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Phyto-dehydration of confined sludge: a sustainable approach for the management of polluted ponds

  • Reclamation and Management of Polluted Soils: Options and Case Studies
  • Published:
Journal of Soils and Sediments Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

Leaf transpiration drives many of the processes involved in phyto-technologies, and it can represent a useful mechanism to remove water from different kind of storage basins presenting inorganic, organic or microbiological contamination (phyto-dehydration), with the aim to reduce the risk of environmental contamination. In this framework, a mesocosm-scale trial was carried out to test the capacity of different helophyte species to reduce the excess of water in an artificial pond filled with oversaturated sludge.

Materials and methods

The sludge derives from the digestion of pig slurries, presents high levels of zinc and copper and for most of the year is covered by a water layer of about 20 cm due to rainfalls. This layout (water layer over the sludge) was reproduced inside the mesocosms, where four helophyte species (Phragmites australis and a mix of Carex acutiformis, Iris pseudacorus and Juncus effusus) were planted on floating frames. Plant growth and functionality were monitored for one year, along with their water consumption capacity; the vegetation impact on sludge chemistry, sludge microbial community and sludge greenhouse gases emission/uptake were also evaluated. The sensitivity of the phyto-dehydration system to the reduction of water level occurring during summer in the pond was investigated reducing the water input to the mesocosms.

Results and discussion

P. australis and C. acutiformis successfully established in the mesocosms, while a significant mortality was recorded for I. psudacorus and J. effusus. Once established, plants were able to grow in the mesocosms, and no metal toxicity effect was observed on photosynthesis rates that were comparable with values reported for natural stands of the species. Plants significantly increased (from 24 to 63%, depending on the species) the amount of water lost by the mesocosms and counteracted the reduction of sludge organic carbon that could lead to a mobilization of the heavy metals bound to organic matter: furthermore, plants decreased the rates of mesocosm greenhouse gas emission and reduced the sludge pathogen (Enterobacteriaceae) occurrence. Water limitations reversibly reduced the water consumption and CO2 uptake capacity of the mesocosms.

Conclusions

The results of this study demonstrated that the water balance of a sludge/water system can be effectively modified through the phyto-dehydration approach, increasing significantly the amount of water lost. Although the low tolerance of two species to the sludge/water environment after plantation needs to be further investigated, this phyto-technology can represent a promising approach to manage the excess of water in polluted ponds.

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Acknowledgements

This work was realised with the financial support of the Italian Umbria Region, in the frame of the PSR 2007-2013 (Rural Development Program, project number SIAN 94751363378, acronym ZOOCOMPOST), coordinated by Dr. Luciano Concezzi of the Parco Tecnologico Agroalimentare dell’Umbria-3A. The authors acknowledge Ing. Sergio Leombruni of the SIA SpA and the SIA staff for the logistic support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department for Innovation in Biological, Agro-food and Forest Systems (DIBAF), University of Tuscia, Via San Camillo de Lellis s.n.c., Viterbo, Italy

    Dario Liberati, Paolo Sconocchia & Paolo De Angelis

  2. Regional Agency for Environmental Protection of Umbria (ARPA Umbria), Via Carlo Alberto Dalla Chiesa 32, 05100, Terni, Italy

    Paolo Sconocchia

  3. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Perugia, Borgo XX Giugno, 74, 06121, Perugia, Italy

    Anna Ricci, Giovanni Gigliotti & Chiara Tacconi

  4. Water Research Institute, National Research Council, Via Salaria km 29.300, 00015 Monterotondo, Rome, Italy

    Paola Grenni, Sara Tariciotti & Anna Barra Caracciolo

  5. Institute of Agro-Environment and Forest Biology, National Research Council (CNR), Via Salaria km 29.300, 00015 Monterotondo, Rome, Italy

    Angelo Massacci

  6. Consiglio per la Ricerca in Agricoltura e l’Analisi dell’Economia Agraria, Centro di Ricerca per l’Agrobiologia e la Pedologia (CREA-ABP), Via di Lanciola 12, 50125, Florence, Italy

    Alessandra Lagomarsino

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  1. Dario Liberati
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  2. Paolo Sconocchia
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  3. Anna Ricci
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Correspondence to Dario Liberati.

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Liberati, D., Sconocchia, P., Ricci, A. et al. Phyto-dehydration of confined sludge: a sustainable approach for the management of polluted ponds. J Soils Sediments 18, 2292–2304 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11368-017-1808-z

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