Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Effect of differently post-treated dewatered sewage sludge on β-glucosidase activity, microbial biomass carbon, basal respiration and carbohydrates contents of soils from limestone quarries

  • Short Communication
  • Published:
Biology and Fertility of Soils Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This work has evaluated the effects of thermally dried (TDS) or composted (CDS) dewatered sewage sludge on β-glucosidase activity, total (TCH) and extractable (ECH) carbohydrate content, microbial biomass carbon and basal respiration of soils from limestone quarries under laboratory conditions. Two doses (low and high) of the dewatered sludge (DS) or of the respective TDS or CDS were applied to a clayey and a sandy soil, both coming from working quarries. The soil mixtures and the controls (soils with no added sludge) were incubated for 9 months at 25°C and 30% of field capacity. The addition of sludge increased all the studied soil parameters, and the increase depended on the amount of sludge. Except in the case of TCH and ECH, the enhancing effect decreased with time, but at the end of incubation, parameters of the treated soils were higher than those of the control. The rank order of the initial stimulating effect was soil–TDS ≥ soil–DS ≥ soil–CDS, and probably, this order depended on the proportion of stable organic matter, which was the lowest in the TDS. Values of metabolic quotient (qCO2) were higher at the lower dose, and they did not change during incubation in the CDS-treated soils. Both TCH and ECH were the parameters with the greatest significant sludge and dose effects. Basal respiration, microbial biomass carbon and β-glucosidase activity were the best measured parameters in distinguishing the long-term effects of the three sludge types over the soils.

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

References

  • Albiach R, Canet R, Pomares F, Ingelmo F (2000) Microbial biomass content and enzymatic activities after the application of organic amendments to a horticultural soil. Bioresour Technol 75:43–48

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Alvarez R, Alconada M, Lavado R (1999) Sewage sludge effects on carbon dioxide-carbon production from a desurfaced soil. Commun Soil Sci Plant Anal 30:1861–1866

    Article  CAS  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. Soil Science Society of America, Madison, WI, pp 831–871

    Google Scholar 

  • Anderson T-H, Domsch KH (1993) The metabolic quotient for CO2 (qCO2) as a specific activity parameter to assess the effects of environmental conditions, such as pH, on the microbial biomass of forest soils. Soil Biol Biochem 25:393–395

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Badalucco L, Nannipieri P, Grego S, Ciardi C (1990) Microbial biomass and anthrone-reactive carbon in soils with different organic matter contents. Soil Biol Biochem 22:899–904

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Badalucco L, Gelsomino A, Dell’Orco S, Grego S, Nannipieri P (1992) Biochemical characterization of soil organic compounds extracted by 0.5 M K2SO4 before and after chloroform fumigation. Soil Biol Biochem 24:569–578

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Barajas-Aceves M (2005) Comparison of different microbial biomass and activity measurement methods in metal-contaminated soils. Bioresour Technol 96:1405–1414

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bandick AK, Dick RP (1999) Field management effects on soil enzyme activities. Soil Biol Biochem 31:1471–1479

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bernal MP, Sánchez-Monedero MA, Paredes C, Roig A (1998) Carbon mineralization from organic wastes at different composting stages during their incubations with soil. Agric Ecosyst Environ 69:175–189

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Blazsó M, Jakab E (1985) Study of thermal decomposition reactions in coals by pyrolysis–gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. J Anal Appl Pyrolysis 8:189–194

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bonmatí M, Jiménez P, Álvarez H, Calero E, Juliá M, Morillo M, Núñez E (2000) Changes in enzyme activities during the reclamation of two soils from limestone quarries in Catalonia using high doses of sewage-sludge. In: García C, Hernández MT (eds) Research and perspectives of soil enzymology in Spain. Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Madrid, pp 253–293

    Google Scholar 

  • Bonmatí M, Jiménez P, Julià M (2003) Soil enzymology: some aspects of its interest and limitations. In: Lobo MC, Ibáñez JJ (eds) Preserving soil quality and soil biodiversity: the role of surrogate indicators. Instituto Madrileño de Investigación Agraria y Alimentaria, Madrid, pp 63–75

    Google Scholar 

  • Burés O, Soliva M (1984) Co-composting sewage sludge–pine bark. Acta Hortic 150:545–551

