Effect of Alkaline—Stabilised Sewage Sludge on Extractable Organic Carbon and Copper in Soils

An incubation experiment was conducted to evaluate the potential for water contamination with sludge-derived organic substances and copper following land application of alkaline-stabilised sewage sludge. Two contrasting sludge-amended soils were studied. Both soils were previously treated with urban and rural alkaline biosolids separately at sludge application rates of 0, 30 and 120 t ha super(-1) fresh product. The air-dried soil/sludge mixtures were wetted with distilled water, maintained at 40 % of water-holding capacity and equilibrated for three weeks at 4 degree C before extraction. Subsamples were extracted with either distilled water or 0.5 mol L super(-1) K sub(2)SO sub(4) solution. The concentrations of organic C in the aqueous and chemical extracts were determined directly with a total organic carbon (TOC) analyser. The concentrations of Cu in the two extracts were also determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The relationship between the two extractable organic C fractions was examined, together with that between extractable organic C concentration and extractable Cu concentration. Application of alkaline biosolids increased the concentrations of soil mobile organic substances and Cu. The results are discussed in terms of a possible increase in the potential for leaching of sludge-derived organics and Cu in the sludge-amended soils.