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Nitrogen mineralization, N2O production and soil microbiological properties as affected by long-term applications of sewage sludge composts

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Abstract

A field study was conducted to investigate the long-term effect of surface application of sewage sludge composts vs chemical N fertilizer on total N, total C, soluble organic C, pH, EC, microbial biomass C and N, protease activity, deaminase activity, urease activity, gross and net rates of N mineralization and nitrification, CO2 evolution, and N2O production. Soil samples were taken from five depths (0–15, 15–20, 20–30, 30–40, and 40–50 cm) of a long-term experiment at the University of Tokyo, Japan. Three fields have been receiving sewage sludge composted with rice husk (RH), sawdust (SD), or mixed chemical fertilizer NPK (CF), applied at the rate of 240 kg N ha−1 each in split applications in summer and autumn since 1978. Significantly higher amounts of total N and C and soluble organic C were found in the compost than in the CF treatments up to the 40-cm soil depth, indicating improved soil quality in the former. In the CF treatment, soil pH values were significantly lower and electrical conductivity values were significantly higher than those of compost-treated soils of up to 50 cm depth. Soil microbial biomass C and N, CO2 evolution, protease, deaminase, and urease activities were significantly higher in the compost than in the CF treatments due to greater availability of organic substrates that stimulated microbial activity. Gross N mineralization rates determined by 15N dilution technique were eight and five times higher in the SD and RH treatments than in the CF treatment, respectively, probably due to high levels of microbial and enzyme activities. Net N mineralization rates were also significantly higher in the compost treatments and were negative in the CF treatment indicating immobilization. Net nitrification rates were higher in compost treatments and negative in the CF treatment. Nitrous oxide productions from compost treatments were higher than the CF treatment due to the greater availability of mineral N as a result of higher mineralization and nitrification rates and soluble organic C in the former. Most of the measured parameters were highest in the surface soil (0–15 cm) and were significantly higher in the SD treatment than in the RH treatment.

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Acknowledgements

We thank the Japan Society for Promotion of Science (JSPS) for funding this project, Michael Miyattah-Kporgbe and Yu-ichi Suzuki, Chiba University, Japan, for their assistance, Dr Tsuneo Matsumaru and Mr Ei-Ichi Otsuka, Chiba Prefecture Agricultural Research Center, for C, N and 15N analyses, and the Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, the University of Tokyo, Tama Farm for using their long-term experimental plots. Last but not least, we extend our sincere thanks to Dr H.J. Di (Soil and Physical Sciences Group, Lincoln University, New Zealand), Munib Akhtar (Honda UK) and Shazia Zaman (Canterbury University, New Zealand) for their critical comments on an earlier version of the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research, Gate 10, Silverdale Road, P.O. Box 11115, Hamilton, New Zealand

    M. Zaman & L. Nguyen

  2. Department of Renewable Resources, Center for Enhanced Forest Management, University of Alberta, 4-42 Earth Sciences Building, Edmonton, AB, Canada, T6G 2E3

    M. Matsushima & S. X. Chang

  3. Faculty of Horticulture, Chiba University, Matsudo, Chiba, 271-8510, Japan

    K. Inubushi

  4. Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, 113-8657, Japan

    S. Goto & T. Yoneyama

  5. Chiba Prefecture Agricultural Research Center, Chiba, 266-0006, Japan

    F. Kaneko

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  1. M. Zaman
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  2. M. Matsushima
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  3. S. X. Chang
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  4. K. Inubushi
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  5. L. Nguyen
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  6. S. Goto
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Correspondence to K. Inubushi.

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Zaman, M., Matsushima, M., Chang, S.X. et al. Nitrogen mineralization, N2O production and soil microbiological properties as affected by long-term applications of sewage sludge composts. Biol Fertil Soils 40, 101–109 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00374-004-0746-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00374-004-0746-2

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