SAES-422 Multistate Research Activity Accomplishments Report

Status: Approved

Basic Information

Participants

Ken Barbarick, Colorado State University, Ken.Barbarick@coloState.edu;Nick Basta, Ohio State University, basta.4@osu.edu;Bob Brobst, USEPA, Brobst.bob@epa.gov;Sally Brown, U WA, slb@u.washington.edu; Andrew Chang, UC Riverside, Andrew.chang@UCR.edu;Albert Cox, MWRD-Chicago, coxa@mwrd.org;W. Lee Daniels, VA Tech, wdaniels@vt.edu;Chip Elliott, Penn State, hae1@psu.edu;Greg Evanylo, VA Tech, gevanylo@vt.edu;Thomas Granato, MWRDGC, thomas.granato@mwrdgc.dst.il.us ;Stan Henning, Iowa State University, sjhenning@iastate.edu;Ganga Hettiarachchi, Kansas State University, ganga@ksu.edu;N.V. Hue, University of Hawaii, nvhue@hawaii.edu;Kokoasse Kpomblekdu-A, Tuskegee University, KKA@Tuskegee.edu;Shiou Kuo, Washington State University, Skuo@wsu.edu;George O'Connor, University Florida, GAO@UFL.edu;Al Page, UC Riverside, albert.page@ucr.edu;Tony Palazzo, ERDC-CCREL, apalazzo@crrel.usace.army.mil;;Kirk Scheckel, USEPA, Scheckel.Kirk@epa.gov;Paul Schwab, Purdue University, pschwab@purdue.edu;John Sloan, Texas A&M Univ - Dallas, j-sloan@tamu.edu;Lee Sommers, Colorado State University, Lee.Sommers@colostate.edu;Rick Stehouwer, Penn State University, rcs15@psu.edu;Dan Sullivan, Oregon State, Dan.Sullivan@oregonstate.edu;Ed Topp, Agriculture & Agi-food Canada , toppe@agri.gc.ca;Hailin Zhang, Oklahoma State Univ, hailin.zhang@okstate.edu

George O'Connor - mentioned Mike Myers has a request to the group for assistance in reviewing a Technical Practice Update on Microconstituents Bob Brobst - (1) gave EPA update on the molybdenum standard. EPA still needs data on fate and transport, concentration, human endpoints, ecological endpoints. He requested that individuals should send available references to him and he will ensure that they get into literature review. He will need this by mid February 2008. Unpublished data is OK also. For each reference, we should indicate what important points should be drawn from the articles. Bob will send a letter to explain the request. EPA would run new data in the probalistic model. (2) The effort on PCPs involved only an inventory on what was present in biosolids. Bob thinks that this list will be high priority timeline. One task is to evaluate the various methods to select a recommended EPA method (3) Bob will mail out copies of report within the next two weeks. Ian Pepper - (1) National survey of pathogen and indicators will be completed summer 2008. Pathogen counts are down since Part 503. (2) Where is EPA going with biosolids in light of hot issues in various states? Evaluate every 3 years, but not involved in issues. Method is available from WERF for download. Support for Work on Biosolids - it was noted that EPA continued funding for biosolids is not available. Trace organics are becoming important. Mention was made on Halden's presentation on the safety of the land application practice. Nick Basta - Toledo Study - (1) Ohio water environment association asked OSU for advise on how to approach the addressing the potential long-term impact of this report. Nick mentioned that this article is the most distributed article of that journal. (2) Nick is requesting reviewers to comment on the outcome of the study. Nick thinks that this will lead to more incineration in the state. A thorough review and comment on this paper might need expertise beyond that of the W-1170 group. Andrew mentioned that he thinks that Marilyn Yates should assist with review. We should inform Nick of anyone from our institution that we would like to suggest as reviewer. It was suggested that we should consider bringing this up at some other time. 2009 Meeting Venue - Sally Brown suggested meeting in conjunction with either the NWBMA (September)or NEBRA meetings. George thinks that the National Water of Quality Conference is good. Greg suggest that the venue rotate among member states. 2009 meeting will be held in Las Vegas from January 18-20.

