Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Clay addition to lime-amended biosolids overcomes water repellence and provides nitrogen supply in an acid sandy soil

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Biology and Fertility of Soils Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The addition of clay to lime-amended biosolids has been proposed as a soil amendment (LaBC®) for remediating acidic-sandy soil. We investigated whether the presence of clay in LaBC® altered soil microbial processes over a 30-week period. Aerobic-incubation and CO2 respiration assays were used to monitor water repellence and chemical and microbiological properties of amended soil. Dry LaBC® was applied at equivalent wet weight of 50, 100 and 150 t ha−1. In addition, dry components of LaBC® (lime, clay, lime + clay (LAC) and lime + biosolids (LAB)) were applied separately at rates equivalent to their fractions within LaBC®. Inclusion of clay in LaBC® was effective in eliminating water repellence at all application rates. Inclusion of clay in LaBC® decreased nitrogen (N) release from the biosolids (by 58 %), even at 50 t ha−1, but only during the first 2 weeks of incubation. LaBC® consistently decreased soil microbial respiration compared with LAB alone when applied at 150 t ha−1 thereby protecting organic matter decomposition. There was no significant N release with lime and clay amendment alone or in combination (LAC) in the absence of the biosolids. There may be a complex interaction between clay, lime and organic matter, but each may have had a role in altering N release from biosolids at different times during the 30-week incubation. Addition of clay to LAB increased its effectiveness in remediating this water-repellent, acidic-sandy soil and prolonged the N release from the biosolids following soil amendment.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Ajwa HA, Tabatabai MA (1994) Decomposition of different organic materials in soils. Biol Fertil Soils 18:175–182

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Anderson JPE (1982) Soil respiration. In: Page AL, Miller RH, Keeney DR (eds) Methods of soil analysis, part 2. Chemical and microbiological properties. American Society of Agronomy, Madison, pp 831–871

    Google Scholar 

  • ANZECC, ARMCANZ (2000) Australian and New Zealand guidelines for fresh and marine water quality, Vol. 1. The guidelines. (Australian and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council and Agriculture and Resource Management Council of Australia and New Zealand: Canberra)

  • Baldock JA, Skjemstad JO (2000) Role of the soil matrix and minerals in protecting natural organic materials against biological attack. Org Geochem 31:697–710

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Blackwell PS (2000) Management of water repellency in Australia, and risks associated with preferential flow, pesticide concentration and leaching. J Hydrol 231–232:384–395

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brookes PC, Landrnan A, Prunden G, Jenkinson DS (1985) Chloroform fumigation and the release of soil nitrogen: a rapid direct extraction method to measure microbial biomass nitrogen in soil. Soil Biol Biochem l7:837–842

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cann MA (2000) Clay spreading on water repellent sands in the south east of South Australia—promoting sustainable agriculture. J Hydrol 231–232:333–334

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carter DJ, Hetherington RE (1994) Claying of water repellent soils in the Albany region of the South Coast of Western Australia. Proc. 2nd National Workshop "Water Repellency in Soils", Perth

  • Chaparro JM, Sheflin AM, Manter DK, Vivanco JM (2012) Manipulating the soil microbiome to increase soil health and plant fertility—a review. Biol Fertil Soils 48:489–499

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Contreras-Ramos SM, Escamilla-Silva EM, Dendooven L (2005) Vermicomposting of biosolids with cow manure and oat straw. Biol Fertil Soils 41:90–198

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Costa ACS, Seidel EP (2010) Nitrate leaching from a latosol after application of liquid swine manures in different pH values and organic matter contents. Acta Sci Agron 32:743–748. doi:10.4025/actasciagron

    Google Scholar 

  • Curtin D, Campbell CA, Jalil A (1998) Effects of acidity on mineralization: pH-dependence of organic matter mineralization in weakly acidic soils. Soil Biol Biochem 30:57–64

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Delibacak S, Okur B, Ongun AR (2009) Influence of treated sewage sludge applications on temporal variations of plant nutrients and heavy metals in a typic xerofluvent soil. Nutr Cycl Agroecosyst 83:249–257

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dilly O (2006) Soil microbial activity. In: Bloem J, Hopkins DW, Benedetti A (eds) Microbiological methods for assessing soil quality. CABI Publishing, Wallingford, pp 23–49, OX10 8DE

    Google Scholar 

  • Filep T, Szili-Kovács T (2010) Effect of liming on microbial biomass carbon of acidic arenosols in pot experiments. Plant Soil Environ 56:268–273

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fuentes JP, Bezdicek DF, Flury M, Albrecht S, Smith JL (2006) Microbial activity affected by lime in a long-term no-till soil. Soil Tillage Res 88:123–131

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Guerra P, Ahumada I, Carrasco A (2007) Effect of biosolid incorporation to mollisol soils on Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn fractionation, and relationship with their bioavailability. Chemosphere 68:2021–2027

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hallett PD (2007) An introduction to soil water repellency. In: Gaskin RE (Ed) Proc. 8th International Symposium on Adjuvants for Agrochemicals (ISAA2007), Columbus, p13

