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Nutrient Accumulation and Environmental Risks of Biosolids and Different Fertilizers on Horticultural Plants

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Abstract

The application of biosolids is common in the agricultural industry; it improves the soil condition as well as the nitrogen (N), phosphate (P), and potassium (K) concentrations in it. However, it may cause environmental risks, such as contamination of soil profiles, water sources, and even the food chain because of the accumulation of heavy metals. The effects of different concentration proportions of biosolid (0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, and 20%) in soils on the growth performance, nutrient contents, and toxicity performance of three ornamental species: Ixora chinensis, Schefflera heptaphylla, and Hibiscus rosa-sinensis were studied. Other common organic soil amendments like biochar, chicken manure (CM), and wood waste compost (WWC) were used to compare with the feasibility of biosolid applications. The results showed that the growth performance of the three ornamental species was similar. Soil treated with a 10% concentration of biosolids performed the best in terms of total nutrients in the soil for the three species. For the total nutrients in the plants, biosolids were the best followed by CM, WWC, and biochar. The levels of heavy metals were examined and nutrient balance efficiency was calculated. Undetectable amount of heavy metals was measured in the three ornamental species, meaning it is safe to use biosolids as fertilizers. The 10% concentration of biosolids also performed the best in nutrient balance efficiency, followed by soil treated with 20% CM. The results indicated that the function of biosolids and CM was significant, and these could be a substitute for biochar and WWC use in soils. Biosolid-amended soil can be one of the methods to relieve the landfill loading problem in Hong Kong.

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Data Availability

The data sets used during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Funding

This work was supported by grants from Thei Seed Grant (Grant No. SG1920104) and Research Grants Council of Hong Kong (Grant No. UGC/FDS25/M02/19).

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  1. Faculty of Design and Environment, Technological and Higher Education Institute of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China

    Min Pan, Pui Ching Yau, Kai Chun Lee, Hao Zhang, Vincent Lee, Cheuk Yi Lai & Ho Juen Fan

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Pan, M., Yau, P.C., Lee, K.C. et al. Nutrient Accumulation and Environmental Risks of Biosolids and Different Fertilizers on Horticultural Plants. Water Air Soil Pollut 232, 480 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-021-05424-5

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