2007  Accepted: 1 August 2008   Published: 2 December 2008

Abstract

The fate of nitrogen (N) applied in biosolids was investigated in a forage production system on an alluvial clay loam soil in south-eastern Queensland, Australia. Biosolids were applied in October 2002 at rates of 6, 12, 36, and 54 dry t/ha for aerobically digested biosolids (AE) and 8, 16, 48, and 72 dry t/ha for anaerobically digested biosolids (AN). Rates were based on multiples of the Nitrogen Limited Biosolids Application rate (0.5, 1, 3, and 4.5NLBAR) for each type of biosolid. The experiment included an unfertilised control and a fertilised control that received multiple applications of synthetic fertiliser. Forage sorghum was planted 1 week after biosolids application and harvested 4 times between December 2002 and May 2003. Dry matter production was significantly greater from the biosolids-treated plots (21–27 t/ha) than from the unfertilised (16 t/ha) and fertilised (18 t/ha) controls. The harvested plant material removed an extra 148–488 kg N from the biosolids-treated plots. Partial N budgets were calculated for the 1NLBAR and 4.5NLBAR treatments for each biosolids type at the end of the crop season. Crop removal only accounted for 25–33% of the applied N in the 1NLBAR treatments and as low as 8–15% with 4.5NLBAR. Residual biosolids N was predominantly in the form of organic N (38–51% of applied biosolids N), although there was also a significant proportion (10–23%) as NO3-N, predominantly in the top 0.90 m of the soil profile. From 12 to 29% of applied N was unaccounted for, and presumed to be lost as gaseous nitrogen and/or ammonia, as a consequence of volatilisation or denitrification, respectively. In-season mineralisation of organic N in biosolids was 43–59% of the applied organic N, which was much greater than the 15% (AN)–25% (AE) expected, based on current NLBAR calculation methods. Excessive biosolids application produced little additional biomass but led to high soil mineral N concentrations that were vulnerable to multiple loss pathways. Queensland Guidelines need to account for higher rates of mineralisation and losses via denitrification and volatilisation and should therefore encourage lower application rates to achieve optimal plant growth and minimise the potential for detrimental impacts on the environment.

Additional keywords: mineralisation, denitrification, ammonia volatilisation, leaching.


Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge the field assistance of Mr Gary Harch and that of Mr Allan Jeffery and Ms Teresa Cokley for conducting soil and plant analyses. This biosolids research was conducted as part of the National Biosolids Research Project, with additional financial support from the former South East Queensland Regional Organisation of Councils (SEQROC) and the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR). Acknowledgement is also given to Dr Phil Moody for reviewing the manuscript.


References


Adegbidi HG, Briggs RD (2003) Nitrogen mineralization of sewage sludge and composted poultry manure applied to willow in a greenhouse experiment. Biomass and Bioenergy 25, 665–673.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | CAS | open url image1

Barry G , Stokes J , Bell MJ , Pritchard D , Pu G (2004) Crop responses from biosolids applications across states. In ‘Biosolids Specialty II Conference’. Sydney, 2–3 June 2004. (CD-ROM Conference Proceedings, ISBN: 0-908255-62-4)

Bell MJ , Barry G , Pu G (2004) Mineralisation of N from biosolids and the adequacy of the assumptions in the current NLBAR calculations. In ‘Biosolids Specialty II Conference’. Sydney 2–3 June 2004. (CD-ROM Conference Proceedings, ISBN: 0-908255-62-4)

Bergkvist P, Jarvis N, Berggren D, Carlgren K (2003) Long-term effects of sewage sludge applications on soil properties, cadmium availability and distribution in arable soil. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment 97, 167–179.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | CAS | open url image1

Binder DL, Dobermann A, Sander DH, Cassman KG (2002) Biosolids as nitrogen source for irrigated maize and rainfed sorghum. Soil Science Society of America Journal 66, 531–543.
|  CAS |
open url image1

Bremner JM (1996) Nitrogen–total. In ‘Methods of soil analysis: chemical methods. Part 3’. (Eds AL Page et al.) pp. 1085–1121. (Soil Science Society of America and American Society of Agronomy: Madison, WI)

Breuer L, Kiese R, Butterbach-Bahl K (2002) Temperature and moisture effects on nitrification rates in tropical rain-forest soils. Soil Science Society of America Journal 66, 834–844.
|  CAS |
open url image1

Britto DT, Kronzucker HJ (2002) NH4 + toxicity in higher plants: a critical review. Journal of Plant Physiology 159, 567–584.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | CAS | open url image1

Cogger CG, Bary AI, Fransen SC, Sullivan DM (2001) Seven years of biosolids versus inorganic nitrogen application to tall fescue. Journal of Environmental Quality 30, 2188–2194.
|  CAS | PubMed |
open url image1