Accomplishments

Objective 1: Evaluate the risk-based effects of residual application to uncontaminated (e.g. baseline) soils on chemistry, bioavailability, and toxicity of nutrients and contaminants In Virginia, lime stabilized biosolids were employed in a large mine soil reconstruction project (16 plots, 0.5 ha each) in central Virginia designed to evaluate soil reconstruction strategies for prime farmlands disturbed by mineral sands mining. The experiment was constructed in the fall of 2004. Treatments include (1) a fertilized and limed control on mine tailings without topsoil, (2) 15 cm of topsoil returned over limed and P-fertilized tailings, (3) 78 Mg/ha lime stabilized biosolids incorporated into tailings with conventional tillage management, and (4) 78 Mg/ha biosolids incorporated into tailings with minimum tillage management. First-year row crop yields (Zea mays) from 2005 indicated that 78 Mg/ha biosolids combined with deep tillage treatments was superior to topsoil (15 cm) return, but produced significantly lower yields than nearby parallel plots on undisturbed prime farmland soil. However, corn yields on the biosolids treatments exceeded long-term county (Dinwiddie and Sussex Co.) average yields by 20%. In 2007, the experiment was again cropped to corn, but no N was added to the biosolids plots in an effort to estimate long-term residual N supply. Fertilizer N was applied to the control and topsoil plots and they were significantly higher (50%) in corn yield in 2007 than the biosolids treatments. Mine soils equaled or exceeded long-term county average yields for both corn and wheat in 2005 and 2006 through application and incorporation of the biosolids. Water treatment plants in Iowa that use calcium oxide or calcium hydroxide produce water-treatment lime sludge that is mostly calcium carbonate combined with very small amounts of grit. Methods used to evaluate the effective calcium carbonate equivalent (ECCE) values needed to determine acid neutralization potential rely on drying before sieve and chemical analyses. Although chemical analysis is very reproducible, sieve analyses are not and often dominated by the greater than 60-mesh fraction. This lowers the ECCE-value and actually results in over-liming acid soils such that soil pHs increase above target values. A method of sample preparation prior to sieve analysis was tested that would be equally applicable to crushed, quarried limestone and water-treatment lime sludge. Shaking 100-gram lime samples from either water treatment or quarry source with 500 mL of water in a one-liter wide-mouth poly bottle resulted in constant but much greater ECCE values for the lime sludge. Values for ECCEs of quarried lime samples remained equal to those obtained by conventional sieve procedures that simply washed 100-gram samples on nested sieves for two minutes. Past applications of arsenical pesticides might have resulted in elevated levels of arsenic (As) in surface soils of many former sugarcane lands in Hawaii. This hypothesis was tested by measuring total As in 28 Hawaii soils, representing 5 soil orders: Andisols (mainly on the island of Hawaii, mostly sugarcane), Oxisols and Ultisols (Kauai, Maui, and Oahu Islands, sugarcane), and Inceptisols (Kauai, lowland areas, mostly taro), Mollisols/Vertisols (Oahu, mostly vegetables, pasture). Total As averages 124, 70, 63, 24, 22 mg Kg-1, for the 5 above-mentioned soil orders, respectively. On the other hand, bioaccessible As, as extracted with HCl, pH 1.5 at 37 oC, accounts for only 5 to 20 % total soil As. Next, an Andisol containing approximately 450 mg As kg-1 was used for chemical evaluations: (a) Adding phosphate fertilizer (50  450 mg P kg 1) released more (nearly double) As into the soil solution, (b) Adding colloidal Fe(OH)3 (0.5  3% by weight) decreased bioaccessible As by half. Risk assessment in California is used for examining the potential harms of toxic trace elements accumulation in cropland soils through fertilizer application and setting safe levels for toxic elements present in fertilizers. In this regard, the solid-solution partition coefficient, Kd, and plant uptake factor, PUF, are employed to depict the fate and transport of trace elements in the cropland soils. Both are linear transfer coefficients for steady state conditions. The trustworthiness of risk assessments depends on the reliability of the parameters used. In this study, Kd and PUF were examined for As, Cd and Pb based on soils and plant tissues obtained from 70 crop production fields in California. California participated in a nationwide survey of trace elements in cropland soils conducted by the Soil Survey, Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA. (data provided by R. L. Chaney, USDA  ARS). No single consistent Kd and PUF exists for cropland soils. Instead, the Kd and PUF for cropland soils are probabilistic in nature and follow log-normal distributions. In Colorado, A soil P fractionation study where biosolids had been added for 20 years to a dryland wheat-fallow agroecosystem showed that the Fe oxide-P fraction dominated the surface soil. The addition of ferric sulfate to the biosolids digester to reduce hydrogen sulfide emissions caused this effect. Subsoil P was primarily in a Ca-P phase because the subsoil was calcareous. The long-term (residual) value of biosolids-borne P has been the subject of continued study in Florida. Initial greenhouse studies (4 months of growth) involved Bahia grass grown in columns (15 X 45 cm) of a P-deficient Spodosol amended with a variety of biosolids at multiple rates. The initial studies were continued for an additional 14 months to access long-term bioavailability. Biosolids-P phytoavailability is being compared to fertilizer-P phytoavailability (relative P phytoavailability  RPP). The 12th, and final, harvest was recently obtained, and analysis of plant tissue and soil is underway. Preliminary results suggest that long-term relative biosolids-P bioavailability is similar to that accessed in short-term studies, but mass balance has not been confirmed as yet so definitive statements cannot be made. Additional greenhouse studies (pots) with a high and a moderate soluble P biosolids amended at P-based and N-based rates and cropped repeatedly, confirmed expected differences in RPP. The same materials and rates were used in a field study, and field-measured RPP values were consistent with greenhouse values. In general, conventionally produced biosolids have P phytoavailabilities only about 40% of fertilizer-P, and biosolids with high (e 4-5%) total Fe + Al concentrations have even lower (~25%) relative phytoavailabilities. Biosolids produced via biological P removal (BPR) processes, however, have short- and long-term phytoavailabilities that mimic fertilizer-P. Research in Washington in the past year has focused on developing a broader understanding of the effect of municipal biosolids application on ecosystem function for both disturbed and natural systems. The effect of both agronomic and high loading rates of biosolids was tested for effects on nitrogen