CREAMS-NT, a modified version of the field-scale model for Chemicals, Runoff, and Erosion from Agricultural Management Systems (CREAMS) model, was developed to simulate the nitrogen (N) transformations and subsequent nutrient transport processes which occur in the soil following organic waste applications. CREAMS-NT accounts for nutrient addition through fertilization and rainfall and losses of N by volatilization, denitrification, plant uptake, leaching, and overland flow. Data required by CREAMS-NT includes runoff volume, sediment yield, percolation, and soil environmental conditions which is generated by the hydrologic and erosion components of the original CREAMS model. The mineralization, nitrification, denitrification, ar1d volatilization processes are simulated using firstâ order knetic equations adjusted for the effects of soil environmental conditions including temperature, moisture, pH, soil/sludge contact, and soil cation exchange capacity. Prior to a runoff event, soil ammnonium-N (NH4 â N) is partitioned between adsorbed and desorbed phases. CREAMS-NT predicts the transport of organic-N, NH4 â N, and sediment=bound phosphorus (P3b) in runoff using enrichment ratios. The transport of soluble nutrients, nitrate-N (NO3 â N), NH4 â N, and soluble P (PTF), is estimated using extraction coefficients. / Master of Science

Previous research has shown that crop land application of alum sludge can be a valuable method of residuals disposal and has been demonstrated to cause no adverse effects on soil properties and crop yields. Studies have shown that with good soil management practices essential plant macronutrient levels can be maintained to support good crop growth. This study investigated the application of water treatment residuals in both field studies and greenhouse pot studies in order to determine the effects on soils properties and crop yields. Alum sludge collected from the Blacksburg-Christiansburg-VPI Water Authority and Radford Water Treatment Plant was land applied in the Spring of 1992. Two separate crop rotations, corn followed by wheat, were grown and harvested during the two-year field study. A greenhouse pot study using lettuce and radish plants was initiated in the Spring of 1993. Soil and plant tissue samples were collected and analyzed for the field and greenhouse studies. Harvest yields were also carefully monitored and recorded. The results of the laboratory analysis provided information on nutrient concentrations in soil and uptake by plants, and also soil and plant tissue elemental accumulations. Alum and PACI sludge at loading rates of up to 2.5% had no negative impacts on wheat yield. The growth study using lettuce and radish plants concluded that residual additions at low levels improved crop yield and that residual aging prior to land application was essential for good yield. / Master of Science

Research was conducted in 1984 and 1985 to determine N and P availabilities for barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) and com ( Zea mays L.) grown on four sludge-amended soils. Tests were conducted on the Acredale silt loam (Typic Ochraquall), Bojac loamy sand (Typic Hapludult), Davidson clay loam (Rhodic Paleudult), and Groseclose silt loam (Typic Hapludult) soils. An aerobically·digested sewage sludge from a sewage treatment plant with major industrial irrputs was applied at rates of 0, 42, and 84 dry Mg ha' 1 on the poorly-drained Acredale soil. Rates of 0, 42, 84, 126, 168, and 210 dry Mg ha'1 were applied on the well-drained Bojac, Davidson, and Groseclose soils. The 210 dry Mg haâ 1 sludge rate supplied 3300 and 6600 kg of N and P haâ 1, respectively. A 14-day anaerobic N incubation study indicated that mirreralization varied from approximately nine to four percent of sludge N from the 42 to 210 Mg haâ 1 application rates, respectively. Sludge application increased N uptake (rz = 0.98** to 0.99**) by the 1984 com grown on the three well-drained soils. Nitrogen balance data indicated that quantities of unrecovered N ranged from six to 21 percent where sludge was applied. / Master of Science

published_or_final_version / Botany / Master / Master of Philosophy

Thesis (MTech (Horticulture))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2016. / Waste management in winery and distillery industries faces numerous disposal challenges as large volumes of both liquid and solid waste by-products are generated yearly during cellar practices. Composting has been suggested a feasible option to beneficiate solid organic waste. This incentivized the quest for efficient composting protocols to be put in place. The objective of this study was to experiment with different composting strategies for spent winery solid waste. Compost materials consisting of chopped pruning grape stalks, skins, seed and spent wine filter material consisting of a mixture of organic and inorganic expend ingredients were mixed in compost heaps. The filter material component varied (in percentage) among five treatments: T1 (40%) lined, T2 (20%) lined, T3 (0%) lined, T4 (40%) grinded material, lined and T5 (40%) unlined. Composting was allowed to proceed in open air over 12 months, from autumn to summer. Indicators such as temperature, moisture, enzyme activities, microbial counts, pH, and C/N ratio, were recorded. Generally, season (df =3, 16, P < 0.05) had significant effects (df =1, 3, P < 0.05) on heap temperature and moisture in all treatments. Similarly, microorganisms (actinobacteria and heterotrophs) varied significantly in all treatments in response to seasonal change (df = 3, 16; P < 0.05). Enzyme activities fluctuated in accordance with seasonal factors and compost maturity stages, with phosphatases, esterases, amino-peptidases, proteases and glycosyl-hydrolases being most prominent. Compared to treatments T2 and T3, compost treatments with higher percentage waste filter materials (T1, T4 and T5) had higher N (16100-21300 mg/kg), P (1500-2300 mg/kg), K (19800-28200 mg/kg), neutral pH, and lower C/N ratios (13:1-10:1), which were also comparable with commercially produced composts. Filter materials therefore, appears to be a vital ingredient for composting of winery solid waste.

