Application of sewage sludge compost on highway embankments.
More and more sewage sludge is being produced in China. Safe and economical methods for sewage sludge disposal should be found considering the increase in sewage treatment. In order to verify the feasibility of sludge disposal on newly built highway embankments, five treatments (0, 15, 30, 60 and 120 tons ha(-1)) of sewage sludge compost (SSC) were added to a silty-clay embankment soil on the Xi-Huang highway. The results showed that amendment with SSC increased soil available N, available P, organic matter, cation exchange capacity, and water content, and decreased soil bulk density. Application of SSC enhanced ryegrass growth and reduced runoff and soil erosion. Heavy metal losses from sediments in runoff remained constant or decreased relative to the control until a rate of 60 tons ha(-1) was exceeded, when heavy metal losses appeared to increase.
Pengcheng
Gao
G
College of Science, Northwest A and F University, Yangling, Shaanxi Province, People's Republic of China. pengcheng1969@tom.com
Xinbao
Tang
T
Yanan
Tong
T
Yingxu
Chen
C
D005308:Fertilizers; D019015:Geologic Sediments; D008129:Lolium / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000378:metabolism; D012037:Refuse Disposal / Q000379:methods*; D012722:Sewage; D012987:Soil; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000378:metabolism
D005308:Fertilizers; D019216:Metals, Heavy; D012722:Sewage; D012987:Soil; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical