ARS | Publication request: Effect of long-term application of biosolids on biological soil quality: C mineralization, and particulate and non-particulate soil organic C

Submitted to: Soil Science Society of America Annual Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: November 1, 2010
Publication Date: November 1, 2010
Citation: Tian, G., Franzluebbers, A.J., Granato, T.C., Cox, A.E., O'Connor, C. 2010. Effect of long-term application of biosolids on biological soil quality: C mineralization, and particulate and non-particulate soil organic C. Annual Meeting of the Soil Science Society of America October 31 - November 4, 2010, Long Beach, California. CDROM, Paper No. 61204.

Technical Abstract: Assessment of C mineralization and fractions in biosolids-amended soil can increase our knowledge on the impact of biosolids application on soil nutrient availability and C sequestration. Soil samples were collected in 2006 from 20 strip-mined fields at Fulton County, Illinois, which received biosolids application from 1972-2004. Since the strip-mined soil was depleted in SOC at the start of the biosolids application, it provides an ideal condition to quantify the change in SOC fractions. The C mineralization was determined using the laboratory incubation and particulate organic C (POC) using wet sieving. Application of biosolids considerably increased the potential C mineralization, POC, and non-POC, and such effects increased with the increase in biosolids application rate. As the C mineralization and POC are directly related to soil nutrient supply, and the non-POC is the C associated with clay and represents more stabilized and humified C, these results imply that long-term application of biosolids can increase soil capacity to both supply plant nutrients and sequester C.