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Effect of the application of various wastewater sludges on the properties of sandy soil

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Abstract

This research was conducted to determine the effect of various wastewater sludge (domestic type (B), mixture of industry and domestic type (L), aerobic food industry (P), anaerobic food industry (M)) levels on the properties of sandy soil, including pH, electrical conductivity (EC), and the levels of available N (NH4 and NO3) and P, diethylenetriamine pentaaceticacid (DTPA)-extractable microelements and heavy metals. An incubation experiment was performed in which sludges were applied at rates of 0, 40, 80, 120, and 160 tons ha−1, and the effects on the soil properties were measured over a period of 150 days. Soil pH decreased and electrical conductivity increased with increasing levels of sludge application. The levels of NH4-N, NO3-N, available P, and DTPA-extractable heavy metals also increased with the application rate of the sludge. NO3-N content increased and NH4-N content decreased over time. The most unfavorable effects on soil properties were observed with the B sludge. Other soil characteristics changed according to the sludge properties.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the Scientific and Technical Research Council of Turkey, Project No: TOVAG 107 O 834. The manuscript was edited for grammar, spelling, vocabulary, and phrasing by American Journal Experts (AJE)

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition, Uludag University Faculty of Agriculture, Bursa, 16059, Turkey

    Barış Bülent Asik, Cumhur Aydinalp & Ali Vahap Katkat

  2. Department of Environmental Engineering, Uludag University Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, Bursa, 16059, Turkey

    Fatma Olcay Topaç Sagban

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  1. Barış Bülent Asik
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  2. Cumhur Aydinalp
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  4. Fatma Olcay Topaç Sagban
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Correspondence to Barış Bülent Asik.

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Asik, B.B., Aydinalp, C., Katkat, A.V. et al. Effect of the application of various wastewater sludges on the properties of sandy soil. Environ Monit Assess 187, 30 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-015-4300-5

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