Cogger CG, Sullivan DM, Bary AI, Fransen SC (1999) Nitrogen recovery from heat-dried and dewatered biosolids applied to forage grasses. Journal of Environmental Quality 28, 754–759.
|  CAS |
open url image1

Constable GA, Rochester IJ (1988) Nitrogen application to cotton on clay soil: Timing and soil testing. Agronomy Journal 80, 498–502. open url image1

Crecchio C, Curci M, Pizzigallo M, Ricciuti P, Ruggiero P (2004) Effects of municipal solid waste compost amendments on soil enzyme activities and bacterial genetic diversity. Soil Biology & Biochemistry 36, 1595–1605.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | CAS | open url image1

Dalal RC, Eberhard R, Grantham T, Mayer DG (2003) Application of sustainability indicators, soil organic matter and electrical conductivity, to resource management in the northern grains region. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 43, 253–259.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Elliott HA, O’Connor GA, Brinton S (2002) Phosphorus leaching from biosolids-amended sandy soils. Journal of Environmental Quality 31, 681–689.
|  CAS | PubMed |
open url image1

Epstein E (2003) ‘Land application of sewage sludge and biosolids.’ (Lewis Publishers: Boca Raton, FL)

Eriksen GN, Coale FJ, Bollero GA (1999) Soil nitrogen dynamics and maize production in municipal solid waste amended soil. Agronomy Journal 91, 1009–1016. open url image1

Green CJ, Blackmer AM (1995) Residue decomposition effects on nitrogen availability to corn following corn or soybean. Soil Science Society of America Journal 59, 1065–1070.
|  CAS |
open url image1

Haynes RJ, Dominy CS, Graham MH (2003) Effect of agricultural land use on soil organic matter status and the composition of earthworm communities in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment 95, 453–464.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

He ZL, Calvert DV, Alva AK, Li YC, Stoffella PJ, Banks DJ (2003) Nitrogen transformation and ammonia volatilization from biosolids and compost applied to calcareous soil. Compost Science & Utilization 11, 81–88. open url image1

Henry C , Sullivan D , Rynk R , Dorsey K , Cogger C (1999) ‘Managing N from biosolids.’ (University of Washington: Pullman, WA)

Hseu ZY, Huang CC (2005) Nitrogen mineralization potentials in three tropical soils treated with biosolids. Chemosphere 59, 447–454.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | CAS | PubMed | open url image1

Isbell RF (1996) ‘The Australian Soil Classification.’ (CSIRO Publishing: Collingwood, Vic.)

Lee RB (1979) The effect of nitrite on root growth of barley and maize. New Phytologist 83, 615–622.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | CAS | open url image1

Leifeld J, Siebert S, Kogel-Knabner I (2002) Biological activity and organic matter mineralization of soils amended with biowaste compost. Journal of Plant Nutrition and Soil Science 165, 151–159.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | CAS | open url image1

Mendoza C, Assadian NW, Lindemann W (2006) The fate of nitrogen in a moderately alkaline and calcareous soil amended with biosolids and urea. Chemosphere 63, 1933–1941.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | CAS | PubMed | open url image1

Meyer VF, Redente EF, Barbarick KA, Brobst RB, Paschke MW, Miller AL (2004) Plant and soil responses to biosolids application following forest fire. Journal of Environmental Quality 33, 873–881.
|  CAS | PubMed |
open url image1

NSW EPA (1997) ‘Environmental guidelines: use & disposal of biosolids products.’ (NSW Environment Protection Authority: Sydney)

Oke OL (1966) Nitrite toxicity to plants. Nature 212, 528.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | CAS | open url image1

Pu G, Saffigna PG, Strong WM, Doughton J (2001) Denitrification and immobilisation of applied 15N following legume and grass pastures in a semi-arid climate in Australia. Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems 59, 199–207.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

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

Robinson NB, Röper H (2003) Volatilisation of nitrogen from land applied biosolids. Australian Journal of Soil Research 41, 711–716.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | CAS | open url image1

Salt M , Hird C , Bamforth I (1996) Assessment of biosolids application rates, degree of incorporation and movement of mineral nitrogen in biosolids treated plots. In ‘Biosolids research in NSW.’ (Eds GJ Osborne, RL Parkin, DL Michalk, AM Grieve) pp. 18–28. (NSW Agriculture Organic Waste Recycling Unit: Sydney)

Sierra J, Marbán L (2000) Nitrogen mineralization pattern of an Oxisol of Guadeloupe, French West Indies. Soil Science Society of America Journal 64, 2002–2010.
|  CAS |
open url image1

Vieira RF, Maia AHN, Teixeira MA (2005) Inorganic nitrogen in a tropical soil with frequent amendments of sewage sludge. Biology and Fertility of Soils 41, 273–279.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | CAS | open url image1