    Google Scholar 

  • Cheshire MV, Mundie CM (1966) The hydrolytic extraction of carbohydrates from soil by sulphuric acid. J Soil Sci 17:372–381

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Debosz K, Petersen SO, Kure LK, Ambus P (2002) Evaluating effects of sewage sludge and household compost on soil physical, chemical and microbiological properties. Appl Soil Ecol 19:237–248

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • DeLuca TH, Keeney DR (1993) Soluble anthrone-reactive carbon in soils: effect of carbon and nitrogen amendments. Soil Sci Soc Am J 57:1296–1300

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Düring RA, Gäth S (2002) Utilization of municipal organic wastes in agriculture: where do we stand, where will we go? Soil Sci Plant Nutr 165:544–556

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Emmerling C, Liebner C, Haubold-Rosar M, Katzur J, Schröder D (2000) Impact of application of organic waste materials on microbial and enzyme activities of mine soils in the Lusatian coal mining region. Plant Soil 220:129–138

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • García C, Hernández T, Costa F, Ceccanti B, Masciandaro G, Calcinai M (1993) Evaluation of the organic matter composition of raw and composted municipal wastes. Soil Sci Plant Nutr 39:99–108

    Google Scholar 

  • García-Orenes F, Guerrero C, Mataix-Solera J, Navarro-Pedreño J, Gómez I, Mataix-Beneyto J (2005) Factors controlling the aggregate stability and bulk density in two different degraded soils amended with biosolids. Soil Tillage Res 82:65–76

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gigliotti G, Giusquiani L, Businelli D (2001) A long-term chemical and infrared spectroscopy study on a soil amended with municipal sewage sludge. Agronomie 21:169–178

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Giusquiani PL, Patumi L, Businelli D (1989) Chemical composition of fresh composted urban waste. Plant Soil 116:278–282

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gross TSC (1993) Thermal drying of sewage sludge. J Inst Water Environ Manag 7:255–261

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Irwin WJ (1982) Analytical pyrolysis: a comprehensive guide. Marcel Dekker, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Miller M, Dick RP (1995) Thermal stability and activities of soil enzymes as influenced by crop rotations. Soil Biol Biochem 27:1161–1166

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ministere de l’Agriculture de Belgique (1971) Mtde. Convention pour l’analyse des Engrais et des Amendements du sol. Part II. Div. B. Ad. Services Economiques d’Inspection de Matières premières, pp 202–203

  • Mejía G (2005) Estudio de la evolución de la materia orgánica en procesos de compostaje y secado térmico de fangos de depuradora. Tesi Doctoral, Departament de Química Analítica. C.E.T.S. Institut Químic de Sarrià. Universitat Ramon Llull, Barcelona

  • Moreno JL, Hernández T, García C (1999) Effects of a cadmium-contaminated sewage sludge compost on dynamics of organic matter and microbial activity in an arid soil. Biol Fertil Soils 28:230–257

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Navas A, Machín J, Navas B (1999) Use of biosolids to restore the natural vegetation cover on degraded soils in the badlands of Zaragoza (NE Spain). Bioresour Technol 69:199–205

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ojeda G, Perfect E, Alcañiz JM, Ortiz O (2006a) Fractal analysis of soil waterhysteresis as influenced by sewage sludge application. Geoderma 134:386–401

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ojeda G, Tarrasón D, Ortiz O, Alcañiz JM (2006b) Nitrogen losses in runoff waters from a loamy soil treated with sewage sludge. Agric Ecosyst Environ 117:49–56

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pascual JA, García C, Hernández T (1999) Comparison of fresh and composted organic waste in their efficacy for the improvement of arid soil quality. Bioresour Technol 68:255–264

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pascual JA, Moreno JL, Hernández T, García C (2002) Persistence of immobilized and total urease and phosphatase activities in a soil amended with organic wastes. Bioresour Technol 82:73–78

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pérez de Mora A, Ortega-Calvo JJ, Cabrera F, Madejón E (2005) Changes in enzyme activities and microbial biomass after “in situ” remediation of a heavy metal-contaminated soil. Appl Soil Ecol 28:125–137

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pirt SJ (1975) Principles of microbe and cell cultivation. Blackwell, Oxford

