Utilization of biosolids as fertilization agents on agricultural land: Do the obvious benefits of recycling organic matter and nutrients outweigh the potential risks?

Abstract

Treatment of wastewater, commonly performed at municipal sewage plants, generates sanitized water and sewage sludge. Anaerobic degradation of sewage sludge results in the production of different gases, including the economically valuable methane, and digested residue (biosolids) with potential value as a crop fertilizer. Traditionally, digested sewage sludge is disposed either into water, onto or into the earth or into the air. However, alternative exploitation of digested sewage sludge in agriculture has several advantages over commercial fertilizers, including environmental aspects benefiting agricultural sustainability and increased crop yield. Additionally, residue utilization is nearly always a cheaper option than disposal costs. Biosolids obtained from the treatment of municipal sewage sludge consist of a mixture of organic and mineral compounds that significantly affect soil microbial communities and their biogeochemical activities when applied as a crop fertilizer. The microorganisms influence soil quality through nutrient cycling, decomposition of organic matter and maintenance of soil structure, in turn, affecting agricultural and environmental quality, and subsequently, plant and animal health. Moreover, both soil and residue normally contain considerable quantities of microorganisms, including both beneficial and potentially human pathogenic species that may be supported by the new conditions in the soil. Thus, soil amended with biosolids may present a modified microbial community composition after some time and, hence, a modified ecosystem function. At the end of the present chapter, we discuss whether the potential risks of recycling biosolids to agricultural cropland are acceptable for consumers, producers and scientific expertise, in view of the resulting alterations in soil microbial diversity, activity and accompanying functions. Furthermore, optimal ways of managing the recycling process to achieve the most favourable balance of benefits and risks for the community are highlighted. © 2010 Nova Science Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved.

Published in

Title: Fluid Waste Disposal
Publisher: Nova Science Publishers

SLU Authors

• Arthurson, Veronica

  • Department of Molecular Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

UKÄ Subject classification

Water Treatment

Publication identifier

• ISBN: 9781607419150

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/132349