fixation in red alder. Nitrogen fixation increased with biosolids application in comparison to conventional fertilizer addition. This was potentially the result of a significantly higher growth rate which subsequently increased N demand. High application of historic, high metal biosolids also did not decrease N fixation in comparison to either control soil or soil amended with high rates of biosolids compost. In contaminated systems, different types of limestone as well as different rates of carbonaceous materials have been used to optimize both neutralization of subsoil acidity and encourage establishment of a native plant community. Highly reactive limestone in combination with biosolids was able to increase the pH of high metal, acidic mine tailings in subsurface horizons in a greenhouse study. In a field study, conducted on the same tailings deposit in Leadville, CO where tailings were collected for the greenhouse study, adding woody debris to biosolids to bring the amendment C:N ratio to 30:1 increased species diversity. In a study in Ohio, Pb was sorbed to a model soil mineral, birnessite, and was placed in a simulated gastrointestinal tract (in vitro) to simulate the possible effects of ingestion of a soil contaminated with Pb. The changes in Pb speciation were determined using extended X-ray absorption fine structure and X-ray absorption near edge spectroscopy. Birnessite has a very high affinity for Pb with a sorption maximum of 0.59 mol Pb kg-1 (approximately 12% Pb sorbed by mass) in which there was no detectable bioaccessible Pb (<0.002%). Surface speciation of the birnessite Pb was determined to be a triple corner sharing complex in the birnessite interlayer. Lead sorbed to Mn oxide in contaminated media will have a very low (»0) Pb bioaccessibility and present little risk associated with incidental ingestion of soil. These results suggest that birnessite and other Mn oxides would be powerful remediation tools for Pb-contaminated media because of their high affinity for Pb. In Illinois in January 2007, a pilot project was started at the District's John E. Egan water reclamation plant in which the treatment was dosed with 38% ferric chloride (3.3gal/hr/MGD) to attain a target effluent concentration of 0.5 mg P L-1. Centrifuge cake biosolids were collected before (Pre) and following (Post) the start of ferric chloride treatment to evaluate the impact of chemical P removal of the chemistry and phytoavailability of biosolids P. An Immokalee sand was amended the Pre and Post ferric chloride biosolids and triple superphosphate fertilizer P (TSP) at five total P rates. The treated soils were moistened, left to equilibrate and then placed in pots in the greenhouse. Ryegrass (Lolium perene.var. Pleasure) was grown in the pots and the foliage clipped every 30 days and allowed to regrow. The chemical P removal process decreased biosolids total P content from 23.3 g kg-1 to 32 g kg-1, but decreased water-extractable P (WSP) from 11.7 g kg-1 to 8.2 g kg-1. The magnitude of the response slope for Mehlich 3 extractable soil P to total P applied was 0.78,0.48, and 0.29 for the TSP, Pre, and Post P sources, respectively. For WSP magnitude of the response slope was 0.33, 0.04, and 0.02 for the TSP, Pre, and Post P sources, respectively. In the first foliage harvest, plant P uptake response to total P rate, used as an index of P phytoavailability, was in the order TSP»Pre>Post. The data collected from this study so far, indicate that although the chemical P removal process increase total P content of biosolids, it decreased the extractability and phytoavailability of the chemical removal biosolids. Objective 2: Evaluate the ability of in situ treatment of contaminated soil with residuals to reduce chemical contaminant bioavailability and reduce toxicity Essential amino acids used in human food production and livestock and poultry rations are produced by fermentation processes. They are purified by ion exchange technologies. The exchange media itself is flushed of amino acid and regenerated with anhydrous ammonia and either hydrochloric or sulfuric acid. After regeneration, another flushing is done that yields ammonium chloride or sulfate, respectively. The second flushing is transferred to a storage tank with spent fermentation broth. This by-product material has agronomic value as nitrogen fertilizer for corn and grass hay lands. When using either by-product as the sole nitrogen source for a crop, chloride or sulfate applications far exceed crop needs. A field study in Iowa supplied a constant amount of nitrogen to a corn crop with mixtures of conventional 28 percent nitrogen solution (composed of urea and ammonium nitrate-UAN) with various amounts of a by-product. Soil and plant analyses were conducted as the corn crop grew. Yield data and corn stalk tissue were collected at harvest. An analysis of corn grain yields indicated that increasing the amount of either chloride or sulfate did not affect the amount of grain harvested. Electrical conductivity of soil samples collected at pollination for the various treatments showed significantly greater values than pre-application and post-harvest samplings. A field research project began in the spring of 1998 with the application of water treatment residuals (WTR) to two field sites having high to very high soil test P levels. WTR was applied to two additional high STP sites each year in the springs of 1999 and 2000. Crops and soils were monitored for five years and surface soils sampled at each site from 1998 through 2004, and analyses were completed in 2007. The applied WTR reduced water soluble P and Bray P1 in soil, but neither plant dry matter yields nor P concentrations in plant diagnostic tissue samples were reduced at any of the six sites. Phosphorus concentrations in corn and soybean, sampled from the six sites during this study, were within sufficiency range irrespective of WTR rate applied. Concentrations of other plant nutrients were also not significantly affected by the applied WTR and fell within the normal range of values for corn and soybean plant tissue. Beginning in 1977, Michigan researchers repeatedly applied sewage sludges with high concentrations of heavy metals at three rates (plus an untreated control) for 10 years. Concentrations of several heavy metals (Zn, Ni, Pb, Cu, Cr, and Cd) in soils were significantly increased by 1986 with repeated sewage sludge applications. These treatments increased bioavailable Zn on one set of replicated plots to phytotoxic levels for various crops grown between 1986 and 2007. Zinc toxicity reduced the yield of crops grown for over 20 years (between 1986 and 2007). A followup study in Michigan to investigate the use of industrial wastes as amendments to reduce bioavailability of Zn was initiated in 2007. Evaluation of Fe-rich residuals and flue gas desulfurization (FGD) ash was proposed for land application to these metal-impacted plots to stabilize the excessive Zn and reduce the phytoavailability. However, only FGD was able to be land applied for the 2007 growing period. Following the FGD application, soybeans were planted. Yield of soybean in FGD-treated soils was greater than in untreated Zn-impacted plots. The surface soil (0-15 cm), and soybean diagnostic leaf and grain samples were also taken in 2007 for analysis. Field experiments in Pennsylvania were continued in three locations comparing natural topsoil with manufactured soils containing spent foundry sand, composted organic materials, and high clay subsoil. In the first two years of growth, ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) was better on manufactured soils than on natural topsoils. Trace elements in ryegrass tissue from manufactured soils were less than or not different from those grown in natural soil. Leaching losses of nutrients from manufactured soils were not greater than from natural topsoils. Leachate trace element concentrations were very low for all elements analyzed, and no significant differences could be measured between manufactured soils and natural soils. No phenolic or PAH compounds were detected in any leachates. 