  • Hallett PD, Young IM (1999) Changes to water repellence of soil aggregates caused by substrate-induced microbial activity. Eur J Soil Sci 50:35–40

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Harper RJ, Gilkes RJ (1994) Soil attributes related to water repellency and the utility of soil survey for predicting its occurrence. Aust J Soil Res 32:1109–1124

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hassink J, Bouwman LA, Zwart KB, Bloom J, Brussard L (1993) Relationships between soil texture, physical protection of soil organic matter, soil biota, and C and N mineralisation in grassland soils. Geoderma 57:105–128

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hoyle FC, Murphy DV, Brookes PC (2008) Microbial response to the addition of glucose in low-fertility soils. Biol Fertil Soils 44:571–579

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Humphries R, Long T, Walton K, Allen D (2009) From waste to water quality—opportunities for achieving sustainable urban development on the sandy soils of the Swan coastal plain, Western Australia. WSUD 2009 Conference, WA

  • Humphries R, Long T, Walton K, Allen D (2010) Maximising the value of biosolids—catchment and estuary restoration: the Ellen Brook Sustainability Project. River Symposium, Perth

    Google Scholar 

  • Isbell RF (1996) The Australian Soil Classification. CSIRO Publishing, Melbourne

    Google Scholar 

  • Joergensen RG, Brookes PC (1990) Ninhydrin-reactive nitrogen measurements of microbial biomass in 0.5 M K2SO4 soil extracts. Soil Biol Biochem 22:1023–1027

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Joshua WD, Michalk DL, Curtis IH, Salt M, Osborne GJ (1998) The potential for contamination of soil and surface waters from sewage sludge (biosolids) in a sheep grazing study, Australia. Geoderma 84:135–156

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kamphake LJ, Hannah SA, Cohen JM (1967) Automated analysis for nitrate by hydrazine reduction. Water Res 1:205–216

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kelly JJ, Favila E, Hundal LS, Marlin JC (2007) Assessment of soil microbial communities in surface applied mixtures of Illinois River sediments and biosolids. Appl Soil Ecol 36:176–183

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kempers AJ, Luft AG (1988) Re-examination of the determination of environmental nitrate as nitrite by reduction with hydrazine. Analyst 113:1117–1120

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • King PM (1981) Comparison of methods for measuring severity of water repellence of sandy soils and assessment of some factors that affect its measurement. Aust J Soil Res 19:275–285

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Krom MD (1980) Spectrophotometric determination of ammonia; a study of modified Berthelot reaction using salicylate and dichloroisocyanurate. Analyst 105:305–316

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • McGeehan SL, Naylor DV (1988) Automated instrumental analysis of carbon and nitrogen in plant and soil samples. Commun Soil Sci Plant Anal 19:493–505

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Müller K, Deurer M (2011) Review of the remediation strategies for soil water repellency. Agric Ecosyst Environ 144:208–221

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Neale SP, Shah Z, Adams WA (1997) Changes in microbial biomass and nitrogen turnover in acidic organic soils following liming. Soil Biol Biochem 29:1463–1474

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nelson DW, Sommers LE (1982) Total carbon, organic carbon and organic matter. In: Page AL, Miller RH, Keeney DR (eds) Methods of soil analysis, part 2. Chemical and microbiological properties. American Society of Agronomy, Madison, pp 539–579

    Google Scholar 

  • Nommik H (1978) Mineralisation of carbon and nitrogen as influenced by additions of phosphate and lime. Acta Agric Scand 28:221–230

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rayment GE, Higginson FR (1992) Australian laboratory handbook of soil and water chemical methods. Inkata, Melbourne, p 330

    Google Scholar 

  • Reilly M (2001) The case against land application of sewage sludge pathogens. Can J Infect Dis 12:205–207

    PubMed  CAS  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Roberts FJ, Carbon BA (1972) Water repellence in sandy soils of south-western Australia. II. Some chemical characteristics of the hydrophobic skins. Aust J Soil Res 10:35–42

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Roper MM (2005) Managing soils to enhance the potential for bioremediation of water repellency. Aust J Soil Res 43:803–810

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Salsabil MR, Prorot A, Casellasa M, Dagot C (2009) Pre-treatment of activated sludge: effect of sonication on aerobic and anaerobic digestibility. Chem Eng J 148:327–335

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Samaras P, Papadimitriou CA, Haritou I, Zouboulis AI (2008) Investigation of sewage sludge stabilization potential by the addition of fly ash and lime. J Hazard Mater 154:1052–1059

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Searle PL (1984) The Berthelot or indophenol reaction and its use in the analysis chemistry of nitrogen—a review. Analyst 109:549–568

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Shah Z, Adams WA, Haven CDV (1990) Composition and activity of the microbial population in an acidic upland soil and effects of liming. Soil Biol Biochem 22:257–263

