Biomass production and heavy metal uptake by crops grown in two contrasting soils amended with sewage sludge
Abstract The application of sewage sludge (SS) to agricultural soils offers a sustainable solution for waste management, allowing nutrient recycling through crop production. Heavy metals (HMs) in SS can accumulate in soils and crops, posing risks to the environment and bioaccumulation in the food ch...
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Springer
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Discover Soil |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1007/s44378-025-00075-y |
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| author | Laura Arló Andres Beretta Virginia Takata Gimena Arrarte Ariel Szogi Amabelia del Pino |
| author_facet | Laura Arló Andres Beretta Virginia Takata Gimena Arrarte Ariel Szogi Amabelia del Pino |
| author_sort | Laura Arló |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract The application of sewage sludge (SS) to agricultural soils offers a sustainable solution for waste management, allowing nutrient recycling through crop production. Heavy metals (HMs) in SS can accumulate in soils and crops, posing risks to the environment and bioaccumulation in the food chain. This study investigated the impact of SS amendment on biomass production, HMs uptake (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn) by four crops (chicory, tobacco, tomato and sorghum), and soil properties (pH, electrical conductivity, and HMs content) in a greenhouse experiment. A set of 4.5 L pots were filled with soil-sludge mixture for Typic Argiudoll (S1) and Typic Hapludoll (S2) soils at a 1.56% SS-soil dry weight ratio. Sewage sludge treatment reached 39 Mg ha−1 of dry SS. The amendment increased biomass production by 2.9–3.1 folds in chicory and tobacco respectively. All crops took up higher amounts of HMs from soils after SS application. Heavy metals concentrations in plant tissues remained below phytotoxic levels and crops were safe for consumption. At post-harvest, SS addition to S1 (acid soil) increased pH but reduced pH of S2 (alkaline soil). Electrical conductivity increased in S1 soil with SS. Soil HMs concentrations after SS application met agricultural regulations. Under these conditions, applying SS to agricultural soils represents a safe disposal procedure. Additionally, as different crops led to varying residual HMs concentrations, we suggest crop rotations to improve SS application sustainability. Monitoring the evolution of HMs levels in soils and plants under field conditions with extended SS land application remains essential to protect and preserve long-term soil health. Graphical abstract |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-674973d7ad144a81bc3356b9efda8aee |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 3005-1223 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | Springer |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Discover Soil |
| spelling | doaj-art-674973d7ad144a81bc3356b9efda8aee2025-08-20T03:47:24ZengSpringerDiscover Soil3005-12232025-06-012111910.1007/s44378-025-00075-yBiomass production and heavy metal uptake by crops grown in two contrasting soils amended with sewage sludgeLaura Arló0Andres Beretta1Virginia Takata2Gimena Arrarte3Ariel Szogi4Amabelia del Pino5Soil and Water Department, Faculty of Agronomy, University of the RepublicGeneral Directorate of Natural Resources, Ministry of Livestock, Agriculture and FisheriesSoil and Water Department, Faculty of Agronomy, University of the RepublicSoil and Water Department, Faculty of Agronomy, University of the RepublicU.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Coastal Plains Soil, Water and Plant Research CenterSoil and Water Department, Faculty of Agronomy, University of the RepublicAbstract The application of sewage sludge (SS) to agricultural soils offers a sustainable solution for waste management, allowing nutrient recycling through crop production. Heavy metals (HMs) in SS can accumulate in soils and crops, posing risks to the environment and bioaccumulation in the food chain. This study investigated the impact of SS amendment on biomass production, HMs uptake (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn) by four crops (chicory, tobacco, tomato and sorghum), and soil properties (pH, electrical conductivity, and HMs content) in a greenhouse experiment. A set of 4.5 L pots were filled with soil-sludge mixture for Typic Argiudoll (S1) and Typic Hapludoll (S2) soils at a 1.56% SS-soil dry weight ratio. Sewage sludge treatment reached 39 Mg ha−1 of dry SS. The amendment increased biomass production by 2.9–3.1 folds in chicory and tobacco respectively. All crops took up higher amounts of HMs from soils after SS application. Heavy metals concentrations in plant tissues remained below phytotoxic levels and crops were safe for consumption. At post-harvest, SS addition to S1 (acid soil) increased pH but reduced pH of S2 (alkaline soil). Electrical conductivity increased in S1 soil with SS. Soil HMs concentrations after SS application met agricultural regulations. Under these conditions, applying SS to agricultural soils represents a safe disposal procedure. Additionally, as different crops led to varying residual HMs concentrations, we suggest crop rotations to improve SS application sustainability. Monitoring the evolution of HMs levels in soils and plants under field conditions with extended SS land application remains essential to protect and preserve long-term soil health. Graphical abstracthttps://doi.org/10.1007/s44378-025-00075-yBioaccumulationHeavy metal toxicitySoil fertilitySoil healthSoil sludge amendment |
| spellingShingle | Laura Arló Andres Beretta Virginia Takata Gimena Arrarte Ariel Szogi Amabelia del Pino Biomass production and heavy metal uptake by crops grown in two contrasting soils amended with sewage sludge Discover Soil Bioaccumulation Heavy metal toxicity Soil fertility Soil health Soil sludge amendment |
| title | Biomass production and heavy metal uptake by crops grown in two contrasting soils amended with sewage sludge |
| title_full | Biomass production and heavy metal uptake by crops grown in two contrasting soils amended with sewage sludge |
| title_fullStr | Biomass production and heavy metal uptake by crops grown in two contrasting soils amended with sewage sludge |
| title_full_unstemmed | Biomass production and heavy metal uptake by crops grown in two contrasting soils amended with sewage sludge |
| title_short | Biomass production and heavy metal uptake by crops grown in two contrasting soils amended with sewage sludge |
| title_sort | biomass production and heavy metal uptake by crops grown in two contrasting soils amended with sewage sludge |
| topic | Bioaccumulation Heavy metal toxicity Soil fertility Soil health Soil sludge amendment |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1007/s44378-025-00075-y |
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