2007 was the second year of a field experiment investigating the potential for use of composted or fresh poultry layer manure for mine reclamation and bioenergy production. Five reclamation treatments were applied to an abandoned coal mine site: conventional (lime plus fertilizer), composted layer manure (67 and 135 Mg/ha) and fresh manure (at an N equivalent to the lower compost application) plus paper mill sludge to adjust C:N ratio to 20:1 and 40:1, and the experiment was planted with switchgrass and annual ryegrass. Abundant ryegrass growth impeded switchgrass establishment in year one, but mowing and re-seeding resulted in some switchgrass establishment in year two. Soil carbon accumulation and nitrate leaching was greatest in paper mill sludge plots. A field study was conducted to evaluate the ability of buffer strips enhanced with drinking water treatment residuals (WTRs) to control runoff P losses from surface-applied biosolids characterized by high water extractable P (4 g/kg). Simulated rainfall (62.4 mm/hr) was applied to grassed plots (3 m ´ 10.7 m including a 2.67 m downslope buffer) surface amended with biosolids at 102 kg P/ha until 30 min of runoff was collected. With buffer strips top-dressed with WTR (20 Mg/ha), runoff total P (TP = 2.5 mg/L) and total DP (TDP = 1.9 mg/L) were not statistically lower (a = 0.05) compared to plots with unamended grass buffers (TP = 2.7 mg/L; TDP = 2.6 mg/L). Although the applied WTR had excess capacity (Langmuir P maxima of 25 g P/kg) to sorb all runoff P, kinetic experiments suggest that sheet flow travel time across the buffers (~30 sec) was insufficient for significant P reduction. The effects of different biosolids rates (0 to 11.2 Mg ha-1 per application) over 12 years on the soil extractability of P, Zn, Cu, and Fe with ammonium bicarbonate-DTPA within a dryland wheat-fallow agroecosystem in Colorado. Several regression models were compared. The best prediction occurred with models that include the total elemental amount added plus the number of applications. Graphically, this model represents a planar regression. Numerous studies in Florida, including lab, greenhouse, rainfall simulations, and field studies, confirm the effectiveness of an Al-WTR in reducing the off-site loss of P from all P-sources without detrimental effects on pasture grass yields. Tissue P concentrations remained adequate if WTR rates were d 1% by weight (~22 Mg ha-1). There was no Al accumulation in plant tissue in WTR-amended soils, either in greenhouse or field studies. Cooperative work with Animal Science colleagues confirmed a lack of Al toxicity (induced P deficiency) in sheep (feeding study, 15% by weight of diet = WTR) and in cattle grazing fields amended with up to ~75 Mg WTR ha-1 over two years. A field study on a Florida Spodosol documented that the Al-WTR reduced P leaching (shallow groundwater wells) without increasing water soluble Al concentrations and without causing Al phytotoxicities. The Al-WTR-immobilized P is essentially irreversibly bound, barring environmental conditions (pH < 4) that can destroy (dissolve) the WTR. The collective data clearly demonstrate that P risk assessment (P-Index determinations) should account for differences in P-source lability. With P-sources, or rates, expected to result in large off-site P losses, Al-WTR should be co-applied. There is minimal risk of the applied Al to plants grown, animals grazing the amended pastures, or water quality. Even N-based application rates of waste-P sources can be safely land-applied if sufficient WTR is applied. Applying P-sources and/or WTRs to attain a soil P storage capacity (oxalate extractable P/oxalate Fe + Al) of zero ensures adequate P for agronomic purposes and minimizes environmental risk. Laboratory bioassays and soil chemical analyses were performed on Ohio soils that received a one-time application of biosolids in 1992. Field plots at Ohio State University's Waterman farm in Columbus, OH, were established by Dr. Terry Logan. The experimental design featured 10 rates of biosolids ranging 0 to 300 Mg/ha and 4 replications of each application rate. Results showed that trace element bioavailability to Lolium perenne (i.e., perennial ryegrass) and Eisenia andrei (i.e., earthworms) was low in the biosolids-treated soils. Biosolids increased soil Cd, Cr, Cu, Mo, Pb, and Zn content. Soil metal levels at the high biosolids application rate (300 Mg/ha) were well below the U.S. EPA Part 503 limits but were at or slightly above the Canadian regulatory limits. Biosolids application affects soil properties important in metal bioavailability to ecological receptors (i.e., soil pH, organic carbon content, reactive Fe oxide). Biosolids increased plant nutrients in soil including N, P, Fe, Cu, and Zn. Sustained increase of plant nutrients after 14 years shows this is a long-term benefit associated with land application of biosolids. Cd levels in earthworms (Lumbricus rubellus, L. terrestris) collected from the field plots were similar to those found in worms (Eisenia andrei) exposed to soils amended with biosolids (300 Mg/ha) at 56 days. A large proportion of biosolids produced at the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago is utilized to fertilize farmland in Cook and other nearby counties and as a soil amendment in the Chicago area. In 2004, the District obtained the cooperation of two farmers to start a research and demonstration project on a silty clay loam soil in Will County and a sandy soil in Kankakee County to showcase the environmental safety and economic benefits of fertilizing com with biosolids. Plots were established at both sites to compare the effects of centrifuge cake Class B biosolids (0 to 2 times the typical agronomic rates) and conventional nitrogen (N) fertilizer (0 to 1.5 times the typical agronomic rates) on soil, water, and corn yield. Lysimeters were installed in some of the plots to monitor the potential for vertical movement of biosolids-borne constituents in soil. The soil samples were collected before application of