Skip to main content
ARS Home » Northeast Area » Beltsville, Maryland (BARC) » Beltsville Agricultural Research Center » Adaptive Cropping Systems Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #355652
Research Project: Environmental and Plant Factors That Influence Trace Element Bioavailability in Food Crops

Location: Adaptive Cropping Systems Laboratory

Title: Growth and metal uptake of edamame [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] on soil amended with biosolids and gypsum

Author
item Codling, Eton
item HIRPASSA, WELELLA - Addis Ababa University

Submitted to: Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/25/2018
Publication Date: 11/9/2018
Citation: Codling, E.E., Hirpassa, W. 2018. Growth and metal uptake of edamame [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] on soil amended with biosolids and gypsum. Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis. 49:2793-2801.

Interpretive Summary: Although biosolids (sewage sludge) are a rich source of plant nutrients, there is concern about potential heavy metal uptake by crops grown on biosolids-amended soils. This study was conducted to determine the effects of limed or composted biosolids and flue gas desulfurization gypsum (FGDG) on edamame (vegetable soybean) growth, nodule development, and metals uptake. Two consecutive crops of edamame were grown on biosolids amended soil with and without FGDG. Biosolids with or without FGDG did not reduce biomass (leaves, stems) nodules, or grain yields in the first harvest and increased yields of all three tissues in the second harvest. Lead and cadmium concentrations in grain and biomass were below instrument detection limits. Copper, manganese, and zinc were within the ranges normally found in soybean grain. Biosolids can support growth of edamame without unduly increasing grain metal concentrations. Further study is needed before biosolids are used in commercial edamame production.

Technical Abstract: Although biosolids are a rich source of plant nutrients, there is concern about potential heavy metal uptake by crops grown on biosolids-amended soils. This study was conducted to determine the effects of limed or composted biosolids and flue gas desulfurization gypsum (FGDG) on edamame growth, nodule development, and metals uptake. Two consecutive crops of edamame were grown on 40 and 80 T ha-1 biosolids-amended soil with and without 10 T ha-1 FGDG. Biosolids with or without FGDG did not reduce biomass, nodules, or grain yields in the first harvest and increased yields of all three tissues in the second harvest. Lead and cadmium concentrations in grain and biomass were below instrument detection limits. Copper, manganese, and zinc were within the ranges normally found in soybean grain. Biosolids can support growth of edamame without unduly increasing grain metal concentrations. Further study is needed before biosolids are used in commercial edamame production.