Stabilized municipal sewage sludge addition to improve properties of an acid mine soil for plant growth

Abstract

Purpose: Degraded soils, such as those encountered in areas of mine activities, need to be ameliorated by liming to correct soil acidity and by addition of organic inputs to improve soil properties and fertility. Materials and methods: Non-amended mine soil and soil amended with stabilized sewage sludge were incubated for 45 days. Soil physicochemical and biological indicators were periodically measured along incubation and other enzyme activities at the end of incubation. In improved soils, a study of plant development in 250-g pots was carried out with three vegetal species: tomato, rye grass and ahipa. Germination and mortality rates, biomass production and photosynthetic pigments were measured. Results and discussion: Soil incubation with sewage sludge slightly increased soil pH and led to an enhancement of soil electrical conductivity, organic carbon and dehydrogenase activity, especially for the higher doses (5 and 10%). However soil respiration was more promoted with the 2% dose, pointing to a possible toxic effect of the sludge. At the end of incubation, physicochemical and biological properties were in general enhanced. Biomass production was improved in tomato and rye grass by sewage sludge addition (more at the 2% dose), whilst ahipa growth was not affected by sewage sludge treatments. Tomato mortality reached 73% with high sludge doses (10%). Conclusions: According to this set of parameters, amendment with sewage sludge of a limed acid mine soil would be considered as a good strategy for soil amelioration in view of plant establishment and development.