the treatments and at the end of the growing season from both sites and were analyzed for nutrients and trace metals. In general, a greater proportion of the total residual inorganic N was found in the soil profile in biosolids treatments as compared to fertilizer treatments with the exception of 370 lbs N ac-l treatment in the silty clay loam soil. More than 50 percent of the total inorganic N was present in the surface soil layer (0 to 15 cm) indicating that N movement in the silty clay loam soil profile was minimal. On the contrary, in the sandy soil about 50 to 70 percent of the total residual inorganic N in the higher fertilizer (1 to 1.5 times the agronomic rate) and biosolids treatments (1.5 to 2 times agronomic rate) was found in the 60 to 120 cm layer. Except for Cu and Zn, the concentrations of trace metals in soil did not increase due to application of biosolids. Objective 3: Predict the long-term bioavailability and toxicity of nutrients, trace elements, and organic constituents in residual-amended agricultural and contaminated soils. Phytoavailability of P, B, and trace elements from alkaline-stabilized East Lansing (Michigan) biosolids cake N-Viro soil (ELNVS) and swine manure NureSoil (SNS) was investigated in this four year field study. The ELNVS and SNS were surface applied once (in fall 2001) at three rates each to a sandy loam soil. A treatment that received no amendment was included as control. The plot was split into two equal subplots and cropped with field corn (Zea mays L.) and soybeans (Glycine max L.) in the 2002, 2003 and 2004 growing seasons. Diagnostic leaf, grain, whole plant, and soil samples were taken each year. Analysis of plant and soil samples was completed in 2007. The SNS was shown to be a P-source, while the ELNVS was a P-sink, showing reduced P phytoavailability at the high rate. Medium and high rates of the ELNVS also raised soil B to phytotoxic levels, but the excessive soil B leached out within two years to values below 5 mg kg-1 hot water B, which is considered to be a critical phytotoxic level. Neither the ELNVS nor the SNS treatments showed any negative impact on the phytoavailability of soil micronutrients studied, and these amendments had minimal impact on trace and heavy metal accumulation in these two crops. A new fermentation process producing certain organic acids yields a highly acidic biomass-rich by-product that must be neutralized to a pH of 2 with caustic soda to enable general Iowa Department of Transportation approved liquid transport to a compost facility. This by-product contains spent fermentation residues that include proprietary microorganisms. Composting provides a cost effective means to destroy the microorganisms. This resulting compost contains significant amounts of sodium. Early attempts that used the compost in landscaping projects resulted in complete failure of grass seed germination on sports fields. This study was initiated to determine what application rates could be used and if adequate rainfall or irrigation would eventually correct the salinity problem created by the use of this compost. In a bench study, compost was applied at rates up to ten percent of the weight of the soil used. Chemical measurements were directly related to application rates and reduced with sequential leaching from saturated pastes. Biological conversion of organic nitrogen to ammonium nitrogen was nearly proportional to all application rates. Nitrate nitrogen content likewise increased with compost application rate two percent application rate. Beyond this rate, nitrate nitrogen release in the soil was nearly nil. Studies in southern California have shown that physical and chemical properties of soils may be significantly changed when they are subjected to long-term reclaimed water irrigation. However, it remains unclear how reclaimed water may affect the soil enzyme activities involved in the cycling of nutrients in soils. In this study, 17 soil enzymes including those associated with the C, N, P, and S cycles and two oxidoreductases (catalase and dehydrogenase) were assayed in soils obtained from five long-term reclaimed water irrigation sites in southern California. The soil enzyme activities varied widely with the sampling sites. Compared to their respective controls, the overall activities of enzymes involved in the cycling of the four elements in soil were enhanced by an average of 2.2- to 3.1-fold. Activities of catalase and dehydrogenase were enhanced by 1.8- and 7.2-fold, respectively. After long-term reclaimed water irrigation, soil enzyme activities were improved due to the biodegradable organic matter and nutrients added with reclaimed water. Principal component analysis and cluster analysis indicated that the soil microbial functional diversity may be evaluated based on activities of catalase, alkaline phosphatase, acid phosphatase, dehydrogenase and urease. A cooperative project between University of Florida, EPA, Proctor & Gamble, and UF (Fate of Triclocarban (TCC) in Biosolids-Amended Soils) continues. The effort was recently expanded to include another antimicrobial, triclosan (TCS), through funding provided by MWRDGC. Results of the analysis of ~20 biosolids indicate a representative mean TCC concentration of 20-25 mg kg-1 and about half that much for TCS. Mineralization of TCC in biosolids-amended soils was minimal (<4%) after 6 months of aerobic incubation. Although persistent, TCC appears to exist in a bound residue form in biosolids and biosolids-amended soils, and is expected to have minimal lability.

Impacts

  1. Phosphorus impacts on water quality are of national concern and are of special concern in FL where soils and hydrology allow easy P mobility through soils to ground and surface waters. Our work demonstrated that organic sources of P can be applied to vulnerable FL soils if managed appropriately. In particular, biosolids or manure applications need not be restricted to the very low rates (based on crop P requirements) to protect water quality.
  2. Remediation of contaminated soils is costly but use of soil amendments will be <1% of the cost for using current remediation methods. Risk from ingestion of contaminated soil must be reduced for the technology to be adopted. Our results show that Mn oxide soil amendments can sorb Pb strongly and reduce bioavailability and risk associated with ingestion of Mn oxide-treated-Pb-contaminated soil.
  3. Synthetic soils made from spent foundry sand and compost functioned as well as natural topsoil for turf grass growth and showed no evidence of adverse environmental impact from trace metals or nutrients.
  4. A new tool for estimating available nitrogen in organic farming, the Organic Fertilizer Calculator, was released for public use by OSU Extension. The Calculator is based on research conducted in Oregon and Washington and compares the cost, nutrient value and nitrogen availability of organic fertilizers. The Calculator assists organic farmers in choosing a fertilizer source and rate that supplies sufficient N, saving dollars and protecting groundwater quality.
