ABSTRACT: Accidents related to the rupture of iron ore tailings dams have dramatically impacted on the Brazilian natural ecosystem. So, the development of strategies to recover soil organic matter levels and build-up Technosols are required. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of N-mineral and -organic fertilization and the rhizospheric effect on soil organic matter mineralization from Technosols built under iron ore tailings. The experiment was carried out in a greenhouse; we used a factorial scheme 2 × 2 × […]

ABSTRACT The composition of organic waste (OW) and its effect on soil processes may change soil fertility and electrical conductivity (EC). The side effects of waste use in crop fertilization are poorly understood for Brazilian soils. This study examined the effect of the addition of 15 different organic wastes to Oxisols and a Neosol on pH, base saturation, EC, cation exchange capacity (CEC at pH 7), and the availability of Al, macro (P, K, Ca2+, Mg2+ and S) and micronutrients […]

ABSTRACT Biosolids have been produced by various stabilization processes of sewage sludge, but little attention has been given to the effects of such treatments on their effectiveness to supply nitrogen for plant growth. Here, we investigated these effects by cultivating Lolium perenne (ryegrass) in two Australian soils, a sandy Spodosol and a clayey Oxisol. Biosolids stabilized by either aerobic digestion, composting, CaO-liming, 250 oC heat-drying or solar irradiation of domestic sewage sludge were applied to soils at 10 increasing rates […]

There are currently many devices and techniques to quantify trace elements (TEs) in various matrices, but their efficacy is dependent on the digestion methods (DMs) employed in the opening of such matrices which, although “organic”, present inorganic components which are difficult to solubilize. This study was carried out to evaluate the recovery of Fe, Zn, Cr, Ni, Cd and Pb contents in samples of composts and cattle, horse, chicken, quail, and swine manures, as well as in sewage sludges and […]

The agricultural use of biosolids has been stimulated, however, as the chemical composition of these residues is varied, the agronomic value and effects on soil quality characteristics need to be individually assessed in order to establish safety norms for their application. The present work evaluated biological characteristics after the application for two consecutive years of increasing doses (0, 6, 12, 18 and 24 t ha-1 dry matter) of biosolid generated by a PET fiber and resin industry. There was also […]

The increasing need for food, space and other conditions for human survival generate greater anthropic interferences with the environment. Intensively and improperly tilled soils are degraded and illegal civil construction in rural areas is causing problems. Different techniques are being used to ameliorate these soils, mainly by the addition of organic matter, but information on the time required for soil recovery, influence of the organic matter type and on indicators of soil alterations is still rare. Our study aimed to […]

The final disposal of sewage sludge is a growing concern worldwide as it has impacts on the water availability and quality for consumption, and economic activities. The Companhia de Saneamento Ambiental do Distrito Federal (CAESB) processes 400 t of biosolids a day that is rich in mineral nutrients and organic matter. Despite the lack of local agronomic criteria for use, biosolids has found a growing demand in grain, fruit crops, coffee and pastures cultivation. To evaluate the immediate (first year) […]

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of application of increasing doses of an alkaline biosolid on carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) stocks, as well as on the organic matter quality of an Oxisol cultivated with eucalyptus, after five years of biosolids application. The study was conducted at the Experimental Station of ESALQ/USP, in Itatinga County, São Paulo State, Brazil. The experiment was initiated in March 1998 on an area where a seven-year-old Eucalyptus grandis plantation had […]

High N concentrations in biosolids are one of the strongest reasons for their agricultural use. However, it is essential to understand the fate of N in soils treated with biosolids for both plant nutrition and managing the environmental risk of NO3–-N leaching. This work aimed at evaluating the risk of NO3–-N leaching from a Spodosol and an Oxisol, each one treated with 0.5-8.0 dry Mg ha-1 of fresh tertiary sewage sludge, composted biosolids, limed biosolids, heat-dried biosolids and solar-irradiated biosolids. Results indicated that […]

Biossolid has been used in agriculture as nutrient source and to improve soil physical attributes. The effect of biossolid on the aggregate stability and soil penetration resistance of a medium texture Oxisol (LVd) and clayey Oxisol (LVef) in Jaboticabal (SP) were evaluated. Dry biosolid mass was applied with a harrow at rates of 0.0, 25.0, 47.5, 50.0 Mg ha-1, incorporated at 0.1 m depth before sowing the maize. Samples were collected in the fifth year after the maize harvest from the 0.0-0.1, 0.1-0.2, […]