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Distribution of heavy metals in maize and mudflat saline soil amended by sewage sludge

  • Soils, Sec 1 • Soil Organic Matter Dynamics and Nutrient Cycling • Research Article
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Abstract

Purpose

Sewage sludge has been considered as the economic choice for soil amendment. However, whether sewage sludge can effectively amend mudflat saline soil remains unclear. This paper was one of first studies to fill this knowledge gap by assessing the persistent effects of one-time application of sewage sludge on distribution of heavy metals in maize (Zea mays L.) grown in mudflat saline soil.

Materials and methods

On the premise of total amount of heavy metals from sewage sludge being in compliance with agricultural standard in China (GB/T 24600-2009), sewage sludge was used through one-time application, with the rates of 0, 30, 75, 150, and 300 t ha−1, to amend infertile mudflat soils. Ryegrass, Sesbania, and ryegrass were chosen as green manures for three consecutive seasons, successively planted and tilled. Maize was chosen as a test crop and sowed in 10th July 2013 and harvested 72 days after sowing.

Results and discussion

The results indicated that the sewage sludge amendment (SSA) increased uptake of cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), and zinc (Zn) in maize tissues, whereas it did not inhibit maize growth, and dry matter of maize plant tissues increased with increasing SSA rates. Total Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn concentrations in mudflat soil increased with increasing SSA rates, but there were no significant changes in total Mn and Ni concentration in response to SSA. The highest Cd, Cu, Mn, Ni, and Pb concentrations were observed in roots of maize, and the root system acted as a barrier for metals, so metal uptake and translocation were lower in aerial parts of maize plant. The labile fraction of Cd, Cu, Mn, Ni, Zn, and immobile fraction of Pb in the sludge-amended soils increased with increasing SSA rates.

Conclusions

The metal levels in grains were negligible in all the treatments and below the maximum permitted concentrations as specified in the national control standard in China (GB2715-2005). Sewage sludge can be applied with green manure for mudflat saline soil amendment, which provides an innovative solution for arable land resources and solid waste disposal.

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Acknowledgements

This study is financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31101604), Research Fund for Agricultural Independent Innovation of Jiangsu Province (CX(15)1005), Research Fund for Ministry of Science and Technology of China (2015BAD01B03), Research Fund for Important Research and Development of Jiangsu Province (BE2015337), Research Fund for State Key Laboratory of Soil and Sustainable Agriculture (Y412201402), Research Fund for Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Department of China (2014-K6-009), and Research Fund for Three New Agricultural Project of Jiangsu Province (SXGC[2016]277).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, China

    Yan-Chao Bai, Wen-Gang Zuo, Hai-Tao Zhao, Li-Juan Mei, Min-Jing Gu, Cai-Yun Zang, Yu-Hua Shan & Ke Feng

  2. State Key Laboratory of Soil and Sustainable Agriculture, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, 210008, China

    Yan-Chao Bai

  3. Department of Geology, Appalachian State University, Boone, NC, 28608, USA

    Chuan-Hui Gu

  4. Jiangsu Cultivated Land Quality and Agro-Environment Protection Station, Nanjing, 210036, China

    Yong-Xiang Guan & Xu-Kui Wang

  5. Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Solid Organic Waste Resource Utilization, Yangzhou, 225009, China

    Yu-Hua Shan & Ke Feng

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  1. Yan-Chao Bai
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  2. Wen-Gang Zuo
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  3. Hai-Tao Zhao
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  4. Li-Juan Mei
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  10. Yu-Hua Shan
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Correspondence to Yu-Hua Shan.

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Bai, YC., Zuo, WG., Zhao, HT. et al. Distribution of heavy metals in maize and mudflat saline soil amended by sewage sludge. J Soils Sediments 17, 1565–1578 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11368-016-1630-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11368-016-1630-z

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