  5. Colloid- (especially organic matter) facilitated transport has been hypothesized as a key mechanism for the leaching of heavy metals in biosolids to groundwater. Work in Virginia with entrenched dewatered biosolids is showing that heavy metals applied in high masses have been largely immobilized in the biosolids during the first year after application and are not leaching to any extent through coarse-textured media toward groundwater.

Publications

California Chang, Andrew C., Thomas Harter, John Letey, Deanne Meyer, Roland D. Meyer, Marsha Campbell Mathews, Frank Mitloehner, Stu Pettygrove, and Ruihong Zhang (University of California, Division of Agricultural and Natural Resources, Committee of Experts on Dairy Manure Management) 2007. Groundwater Quality Protection: Managing Dairy Manure in the Central Valley of California. University of California, Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources Publication 9004 (ISBN-13: 978-1-60107-447-8). 178pp. Chen W., N. Krage, A. C. Chang, L. Wu, A. L Page. 2007. Effect of Fertilizer Application on Trace Element Contents in Soils of Vegetable Production Region in California. Air, Water and Soil Pollution. (accepted) Chen W.P, L.Q. Li, A.C. Chang, L.S. Wu, S.I. Kwon and R. Bottoms. Modeling the uptake kinetics of cadmium by field-grown lettuce. Environmental Pollution. (Accepted: available online; 30 ms. pages). Chen W.P, L.Q. Li, A.C. Chang, L.S. Wu, S.I. Kwon and R. Bottoms. Cadmium uptake by lettuce in fields treated with Cd-spiked phosphorus fertilizers. Comm. Soil Sci. Plant Anal. Chen, W. P., A.C. Chang and L. S. Wu. 2007. Assessing long-term environmental risks of trace elements in phosphate fertilizers. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety. 67: 4858. Chen, W. P., A.C. Chang, L. S. Wu, L. Li, S. Kwon, and A. L. Page. 2007. Probability distribution of cadmium partitioning coefficients of cropland soils. Soil Science. 172 (2): 132-140. Chen, W., A. C. Chang, L. Wu, and Y.Zhang. 2007. Metal Uptake by Corn Grown on Media Treated with Particle-Size Fractionated Biosolids. Science of the Total Environment. (accepted) Chen, W., L. Wu, W. T. Frankenberger, Jr., and A. C Chang. 2007.Effect of Long-term Reclaimed Wastewater Irrigation on Soil Enzyme Activities. J. Environ. Qual. (accepted) Chen, W., N. Krage, L. Wu, G. Pan, M. Khosrivafard, A. C Chang, A. L Page. 2007. Arsenic, Cadmium, and Lead Concentrations of California Cropland Soils: Role of Fertilizers. J. Environ. Qual. (accepted) Chen, W., S. Haruta, L. Wu, J. Gan, J Simunek, A. C. Chang. 2007. Leaching Risk of N-Nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) in Soil Receiving Reclaimed Wasterwater. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety. (accepted) Escudey, M., J. E. Forster, J. P. Becerro, M. Quinteros, J. Torres, N. Arancibia, G. Galindo and A. C. Chang. 2007. Disposal of domestic sludge and sludge ash on volcanic soils. J. Hazardous Material B139:550  555. Molina, R.M., R.O. Fuentes, R.A. Calderón, M. Escudey, K.C. Avendaño, M.C. Gutiérrez, and A.C. Chang. Impact of forest fire ash on surface charge characteristics of andisols. Soil Science 172 (10): Seveira, M. L., A. C. Chang, L. R. F. Alleoni, G. A. OConnor, and R. Berton. 2007. Matel-associated ormsand speciations in biosolids amended oxisols. Comm. Soil Sci Plant Anal. 38:851-869. World Health Organization. 2007. WHO guidelines for the safe use of wastewater, excreta and greywater. v. 1. Policy and regulatory aspects, v. 2. Wastewater use in agriculture, v. 3. Wastewater and excreta use in aquaculture  v. 4. Excreta and greywater use in agriculture. World Health Organization (ISBN 92-4-154686-7). 702pp. (http://www.who.int/water_sanitation_health/wastewater/gsuww/en/index.html) Zhang, Yiqiang, W. T. Frankenberger, Jianhang Lu, Laosheng Wu, and A. C. Chang. 2007. Simultaneous Removal of Chlorothalonil and Nitrate by Bacillus cereus Strain NS1. Science of the Total Environment 382: 383  387 (R) Zhang, Yiqiang, Zahir A. Zahir, Christopher Amrhein, Andrew Chang, and W. T. Frankenberger. 2007. Application of redox mediator to accelerate selenate reduction of elemental selenium by Enterobactor taylorae. Agri. Food Chem 55:5714  5717 (R) Colorado Barbarick, K.A., and Ippolito, J.A. 2007. Nutrient assessment of a dryland agroecosystem after 12 years of biosolids application. Agron. J. 99:715-722. Barbarick, K.A., Ippolito, J.A., and Hansen, N.C. 2007. Biosolids application to no-till dryland crop rotations. Colorado Agricultural Experiment Station Technical Report. TR07-10. Ippolito, J., Barbarick, K.A., and Gourd, T. 2007. Application of anaerobically digested biosolids to dryland winter wheat. Colorado Agricultural Experiment Station Technical Report. TR07-12. Ippolito, J.A., Barbarick, K.A., and Norvell, K.L. 2007. Biosolids impact soil phosphorus accountability, fractionation, and potential environmental risk. J. Environ. Qual. 36:764-772. Florida Agyin-Birikorang, S., and G.A. OConnor. 