Soil Chemical Variation Along a Four-Decade Time Series of Reclaimed Water Amendments in Northern Idaho Forests
Application of municipal reclaimed water to forests for water reclamation is a pragmatic approach that provides water and nutrients to soil and lowers the liability of reclaimed water disposal, yet little is known about the long-term impacts of reclaimed water amendment on forest soil chemical prope...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2025-04-01
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| Series: | Soil Systems |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2571-8789/9/2/32 |
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| author | Temesgen G. Wedajo Eureka Joshi Ruifang Hu Daniel G. Strawn Mark D. Coleman |
| author_facet | Temesgen G. Wedajo Eureka Joshi Ruifang Hu Daniel G. Strawn Mark D. Coleman |
| author_sort | Temesgen G. Wedajo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Application of municipal reclaimed water to forests for water reclamation is a pragmatic approach that provides water and nutrients to soil and lowers the liability of reclaimed water disposal, yet little is known about the long-term impacts of reclaimed water amendment on forest soil chemical properties. We hypothesized that reclaimed water constituents will increase plant nutrient availability in soil with the magnitude of response depending on the facility establishment date. We collected samples from three mineral soil depths to 75 cm from treated and control plots at five water reuse facilities that represent a four-decade time series. Depth explained most of the observed variation. Several plant nutrients increased in soil at the different sites in response to reclaimed water treatments, including N, Ca, Fe, S, and B concentration as well as B content, while P was not significantly affected. Increases in cation concentrations positively correlated with pH and salinity. The treatment response was significantly greater at all facilities for total N, B and Na. However, the treatment response only occurred at long-established facilities for NO<sub>3</sub>-N and Ca concentrations and for Fe and S content. The outcomes of this study are useful for guiding future management of soil at forest water reclamation facilities and for limiting the risk of downstream environmental impacts. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-5e86fd9ef4c74aae83905937745258f7 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2571-8789 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Soil Systems |
| spelling | doaj-art-5e86fd9ef4c74aae83905937745258f72025-08-20T03:26:55ZengMDPI AGSoil Systems2571-87892025-04-01923210.3390/soilsystems9020032Soil Chemical Variation Along a Four-Decade Time Series of Reclaimed Water Amendments in Northern Idaho ForestsTemesgen G. Wedajo0Eureka Joshi1Ruifang Hu2Daniel G. Strawn3Mark D. Coleman4Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research, National Soil Research Center, Addis Ababa P.O. Box 2003, EthiopiaEnvironmental Science Program, Trinity College, Hartford, CT 06105, USADepartment of Environmental Science and Technology, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USADepartment of Soil and Water Systems, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID 83844, USADepartment of Forest, Rangeland, and Fire Sciences, College of Natural Resources, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID 83844, USAApplication of municipal reclaimed water to forests for water reclamation is a pragmatic approach that provides water and nutrients to soil and lowers the liability of reclaimed water disposal, yet little is known about the long-term impacts of reclaimed water amendment on forest soil chemical properties. We hypothesized that reclaimed water constituents will increase plant nutrient availability in soil with the magnitude of response depending on the facility establishment date. We collected samples from three mineral soil depths to 75 cm from treated and control plots at five water reuse facilities that represent a four-decade time series. Depth explained most of the observed variation. Several plant nutrients increased in soil at the different sites in response to reclaimed water treatments, including N, Ca, Fe, S, and B concentration as well as B content, while P was not significantly affected. Increases in cation concentrations positively correlated with pH and salinity. The treatment response was significantly greater at all facilities for total N, B and Na. However, the treatment response only occurred at long-established facilities for NO<sub>3</sub>-N and Ca concentrations and for Fe and S content. The outcomes of this study are useful for guiding future management of soil at forest water reclamation facilities and for limiting the risk of downstream environmental impacts.https://www.mdpi.com/2571-8789/9/2/32C/N ratioforest nutritionirrigationnitrificationsalinitywastewater facilities |
| spellingShingle | Temesgen G. Wedajo Eureka Joshi Ruifang Hu Daniel G. Strawn Mark D. Coleman Soil Chemical Variation Along a Four-Decade Time Series of Reclaimed Water Amendments in Northern Idaho Forests Soil Systems C/N ratio forest nutrition irrigation nitrification salinity wastewater facilities |
| title | Soil Chemical Variation Along a Four-Decade Time Series of Reclaimed Water Amendments in Northern Idaho Forests |
| title_full | Soil Chemical Variation Along a Four-Decade Time Series of Reclaimed Water Amendments in Northern Idaho Forests |
| title_fullStr | Soil Chemical Variation Along a Four-Decade Time Series of Reclaimed Water Amendments in Northern Idaho Forests |
| title_full_unstemmed | Soil Chemical Variation Along a Four-Decade Time Series of Reclaimed Water Amendments in Northern Idaho Forests |
| title_short | Soil Chemical Variation Along a Four-Decade Time Series of Reclaimed Water Amendments in Northern Idaho Forests |
| title_sort | soil chemical variation along a four decade time series of reclaimed water amendments in northern idaho forests |
| topic | C/N ratio forest nutrition irrigation nitrification salinity wastewater facilities |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2571-8789/9/2/32 |
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