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Impact of Land Application of Sewage Sludge on Runoff Water Quality
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1989
Year
Sewage Sludge TreatmentEngineeringLand ApplicationMunicipal WastewaterWater Quality ManagementWastewater TreatmentSewage SludgeTillage ToolSurface RunoffAbstract Arainfall SimulatorWater QualityWastewater ManagementSurface ApplicationWaste ManagementSediment TransportRunoffEnvironmental EngineeringEnvironmental RemediationRunoff Water Quality
ABSTRACT Arainfall simulator was used to study the effects of tillage system and sludge application method and rate on runoff, sediment and nitrogen (N) losses from agricultural lands. Surface application and incorporation of sludge were studied. Anaerobically digested sewage sludge was applied at rates supplying 0, 75 and 150 kg/ha of plant available N. A total of 90 mm of rainfall, with an intensity of 40 to 45 mm/h, was applied to sixteen 0.01-ha plots, located on a silt loam soil. Runoff water samples were collected from plot discharge and later analyzed for sediment and nutrient contents. No-till was found to be effective in reducing runoff and sediment losses. Runoff and sediment losses decreased as sludge application rates increased, regardless of the tillage system. The surface application of sludge was more effective in reducing sediment losses than sludge incorporation. Nitrogen concentrations and yields were greater from conventional tillage plots than from no-till plots. Surface application of sludge to conventional tillage plots resulted in greater concentrations and yields of most forms of N, relative to incorporated sludge treatments. With respect to sediment and N yields in surface runoff, no-till appears to be a safer alternative for disposal of sewage sludge than conventional tillage system.