Safe Utilization of Municipal Sewage Sludge in Agriculture and Forestry

Abstract:

Municipal sewage sludge has been increasingly produced in China with the development of municipal wastewater treatment. The use of sewage sludge as a fertilizer and soil amendment has resulted in high concentrations of heavy metals in the soil and food limiting its use. Controlling the pollution of heavy metals is the key factor to realize the safe utilization of sewage sludge. The present study was carried out to find scientific basis to the appropriate sludge applications in agriculture and forestry. Pilot experiments in Eucalyptus forest showed that the total yield and nutrient amount of P. hydridum were significantly higher than A. marorrhiza, the annual average yield in dry weight and total nutrient amount of P. hydridum were 21.32 thm^-2 and 1248.2 kghm^-2, respectively, 9.18 times and 3.58 times that of A. marorrhiza, so P. hydridum were more suitable to be the converting plant from sludge to biochar or organic fertilizer. After plants treatment, the maturity of sludge increased significantly, water content and soluble heavy metals decreased obviously, so that the agricultural safety increased, and the all indicators were conformed to the sludge requirements for agricultural use. In addition, the Eucalyptus trees grow well with a large spread of sewage sludge. Nutrient contents of Eucalyptus forestland soil increased and heavy metal contents of the topsoil beneath the sludge did not significantly increase.

• Periodical: Applied Mechanics and Materials (Volume 768)
• Pages: 542-552
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMM.768.542
• Online since: June 2015
• Authors: Liang Hei*, Hui Wang, Qi Tang Wu, Wei Peng Yu
• Keywords: Heavy Metals, Municipal Sewage Sludge, Plant Treatment, Red Soils, Safe Utilization

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