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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Beltsville, Maryland (BARC) » Beltsville Agricultural Research Center » Adaptive Cropping Systems Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #360273
Research Project: Environmental and Plant Factors That Influence Trace Element Bioavailability in Food Crops

Location: Adaptive Cropping Systems Laboratory

Title: Assessing long-term biosolids application to agricultural soils on Cd, Cu, Mn, Pb, and Zn concentration levels

Author
item Codling, Eton

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/23/2019
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Trace metal concentrations, as a result of a long-term biosolids amendments to soils depends on several factors (e.g. source, application rates, soil properties and management). The goal of this ongoing study is to determine the movement and levels of trace metals, such as cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), lead (Pb), and zinc (Zn) over time in long-term biosolids amended fields from three States and six different soil series classifications. Soil samples were collected from two depths (0-15 and 15-30 cm) over time at each site and samples were also collected from the associated adjacent fields which did not receive biosolids. Soil pH, total carbon, and trace metals concentrations were determined for all samples collected. Preliminary data shows that the soil pH at 0-15 cm sample was lower compared to the 15-30 cm soil depth regardless of the sampling date, while total carbon was higher at the 0-15 cm soil depth. Total trace element concentrations decreased significantly with increasing depth. Although, trace element concentrations decreased over time, in most cases the difference were not significant. A more comprehensive result will be presented after our analysis is completed.