2007. Lability of drinking-water treatment residuals (WTR) immobilized phosphorus: aging and pH effects. J. Environ. Qual. 36:1076-1085. Agyin-Birikorang, S., G.A. OConnor, and J.C. Bonzongo. 2007. Modeling solid phase control of drinking-water treatment residual (WTR) immobilized phosphorus solubility in soils. Commun. Soil Sci. Plt. Anal. (In press). Agyin-Birikorang, S., G.A. OConnor, L.W. Jacobs, K.C. Makris, and S.R. Brinton. 2007. Long-term P immobilization by a drinking water treatment residual. J. Environ. Qual. 36:316-323. Agyin-Birikorang, S., G.A. OConnor, O.O. Oladeji, T.A. Obreza, and J.C. Capeece. 2007. Drinking-water treatment (WTR) effects on the phosphorus status of field soils amended with biosolids, manure, and fertilizer. Commun. Soil Sci. Plt. Anal. (In press). Alleoni, R.F.L., S.R. Brinton, and G.A. OConnor. 2008. Runoff and leachate losses of phosphorus in a sandy Spodosol amended with biosolids. J. Environ. Qual. 37: (In press). Chinault, S.L., and G.A. OConnor. 2008. Phosphorus release from a biosolids-amended sandy Spodosol. J. Environ. Qual. 37:(In press). Elliott, H.A., and G.A. OConnor. 2007. Phosphorus management for sustainable biosolids recycling in the United States. Soil & Soil Biol. 39:1318-1327. Makris, K.C. and G.A. OConnor. 2007. Land application of drinking water treatment residuals as contaminant-mitigating agents. Pp609-636. In Sarkar, D., Datta, R., and Hannigan, R. (ed) Current Perspectives in Environmental Geochemistry. Elsevier, Amsterdam Oladeji, O.O., G.A. OConnor, and S.R. Brinton. 2007. Surface applied water treatment residuals affect bioavailable phosphorus losses in Florida sands. J. Environ. Mgt. 2007 Sep 12. Available online at http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j/envman.2007.08.001. Oladeji, O.O., G.A. OConnor, J.B. Sartain, and V.D. Nair. 2007 Controlled application rate of water treatment residual for agronomic and environmental benefits. J. Environ. Qual. 36:1715-1724. Oladeji, O.O., J.B. Sartain, and G.A. OConnor. 2007. Evaluation of soil test methods for Florida sand treated with different phosphorus sources and WTR. Commun. Soil Sci. Plt. Anal. (In press). Van Alstyne, R., L.R. McDowell, P.A. Davis, N.S. Wilkinson, and G.A. OConnor. 2007. Effects of an aluminum-water treatment residual on performance and mineral status of feeder lambs. Small Ruminant Res. 73:77-86. Illinois Granato, T.C. A. Khalique, and A. Cox. 2007. Assessment of radioactivity in Metropolitan Reclamation District of Greater Chicago biosolids and its transfer to soil and crops from term land application. WaterPractice: 1:1-12. Indiana Cofield N., Schwab A.P., Banks M.K. 2007. Phytoremediation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in soil: Part I.Dissipation of target contaminants. International Journal of Phytoremediation.9:355-370. Cofield N., Schwab A.P., Williams P., Banks M.K. 2007. Phytoremediation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in soil: Part II. Impact on ecotoxicity. International Journal of Phytoremediation. 9:371-384. Cofield, N., Banks, M.K., A.P. Schwab. 2007. Evaluation of hydrophobicity in PAH-contaminated soils during phytoremediation. Environmental Pollution. 145:60-67. Kang, D.H., Hong, L.Y., Schwab, A.P., and Banks, M.K. 2007. Removal of Prussian blue from soil in the rhizosphere of cyanogenic plants. Chemosphere 69:1492-1498. Lee, L.S., N. Carmosini, S.A. Sassman, H.M. Dion, and M.S. Sepulveda. 2007. Agricultural contributions of antimicrobials and hormones on soil and water quality. Adv. Agronomy 93:1-68. Liu J, Lee LS, L.F. Nies, C.H. Nakatsu, and R.F. Turco. 2007. Biotransformation of 8:2 fluorotelomer alcohol in soil and by soil bacteria isolates. Environ. Sci. Tech. 41:8024-8030. Liu, J.X., and L.S. Lee. 2007. Effect of fluorotelomer alcohol chain length on aqueous solubility and sorption by soils. Environ. Sci Techol. 41:5357-5362. Sassman, S.A., A.K. Sarmah, and L.S. Lee. 2007. Sorption of tylosin A, D and A-aldol and degradation of tylosin A in soils. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 26:1629-1635. Sassman, S.A., and L.S. Lee. 2007. Sorption and degradation in soils of veterinary ionophore antibiotics: monensin and lasalocid. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 26:1614-1621. Schwab, A.P., D. Zhu, and M.K. Banks. 2007. Heavy metal transport from mine tailings as affected by organic amendments. Bioresource Technology. 98:2935-2941. Smith, K.W., A.P. Schwab, and M.K. Banks. 2007. Phytoremediation of polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB)-contaminated sediment: a greenhouse feasibility study. J. Environ. Qual. 36:239-244. Von Kiparski, G.R., L.S. Lee, and A.R. Gillespie. Occurrence and fate of the phytotoxin juglone in alley soils under black walnut trees. J. Environ. Qual. 36:709-717. Michigan Jacobs, L.W. and O.O. Oladeji. 2007. Long term impact of aluminum water treatment residuals applied to P impacted soils on plants phosphorus and trace elements. In: 2007 Annual meeting abstracts [CD-ROM]. ASA, CSSA, SSSA, New Orleans, LA. Oladeji, O.O. and L.W. Jacobs. 