    Google Scholar 

  • Robert M, Chenu C (1992) Interactions between soil minerals and microorganisms. In: Stotzky G, Bollag JM (eds) Soil biochemistry, vol. 7. Dekker, New York, pp 307–404

    Google Scholar 

  • Safarik I, Santrucková H (1992) Direct determination of total soil carbohydrate content. Plant Soil 143:109–114

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • SAS Institute (1990) SAS procedures guide, version 6, 3rd edn. SAS Institute, Cary, NC

    Google Scholar 

  • Saviozzi A, Bufalino P, Levi-Minzi R, Riffaldi R (2002) Biochemical activities in a degraded soil restored by two amendments: a laboratory study. Biol Fertil Soils 35:96–101

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Smith MTE, Tibbett M (2004) Nitrogen dynamics under Lolium perenne after a single application of three different sewage sludge types from the same treatment stream. Bioresour Technol 91:233–241

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sort X, Alcañiz JM (1999) Effects of sewage sludge amendment on soil aggregation. Land Degrad Dev 10:3–12

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sparling GP (1997) Soil microbial biomass, activity and nutrient cycling as indicators of soil health. In: Pankhurst CE, Doube BM, Gupta VV Sr (eds) Biological indicators of soil health. CAB International, Wallingford, pp 97–119

    Google Scholar 

  • Stevenson FJ (1982) Nitrogen—organic forms. In: Page AL, Miller RH, Keeney DR (eds) Methods of soil analysis. Part 2. chemical and microbiological properties, 2nd edn. American Society of Agronomy, Madison, WI, pp 625–641

    Google Scholar 

  • Tabatabai MA (1982) Soil enzymes. In: Page AL, Miller RH, Keeney DR (eds) Methods of soil análisis. Part 2. Chemical and microbiological properties. Soil Science Society of America, Madison, WI, pp 903–947

    Google Scholar 

  • Tisdall JM (1991) Fungal hyphae and structural stability of soil. Aust J Soil Res 29:729–743

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Turner BL, Hopkins DW, Haygarth PM, Ostle N (2002) β-Glucosidase activity in pasture soils. Appl Soil Ecol 20:157–162

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Urbain V, Block JC, Manem J (1993) Bioflocculation in activated sludge: an analytic approach. Water Res 27:829–838

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Usman ARA, Kuzyakov Y, Stahr K (2004) Dynamics of organic mineralization and the mobile fraction of heavy metals in a calcareous soil incubated with organic wastes. Water Air Soil Pollut 158:401–418

    Article  CAS  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 

  • Villesot D, Fery G (1994) Le compost de boues de stations d’épuration. Tech Sci Method Génie Urban Génie Rural 12:722–728

    Google Scholar 

  • Vuorinen AH (1993) Requirement of p-nitrofenol standard for each soil. Soil Biol Biochem 25:295–296

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wardle DA, Ghani A (1995) A critique of the microbial quotient (qCO2) as a bioindicator of disturbance and ecosystem development. Soil Biol Biochem 27:1601–1610

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This research was supported by the CIRIT and the ACA, both belonging to the Autonomous Government of Catalonia.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Agricultural Engineering of Barcelona, Campus Baix Llobregat, Av. Canal Olímpic, s.n., 08860, Castelldefels, Catalonia, Spain

    P. Jiménez & M. Bonmatí

  2. CREAF (Centre for Ecological Research and Forestry Applications) and Unit of Ecology, Department of Animal and Plant Biology and Ecology, Autonomous University of Barcelona, 08193, Bellaterra, Spain

    O. Ortiz & D. Tarrasón

  3. Department of Applied Mathematics III, Technical University of Catalonia, Campus Baix Llobregat. Av. Canal Olímpic, s.n., 08860, Castelldefels, Barcelona, Spain

    M. Ginovart

Authors
  1. P. Jiménez
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. O. Ortiz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. D. Tarrasón
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. M. Ginovart
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. M. Bonmatí
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to M. Bonmatí.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Jiménez, P., Ortiz, O., Tarrasón, D. et al. Effect of differently post-treated dewatered sewage sludge on β-glucosidase activity, microbial biomass carbon, basal respiration and carbohydrates contents of soils from limestone quarries. Biol Fertil Soils 44, 393–398 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00374-007-0220-z

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00374-007-0220-z

Keywords

Search

Navigation