title: Biochar amendment for integrated composting and vermicomposting of sewage sludge - The effect of biochar on the activity of Eisenia fetida and the obtained vermicompost.
abstract: Sewage sludge derived biochar (SSDB) was used as a supplementary material for municipal sewage sludge (SS) and wood chips mixtures (WC) treated by combined composting and vermicomposting. SSDB added to the mixture before composting resulted in significantly higher reproduction rate: on week 4 the number of cocoons increased by 213% when compared to the mixture with no biochar. On week 6 the average number of juveniles increased 11-fold in the mixture with biochar added before composting and 5-fold in the mixtures with biochar added after composting when compared to the mixture with no biochar. Biochar added before composting reduced bioavailability of Cd and Zn to E. fetida. The biochar-added vermicomposts showed good fertilizing properties except for elevated concentrations of Cr. The pH of all vermicomposts was in the range of 5.27-5.61. The obtained vermicomposts can be used as a growing medium for horticultural purposes or as an amendment in calcareous soils.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Environmental Engineering, Częstochowa University of Technology, Brzeźnicka 60a, 42-200 Częstochowa, Poland. Electronic address: kmalinska@is.pcz.czest.pl.
authors.forename: Krystyna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Malińska
authors.affiliation: Institute of Environmental Engineering, Częstochowa University of Technology, Brzeźnicka 60a, 42-200 Częstochowa, Poland.
authors.forename: Małgorzata
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Golańska
authors.affiliation: GIRO Unit, Research and Technology, Food and Agriculture (IRTA), Carretera de Cabrils km 2, 08348 Cabrils, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Rafaela
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Caceres
authors.affiliation: Institute of Environmental Engineering, Częstochowa University of Technology, Brzeźnicka 60a, 42-200 Częstochowa, Poland.
authors.forename: Agnieszka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rorat
authors.affiliation: Institute of Ceramics and Building Materials in Opole, Oświęcimska 21, 45-641 Opole, Poland.
authors.forename: Patryk
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Weisser
authors.affiliation: Institute of Ceramics and Building Materials in Opole, Oświęcimska 21, 45-641 Opole, Poland.
authors.forename: Ewelina
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ślęzak
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001682:Biological Availability; D002606:Charcoal / Q000737:chemistry*; D009835:Oligochaeta / Q000378:metabolism*; D012037:Refuse Disposal / Q000379:methods*; D012722:Sewage / Q000737:chemistry*; D012987:Soil / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D012722:Sewage; D012987:Soil; C540010:biochar; D002606:Charcoal
keywords: Acidification; Combined processes; Heavy metals; Reproduction rate; Vermicompost