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sigua GC (2009) Recycling biosolids and lake-dredged materials to pasture-based animal agriculture: alternative nutrient sources for forage productivity and sustainability: a review. In: Lichtfouse E (ed) Sustainable agriculture, part 5. Springer, Dordrecht, pp 495–517

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Singh B, Gilkes RJ (1992) Properties of soil kaolinites from south-western Australia. J Soil Sci 43:645–667

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Singh RP, Agrawal M (2008) Potential benefits and risks of land application of sewage sludge. Waste Manag 28:347–358

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sparling G, Zhu C (1993) Evaluation and calibration of biochemical methods to measure microbial biomass C and N in soils from Western Australia. Soil Biol Biochem 25:1793–1801

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Speir TW, van Schaik AP, Lloyd-Jones AR, Kettles HA (2003) Temporal response of soil biochemical properties in a pastoral soil after cultivation following high application rates of undigested sewage sludge. Biol Fertil Soils 38:377–385

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stabnikova O, Goh WK, Ding HB, Tay JH, Wang JY (2005) The use of sewage sludge and horticultural waste to develop artificial soil for plant cultivation in Singapore. Bioresour Technol 96:1073–1080

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Stevenson BA, Verburg PSJ (2006) Effluxed CO2 −13C from sterilized and unsterilized treatments of a calcareous soil. Soil Biol Biochem 38:1727–1733

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tate ME, Oades JM, Ma’shum M (1989) Non-wetting soils, natural and induced: an overview and future developments. In: the theory and practice of soil management for sustainable agriculture. A workshop for the Wheat Research Council, AGPS: Canberra, pp 70–77

  • Umar S (2010) Effect of clay on plant residue decomposition. Master of Agricultural Science-Thesis. School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Adelaide

  • Van Miegroet H, Cole DW (1984) The impact of nitrification on soil acidification and cation leaching in a red alder ecosystem. J Environ Qual 13:586–590

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vance ED, Brookes PC, Jenkinson DS (1987) An extraction method for measuring soil microbial biomass. Soil Biol Biochem 19:703–707

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • WA Guideline (2002) Western Australian guidelines for direct land application of biosolids and biosolids products. www.public.health.wa.gov.au/cproot/1335/2/WA_Guidelines_Biosolids.pdf. Accessed on 15 October 2012

  • Wang WJ, Dalala RC, Moodya PW, Smith CJ (2003) Relationships of soil respiration to microbial biomass, substrate availability and clay content. Soil Biol Biochem 35:273–284

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang H, Brown SL, Magesan GN, Slade AH, Quintern M, Clinton PW, Payn TW (2008) Technological options for the management of biosolids. Environ Sci Pollut Res 15:308–317

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ward PR, Oades JM (1993) Effect of clay mineralogy and exchangeable cations on water-repellency in clay-amended sandy soils. Aust J Soil Res 31:351–364

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Webster R, Payne RW (2002) Analysing repeated measurements in soil monitoring and experimentation. Eur J Soil Sci 53:1–13

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Weemaes M, Verstraete W (2001) In: Spinosa L, Vesilind A (eds) Sludge into biosolids: processing, disposal, utilization. IWA, London, pp 365–383

    Google Scholar 

  • Whitting LD, Allardice WR (1986) X-ray diffraction techniques. In: Klute A (Ed). Methods of soil analysis. Part 1-Physical and mineralogical methods-Agronomy monograph no.9. 2nd edn. Madison, pp 331–362

  • Yamamoto A, Akiyama H, Naokawa T, Miyazaki Y, Honda Y, Sano Y, Nakajima Y, Yagi K (2014) Lime-nitrogen application affects nitrification, denitrification, and N2O emission in an acidic tea soil. Biol Fertil Soils 50:53–62

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zaleski KJ, Josephson KL, Gerba CP, Pepper IL (2005) Survival, growth, and regrowth of enteric indicator and pathogenic bacteria in biosolids, compost, soil, and land applied biosolids. J Residuals Sci Tech 2:49–63

    CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

We acknowledge the support of Dr. Robert Humphries and Tom Long for this research and for providing the biosolids products and access to field sites. We also thank Dr. Yoshi Sawada, Michael Smirk and Gary Cass for their technical assistance in analysis. Sanjutha Shanmugam was awarded a Ph.D.-Scholarship, UWA-SIRF (The University of Western Australia—Scholarship for International Research Fee) with financial support of the Water Corporation of Western Australia.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Soil Biology and Molecular Ecology Group, School of Earth and Environment, UWA Institute of Agriculture, Faculty of Science, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling highway, M087, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia

    Sanjutha Shanmugam, Lynette K. Abbott & Daniel V. Murphy

Authors
  1. Sanjutha Shanmugam
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Lynette K. Abbott
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Daniel V. Murphy
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sanjutha Shanmugam.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Shanmugam, S., Abbott, L.K. & Murphy, D.V. Clay addition to lime-amended biosolids overcomes water repellence and provides nitrogen supply in an acid sandy soil. Biol Fertil Soils 50, 1047–1059 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00374-014-0927-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00374-014-0927-6

Keywords

Search

Navigation