Use of sewage sludge, a biological residue produced from sewage treatment processes in agriculture is an alternative disposal technique of waste. To study the usefulness of sewage sludge amendment for palak (Beta vulgaris var. Allgreen H-1), a leafy vegetable and consequent heavy metal contamination, a pot experiment was conducted by mixing sewage sludge at 20% and 40% (w/w) amendment ratios to the agricultural soil. Soil pH decreased whereas electrical conductance, organic carbon, total N, available P and exchangeable Na, K and Ca increased in soil amended with sewage sludge in comparison to unamended soil. Sewage sludge amendment led to significant increase in Pb, Cr, Cd, Cu, Zn and Ni concentrations of soil. Cd concentration in soil was found above the Indian permissible limit in soil at both the amendment ratios.
The increased concentration of heavy metals in soil due to sewage sludge amendment led to increases in heavy metal uptake and shoot and root concentrations of Ni, Cd, Cu, Cr, Pb and Zn in plants as compared to those grown on unamended soil. Accumulation was more in roots than shoots for most of the heavy metals. Concentrations of Cd, Ni and Zn were more than the permissible limits of Indian standard in the edible portion of palak grown on different sewage sludge amendments ratios. Sewage sludge amendment in soil decreased root length, leaf area and root biomass of palak at both the amendment ratios, whereas shoot biomass and yield decreased significantly at 40% sludge amendment. Rate of photosynthesis, stomatal conductance and chlorophyll content decreased whereas lipid peroxidation, peroxidase activity and protein and proline contents, increased in plants grown in sewage sludge-amended soil as compared to those grown in unamended soil.
The study clearly shows that increase in heavy metal concentration in foliage of plants grown in sewage sludge-amended soil caused unfavorable changes in physiological and biochemical characteristics of plants leading to reductions in morphological characteristics, biomass accumulation and yield. The study concludes that sewage sludge amendment in soil for growing palak may not be a good option due to risk of contamination of Cd, Ni and Zn and also due to lowering of yield at higher mixing ratio. 相似文献
Previous work has shown that arsenic can accumulate in drinking water distribution system (DWDS) solids (Lytle et~al., 2004) when arsenic is present in the water. The release of arsenic back into the water through particulate transport and/or
chemical release (e.g. desorption, dissolution) could result in elevated arsenic levels at the consumers' tap. The primary
objective of this work was to examine the impact of pH and orthophosphate on the chemical release (i.e. desorption) of arsenic
from nine DWDS solids collected from utilities located in the Midwest. Arsenic release comparisons were based on the examination
of arsenic and other water quality parameters in leach water after contact with the solids over the course of 168~hours. Results
showed that arsenic was released from solids and suggested that arsenic release was a result of desorption rather than dissolution.
Arsenic release generally increased with increasing initial arsenic concentration in the solid and increasing pH levels (in
the test range of 7 to 9). Finally, orthophosphate (3 and 5 mg PO4/L) increased arsenic release at all pH values examined. Based on the study results, utilities with measurable levels of arsenic
present in their water should be aware that some water quality changes can cause arsenic release in the DWDS potentially resulting
in elevated levels at the consumer's tap. 相似文献