2007. Phosphorus phytoavailability as affected by application of N-viro soil and NureSoil products to cropland. In: 2007 Annual meeting abstracts [CD-ROM]. ASA, CSSA, SSSA, New Orleans, LA. Ohio Basta, NT, J.N. Foster, E.A. Dayton, R.R. Rodriguez, and S.W. Casteel. 2007. The effect of dosing vehicle on arsenic bioaccessibility in smelter-contaminated soils. Invited manuscript for the special JEHS publication "Bioaccessibility and human bioavailability of soil contaminants." J. Environ. Health Sci. Part A. 42:1275-1281. Beak, Douglas G., Basta, Nicholas T., Scheckel, Kirk G., and Traina, Samuel J. 2008. Linking solid phase speciation of Pb sequestered to birnessite to Pb bioaccessibility and oral bioavailability. Environ. Sci. Technol. In press. Brown, S.L., H. Compton, and NT Basta. 2007. Field test of in situ soil amendments at the Tar Creek National Priorities List Superfund site. J. Environ. Qual. 36:1627-1634. Hurdzan, C.M. Basta, NT, Hatcher, P.G. and a.H. Tuovinen. 2008. Phenanthrene release from natural organic matter surrogates under simulated human gastrointestinal conditions. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety. In press. Hurdzan, C.M., NT Basta, P.G. Hatcher, and a.H. Tuovinen. 2007. Revised BECT 344 screening of human enteric microorganisms for potential biotransformation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. bulletin of environmental contamination and toxicology. 79:533-536. Meyers, S.K, S.P. Deng, NT. Basta, W.W. Clarkson ,and G.G. Wilber. 2007. Long-term explosive contamination in soil: Effects on soil microbial community and bioremediation. Soil and Sediment Contamination 16(1):61-77. Schroder, J.L., H. Zhang, D. Zhou, N. Basta, W.R. Raun, M.E. Payton, and A. Zazulak. 2008. The effect of long-term annual application of biosolids on soil properties, P, and metals. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. In press. Oregon Andrews, N. and J. Foster. 2007. Organic Fertilizer Calculator: A New Planning Tool for Comparing the Cost, Value and Nitrogen Availability of Organic Materials. Oregon State University Extension Publication EM 8936-E. Oregon State University. Corvallis, OR. http://smallfarms.oregonstate.edu/organic-fertilizer-calculator. Buamscha, M. G., J.E. Altland, D.M. 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Managing Salt-Affected Soils for Crop Production. PNW 601-E. Oregon State Univ. Extension Service. Corvallis, OR. Kleinman, P. D. Sullivan, A. Wolf, R. Brandt, Z. Dou, H. Elliott, J. Kovar, A. Leytem, R. Maguire, P. Moore, A. Sharpley, A. Shober, T. Sims, J. Toth, G. Toor, H. Zhang, T. Zhang. 2007. Selection of a water extractable phosphorus test for manures and biosolids as an indicator of runoff loss potential. J. Envir. Qual. 36:1357-1367. McQueen, J.P.G. 2007. Estimating the dry matter production, nitrogen requirements and yield of organic farm-grown potatoes. M.S. thesis, Oregon State University, Corvallis. Moberg, D., R. Johnson, and D. Sullivan. 2007. Cool Season Mineralization of Recalcitrant organic nitrogen in undisturbed cores of manured soils. p. 147-152. In: J. Hart (ed) Western Nutrient Management Conference Proceedings Vol. 7. Mar 8-9 2007. Salt Lake City, UT. Potash and Phosphate Institute, Brookings, SD. Sullivan, D.M. 2007. 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McCarty and R.L. Chaney. 2007. Biological aspects of metal waste reclamation with biosolids. J. Env. Qual. 36:1154-1162. Sukkariyah, B.F., G.K. Evanylo, and L.W. Zelazny. 2007. Distribution of copper, zinc, and phosphorus in coastal plain soils receiving repeated liquid biosolids applications. J. Environ. Qual. 36:1618-1626. Zhang, Xunzhong, Erik Ervin, Gregory Evanylo, and Kathryn Haering. 2007. Drought assessment of auxin-boosted biosolids. Proceedings of the WEF/AWWA Joint Residuals and Biosolids management Conference. pp. 150-165. Denver, CO. April 15. Washington JA Svendson, A., C. Henry, and S. Brown. 2007. Restoration of high zinc and lead tailings with municipal biosolids and lime: greenhouse study. J. Environ. Qual. In press. JA Brown, S., H. Compton and N. Basta. 2007. Field Test of In Situ Soil Amendments at the Tar Creek National Priorities List Superfund Site. J. Environ. Qual. In press. JA Brown, S., P. DeVolder, and C. Henry. 2007. Effect of amendment C:N ratio on plant diversity, cover and metal content for acidic Pb and Zn mine tailings in Leadville, CO. Environ. Pollution. In Press. JA Chaney, R.L., E. Filcheva, C.E. Green and S. L. Brown. 2006. Zn Deficiency Promotes Cd Accumulation by Lettuce from Biosolids Amended Soils with High Cd:Zn Ratio. J. Residuals Sci. Tech V3:2 JA Gaulke, L. S., C.L. Henry, and S. L. Brown. 2006. Nitrogen fixation and growth response of Alnus Rubra following fertiliztion with urea or biosolids. Sci. agric. (Piracicaba, Braz.), 63, 4:.361-369. ISSN 0103-9016. JA Gaulke, L. S., C.L. Henry, and S. L. Brown. 2006. Nitrogen fixation and growth response of Alnus rubra amended with low and high metal content biosolids. Sci. agric. (Piracicaba, Braz.), 63, 4:351-360. ISSN 0103-9016.
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