Applied and Environmental Soil Science · 2011 · 11 citations · 25 references
AgricultureAgronomySoil SciencesSoil MicrobiologySoil Organic MatterSoil ScienceMineralizationNutrient MineralizationSoil Enzyme ActivitySoil Microbial BiomassSoil Microbial PhysiologySoil Nitrogen ChemistryHydrolysisMicrobial Biomass In Agricultural SoilsMineralization In Agricultural SoilsNitrogen MineralizationSoil Nitrogen MineralizationSoil Organic Matter CharacterizationSoil Organic Matter ContentSoil Properties
Tannery land plaster (TLP) is a byproduct of lime hydrolysis of leather shavings. Its use in agriculture (organic C ≈ 17%, N ≈ 6% dm) could represent an alternative to landfill or incineration, but the high Cr(III) content (≈5% dm) makes it necessary to evaluate the effect on soil biochemical properties. TLP was therefore added at the rates of 220 and 440 kg of N ha −1 to 2 agricultural soils and incubated for 56 days under controlled conditions. Extractable NH 4 + -N and NO 3 − -N, CO 2 -C evolution, microbial biomass-N, protease activity, and extractable Cr were monitored. The organic N was readily mineralized (>50% in the first week) and a significant increase in microbial activity was measured, regardless of soil type and addition rate. Extractable Cr(III) quickly decreased during the incubation. The absence of a negative impact on soil biochemical properties seems to support the use of TLP in agriculture, although further investigations in long-term field experiments are suggested.
25