Effects of sewage sludge amendment on humic acids and microbiological properties of a semiarid Mediterranean soil |
| |
Authors: | Email author" target="_blank">J?C?García-GilEmail author C?Plaza N?Senesi G?Brunetti A?Polo |
| |
Institution: | (1) Centro de Ciencias Medioambientales, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Serrano 115 dpdo, 28006 Madrid, Spain;(2) Dipartimento di Biologia e Chimica Agroforestale ed Ambientale, University of Bari, Via Amendola 165/A, 70126 Bari, Italy |
| |
Abstract: | The residual effects of adding 40 t ha–1 sewage sludge (SL) to a degraded soil cropped with barley were investigated after 9 and 36 months in a field experiment under semiarid conditions. The principal soil properties were apparently still affected by SL amendment 9 months after application but the effects disappeared after 36 months. With respect to control soil humic acids (HAs), the SL-HA was characterized by higher contents of S- and N-containing groups, smaller contents of acidic groups, a prevalent aliphaticity, extended molecular heterogeneity, and smaller degrees of aromatic polycondensation and humification. Amendment with SL caused an increase in N, H, S and aliphaticity contents and a decrease in C/N ratios and O and acidic functional group contents in soil HAs isolated 9 months after SL application. These effects tended to decrease after 36 months, most probably because the slightly humified SL-HA was mineralised over time through extended microbial oxidation, while only the most recalcitrant components such as S-containing and aromatic structures were partially accumulated by incorporation into soil HA. Microbial biomass, basal respiration, metabolic quotient and enzymatic activities increased in soil 9 months after SL application, possibly because of increased soil microbial metabolism and enhanced mineralisation processes. After 36 months these properties returned to values similar to those of the unamended soil, presumably due to the loss of energy sources. |
| |
Keywords: | Semiarid Mediterranean soils Sewage sludge amendment Humic acids Microbial biomass Enzymatic activities |
本文献已被 SpringerLink 等数据库收录! |
|