Soil effects due to sewage sludge application in agriculture

Abstract

Field trials show that increased nutrients (mainly P) and heavy metals in soil due to agricultural use of sewage sludge have mainly to be expected when sludge is applied in too high amounts. The biological effects of heavy metals on plants are determined by their solubility which is increased by pH decrease and degradation of organic matter. Normally, it should be expected that the microbial activity in soil would increase with the application of organic matter in sewage sludge. But, also negative effects on the microflora by simultaneous enrichment of organic matter or inorganic and organic pollutants were found. The most important deleterious effects on soil microorganisms are the reduction in size of the total biomass, a reduced nitrogen fixing activity and changes in the composition of microbial populations of the soil. At what stage heavy metal toxicity to soil microorganisms or to microbial processes in soil is likely to become evident is unfortunately still uncertain. Again, the soluble fraction of heavy metals (also of organic pollutants) is a determing factor. To minimize the shown environmental risks an adequate sludge management is proposed.