Long-term Effects of Sewage Sludge and Farm Slurries Applications

217 Pages·1985·5.89 MB·\217

by  J.H. Williams (Editor), G. Guidi (Editor), P. L`Hermite (Editor)

LONG-TERM EFFECTS OF SEWAGE SLUDGE AND FARM
SLURRIES APPLICATIONS
Proceedings of a Round-Table seminar organized by the Commission of the European Communities,
Directorate-General Science, Research and Development, Environment Research Programme, held in Pisa,
Italy, 25–27 September 1984.
LONG-TERM EFFECTS OF SEWAGE
SLUDGE AND FARM SLURRIES
APPLICATIONS
Edited by
J.H.WILLIAMS
Ministry of Agriculture, Woodthorne, Wolverhampton, UK
G.GUIDI
Laboratoria per la Chimica del Terreno, CNR, Pisa, Italy
and
P.L’HERMITE
Commission of the European Communities,
Directorate-General Science, Research and Development,
Brussels, Belgium
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British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data
Long-term effects of sewage sludge and farm
slurries applications.
1. Sewage sludge as fertilizer—Environmental
aspects 2. Slurry—Environmental aspects
I. Williams, J.H. II. Guidi, G. III. L’Hermite,
P. IV. Environment Research Programme
363.7′384 TD196.S4
ISBN 0-203-21079-4 Master e-book ISBN
ISBN 0-203-26851-2 (Adobe eReader Format)
ISBN 0-85334-399-3 (Print Edition)
WITH 91 TABLES AND 82 ILLUSTRATIONS
© ECSC, EEC, EAEC, BRUSSELS AND LUXEMBOURG, 1985
Publication arrangements by Commission of the European Communities, Directorate-
General Information Market and Innovation, Luxembourg
EUR 9731
LEGAL NOTICE
Neither the Commission of the European Communities nor any person acting on behalf of
the Commission is responsible for the use which might be made of the following
information.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval
system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying,
recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publisher.
PREFACE
Previous seminars organised by the working party under the auspices of the EEC Concerted Action have
been devoted to the evaluation of the nitrogen, phosphorus and organic matter content of sewage sludges,
almost invariably over the twelve month period of application. Depending on the type of sludge they have
been shown to be useful sources of nitrogen, phosphorus and organic matter for grass, cereals and in land
restoration in terms of improving the physical properties of disturbed lands. However, distance from the
treatment work severely limits the radius of operation. Whereas it is of value to farmers within reach of the
works, the impact which it makes nationally on reducing the annual fertilizer bill is very small.
On grass/arable farms the benefits from sewage sludge can be complementary to those of animal slurries
in terms of providing an organic manure with an improved balance of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium
for grass and arable crops.
This was the first seminar at which the experts from both the sewage sludge and animal manure sides
came together to discuss their common problems and rightly so. Liquid sludges and animal slurries have
much in common though there are differences which must be borne in mind. The main components of both
products are nitrogen and organic matter, the availability of the nitrogen depending on treatment and
composition of the organic matter.
The present seminar is devoted to the residual and longer term benefits of sewage sludges and farm
slurries. There are papers which deal with the availability of soil nutrients from sludges and slurries treated
in different ways, on the phosphate balance in soil and the soil ameliorating properties of these organic
amendments. Changes on storage and mineralisation in soils after treatment with sludges stabilised by
different methods are also discussed. Lastly, but certainly not least, is the important aspect of evaluating the
composition of sludges and slurries. Variability in slurry composition often makes it desirable to obtain an
‘on the farm’ estimate of nutrient value if they are to be used efficiently without detriment to the
environment.
CONTENTS
Preface v
A. CUMULATIVE AND RESIDUALS EFFECTS OF SLUDGES AND FARM SLURRIES
PART I
Use of digested effluents in agriculture 2
M.DEMUYNCK, E.-J.NYNS and H.NAVEAU
Soil microorganisms and long-term fertility 12
U.TOMATI, A.GRAPPELLI and E.GALLI
Comparison of the efficiency of nitrogen in the cattle and pig slurries prepared 22
according to three methods: storage, aeration and anaerobic digestion
J.-M.BESSON, R.DANIEL and P.LISCHER
Long-term effects of the landspreading of pig and cattle slurries on the accumulation and 31
availability of soil nutrients
P.SPALLACCI and V.BOSCHI
Relationships between soil structure and time of landspreading of pig slurry 40
M.PAGLIAI, L.LA MARCA and G.LUCAMANTE
Results of large-scale field experiments with sewage sludge as an organic fertilizer for 50
arable soils in different regions of the Netherlands
S.DE HAAN
The cumulative and residual effects of sewage sludge nitrogen on crop growth 66
J.E.HALL
Long-term effects of farm slurries applications in the Netherlands 76
L.C.N.DE LA LANDE CREMER
Discussion on Part I 83
PART II
Long-term field experiments on the fertilizer value and soils ameliorating properties of 89
dewatered sludges
I.KOSKELA
vii
The fertilizing value of slurry applied to arable crops and its residual effects in a long- 97
term experiment
J.P.DESTAIN, Y.RAIMOND and M.DARCHEVILLE
Experiments on the fertiliser value of animal waste slurries 1 11
K.A.SMITH, R.J.UNWIN and J.H.WILLIAMS
Long-term effects of sewage sludge and pig slurry applications on micro-biological and 1 21
chemical soil properties in field experiments
F.X.STADELMANN and O.J.FURRER
Phosphate balance in long-term sewage sludge and pig slurry fertilized field experiment 1 29
O.J.FURRER and S.K.GUPTA
Chemical characterization of soil organic matter in a field study with sewage sludges 1 35
and composts
R.LEVI-, R.RIFFALDI, G.GUIDI and G.POGGIO
Discussion on Part II 1 43
B. CHANGES ON STORAGE AND MINERALISATION STUDIES IN SOILS AFTER
TREATMENT
The effect of storage on the utilisation of sewage sludge 1 49
E.VIGERUST
Mineralisation of organic matter in soil treated with sewage sludge stabilized by 1 57
different methods
S.DUMONTET, E.PARENTE and S.COPPOLA
Sludge origins and nitrogen efficiency 1 69
L.BARIDEAU and R.IMPENS
Discussion 1 77
C. METHODS FOR EVALUATING THE COMPOSITION OF SLURRIES AND
MANURES
Evaluation of type and contents of humic substances in sludges and composts 1 81
M.DE NOBILI, G.CERCIGNANI and L.LEITA
Evaluation of urban and animal wastes as sources of phosphorus 1 87
B.POMMEL
Slurry-meter for estimating dry matter and nutrient content of slurry 1 94
H.TUNNEY
Discussion 2 01
SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS 2 04
LIST OF PARTICIPANTS 2 07
viii
INDEX OF AUTHORS 2 08
A.
CUMULATIVE AND RESIDUALS EFFECTS OF
SLUDGES AND FARM SLURRIES
PART I
Use of digested effluents in agriculture
Soil microorganisms and long-term fertility
Comparison of the efficiency of nitrogen in the cattle and pig slurries prepared acoording to three
methods: storage, aeration and anaerobic digestion
Long-term effects of the landspreading of pig and cattle slurries on the accumulation and availability
of soil nutrients
Relationships between soil structure and time of landspreading of pig slurry
Results of large-scale field experiments with sewage sludge as an organic fertilizer for arable soils in
different regions of the Netherlands
The cumulative and residual effects of sewage sludge nitrogen on crop growth
Long-term effects of farm slurries applications in the Netherlands
Discussion on Part I