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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Kimberly, Idaho » Northwest Irrigation and Soils Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #235443
Title: Continuous biosolids application affects grain elemental concentrations in a dryland-wheat agroecosystem

Author
item BARBARICK, K - COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY
item Ippolito, James

Submitted to: Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/10/2008
Publication Date: 1/1/2009
Citation: Barbarick, K.A., Ippolito, J.A. 2009. Continuous biosolids application affects grain elemental concentrations in a dryland-wheat agroecosystem. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment. 129:340-343.

Interpretive Summary: Continuous biosolids land changes trace-element availability to plants over time. Consequently, what models could best predict wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) grain concentrations in a biosolids-amended dryland agroecosystem? We calculated paraboloid, linear, quadratic, and exponential-rise-to-a maximum equations for grain element concentrations versus number of biosolids applications and/or soil ammonium bicarbonate-dithethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid extract concentrations for sites that had received six biosolids applications. A paraboloid-regression model was superior to other models, suggesting that this model would be applicable to other soils classified as fine, smectitic, mesic Aridic Argiustolls.

Technical Abstract: Continuous land application of biosolids in a beneficial-use program changes trace-element availability to plants over time. Consequently, what regression model, if any, could best predict wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) grain concentrations in a biosolids-amended dryland agroecosystem? We calculated paraboloid, linear, quadratic, and exponential-rise-to-a maximum equations for grain Ba, Cd, Cu, Mn, Mo, Ni, P, and Zn concentration versus number of biosolids applications and/or soil ammonium bicarbonate-dithethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (AB-DTPA) extract concentrations for two sites that had each received six applications of Littleton/Englewood, Colorado USA Wastewater Treatment Facility biosolids. The paraboloid-regression models were superior (higher R-squared values, lower standard error of the estimate) to other models. Soils classified the same as the Weld soil (used in this study) at the family level (fine, smectitic, mesic Aridic Argiustolls) encompass 25 soil series in 10 US states with an aerial extent of 2.3 million ha. The paraboloid-regression-model approach probably would be applicable to these similarly classified soils.