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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Kimberly, Idaho » Northwest Irrigation and Soils Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #238797
Title: Infrequent Composted Biosolids Applications Affect Semi-arid Grassland Soils and Vegetation

Author
item Ippolito, James
item BARBARICK, K - Colorad0 State University
item PASCHKE, M - Colorad0 State University
item BROBST, R - Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Submitted to: Journal of Environmental Management
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/3/2010
Publication Date: 1/25/2010
Citation: Ippolito, J.A., Barbarick, K.A., Paschke, M.W., Brobst, R.B. 2010. Infrequent Composted Biosolids Applications Affect Semi-arid Grassland Soils and Vegetation. Journal of Environmental Management. 91:1123-1130.

Interpretive Summary: Increasing composted biosolids rates were surface applied once in 1991 (long-term) and again in 2002 (short-term). Short- and long-term treatment effects were evident in 2004 and 2005 for most soil surface constituents (e.g. pH, EC, NO3-N, NH4-N, total N, extractable Cd, Cu, Mo, Zn, P, and Ba). Increases in soil organic matter were still evident 13 and 14 years following initial composted biosolids application. Increasing composted biosolids rates resulted in an increase in native perennial grass cover in 2005, and plant tissue Cu, Mo, Zn, and P concentrations increased, while Ba content decreased depending on specific plant species and year.

Technical Abstract: A field trial evaluated a single and a repeated composted biosolids application in terms of long-term (13-14 years) and short-term (2-3 years) effects, respectively, on soil chemistry and plant community in a Colorado semi-arid grassland. Six composted biosolids rates (0, 2.5, 5, 10, 21, 30 Mg/ha) were surface applied in a split-plot with time study (1991 and 2002 applications = long-term and short-term, respectively). Short- and long-term treatment effects were evident in 2004 and 2005 for soil 0-8-cm depth pH, EC, NO3-N, NH4-N, total N, and AB-DTPA soil Cd, Cu, Mo, Zn, P, and Ba. Increases in soil organic matter were still evident 13 and 14 years following composted biosolids application. The repeated composted biosolids application increased soil NO3-N and NH4-N and decreased AB-DTPA extractable Ba as compared to the single composted biosolids application in 2004; differences between short- and long-term applications were less evident in 2005. Increasing biosolids rates resulted in an increase in native perennial grass cover in 2005; otherwise, few composted biosolids effects on the plant community were evident. Plant tissue Cu, Mo, Zn, and P concentrations increased, while Ba content decreased depending on specific plant species and year. Overall, composted biosolids application did not adversely affect semi-arid grassland ecosystem dynamics.