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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Florence, South Carolina » Coastal Plain Soil, Water and Plant Conservation Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #146413
Title: REDUCTION IN EXCESS SOIL PHOSPHORUS CONCENTRATIONS USING WATER TREATMENT RESIDUALS

Author
item Novak, Jeffrey
item Watts, Donald - Don

Submitted to: Sustainable Land Application Conference
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/1/2003
Publication Date: 1/4/2004
Citation: Novak, J.M., Watts, D.W. 2004. Reduction in excess soil phosphorus concentrations using water treatment residuals [abstract]. Sustainable Land Application Conference. p. 114.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Livestock production in the southeastern Coastal Plain region has created environmental concern from the effects of excess soil phosphorus (P) concentrations on water quality. In many Coastal aquatic ecosystems, water quality can be at risk by elevated P transport via runoff, erosion, and leaching from sandy soils that contain excess P. While there are examples of best management practices that physically minimize off-site P movement by reducing runoff water losses, little information exists on the potential of using chemical amendments to complex P. One such chemical amendment is alum-containing water treatment residual (WTR) material. Water treatment residual is a waste byproduct created while flocculating sediments during the drinking water purification process. The WTR material has a high P-binding capacity because it contains Al-oxides and hydroxides. Land application of WTR to soils that contain excess soil P may reduce off-site P transport by fixing P into relatively insoluble forms. We conducted a laboratory experiment to determine if WTR could reduce the excess amounts of plant available (Mehlich-3) and salt-extractable P (0.01M CaCl2) mixed into two sandy Coastal Plain soils. Water treatment residual material was mixed into these soils at ratios of 0, 1, 2.5 and 5% (w/w) and incubated in the laboratory for 0 to 6 weeks. In addition, we also measured soil pH and electrical conductivity. These results were compared to results obtained from unamended soils to evaluate the magnitude of changes in soil chemical properties.