Scarcity of water for irrigation is a serious hindrance for small-scale farmers in sub-Saharan Africa. The use of good quality water for irrigation has resulted in increasing pressure on such water which has prompted sourcing of wastewater as an alternative. One possibility, being investigated by eThekwini Water and Sanitation (Durban, South Africa), is to install anaerobic baffled reactors within local communities to treat wastewater to allow its use for agriculture. The success of wastewater irrigation depends on the ability of the soil to assimilate the water, nutrients and any other contaminants that are applied to it. The aim of this project was to investigate the potential of an anaerobic baffled reactor (ABR) effluent as both an irrigation and nutrient source for use in peri-urban agriculture. The effluent was slightly alkaline (pH 7.40–7.60) and in class C2S1 (medium-salinity/low sodicity water) according to the United States Soil Salinity Laboratory classification for irrigation waters. It was very low in heavy metals, values being below permissible levels according to the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations and the South African Department of Water Affairs and Forestry (DWAF) guidelines for water use in agriculture. The total solids were low thus particulate matter was minimal with a greater concentration of the major elements found in solution. An investigation was carried out to ascertain the behaviour of the effluent when applied to soil and how the soil was able to adsorb plant nutrients from it. A soil column study was undertaken in the laboratory with three contrasting soil types namely a sandy soil (Longlands, E horizon), an organic soil (Inanda, A horizon) and a clayey soil (Sepane, A horizon). The effluent was leached through the soil while distilled water was concurrently used as a control. Results indicated that after application of 16 pore volumes, leachates from the columns contained concentrations of Na, equal to that in the incoming effluent for all soils. The concentrations of Ca and Mg were lower in the leachates than in the original effluent indicating adsorption in the soils. Phosphorus was the element that was most strongly adsorbed in all soils. While its adsorption in the Ia could be attributed to organic matter and the presence of iron oxides and oxyhydroxides, the clay type and amount in the Sepane was likely to have been responsible for P adsorption. The NO₃-N, which was initially low in the effluent, increased as leaching progressed, while the NH₄-N decreased. In the water-leached columns, elements were leached out of soil because none were added with the water. At the end of leaching, columns were allowed to drain and then sectioned into 2 cm segments. The 0-2 cm, 8-10 cm and 14-16 cm segments representing the top, middle and bottom parts of the column were analysed for inorganic-N, phosphorus and potassium. The elemental content of the 0-2 cm segment was significantly higher (p<0.05) than the lower segments in all columns for soluble P in all soils. This reflects the immobile nature of P in soils and confirmed the high amounts of P retained by the soils. There were significant differences between the effluent and the water-leached soils in terms of P retention. The amount of inorganic-N and K in the top layer was not significantly different from the other layers. In the Ia 0–2 cm segment, a pH increase of about 1.3 pH units was recorded in the effluent-leached columns when compared to the equivalent segment in the water-leached columns. A glasshouse study was undertaken to assess the availability to maize of nutrients from the effluent. Maize was grown for 6 weeks in pots filled with the same soil types used in the columns study except that a similar sandy soil, Cartref (Cf, E horizon), replaced the Lo due to inadequate availability of the latter. Fertilizer (N, P and K) was applied at the full recommended rate, half the recommended rate and zero fertilizer for each of the three soils used. This corresponded to 0, 100, 200 kg N ha⁻¹ for all soils; 0, 40, 80 kg P ha⁻¹ and 0, 50, 100 kg K ha⁻¹ for the Cf; 0, 10, 20 kg P ha⁻¹ and 0, 102.5, 205 kg K ha⁻¹ for Ia; and 0, 30, 60 kg P ha⁻¹ and 0, 5, 10 kg K ha⁻¹ for Se. Lime was applied to the Ia soil at the rate of 10 t ha⁻¹. Plants were watered with either effluent or tap water. Dry matter yield and nutrient concentrations for effluent-irrigated maize were significantly higher (p<0.05) than for all equivalent fertilizer applications in the water-irrigated plants. The unfertilized effluent-irrigated plants were not significantly different from the fertilized water-irrigated plants, but performed as well as the water-irrigated plants at half fertilization irrespective of soil type. Phosphorus deficiency was observed in the Ia and Se soils but not in the Cf soil, irrespective of fertilizer treatment. Plants grown on the Cf soil irrigated with effluent and fully fertilized had the highest above-ground dry matter yield (4.9 g pot⁻¹) and accumulated the most nutrients namely N, P, K, Ca and Mg than all other treatments. After harvest the most marked changes had occurred in the Cf soil for P as the effluent-irrigated soils were significantly higher (p<0.05) than the water-irrigated soils reflecting the P input from the effluent. The effect of effluent on soil and plants was further investigated by planting maize on the Ia soil without lime application. Plants that received effluent irrigation and no lime had significantly higher (p<0.05) dry matter yields and accumulated more N, P and K than the water-irrigated with no lime as well as the equivalent limed treatments. This suggests an interaction effect between the lime and the effluent with its effects obvious on above-ground dry matter yield and plant N, P and Mg. A soil column experiment using the Cf, Ia and Se soils and planted with maize was conducted to assess the ability of plants to take up nutrients with concurrent leaching. Plants from the Cf soil recorded the lowest above-ground dry matter yield which was observed from the less vigorous growth as compared to plants in the Ia and Se soils. This growth pattern could also be explained by the low N accumulation in the plants from the Cf soil. Unlike N, P in plants grown on the Cf soil was significantly higher (p<0.05) than in the plants on the Ia and Se soils, despite having the least P gain from the effluent. The readily available P triggered both more uptake and also greater losses through leaching. The rate at which P was being supplied from the effluent was greater than its uptake by the plants and with limited capacity to hold onto P in this sandy soil there was inevitably loss though leaching. A pot experiment was conducted to investigate the interaction effects between lime and effluent. Lime type (calcium hydroxide or dolomite) was applied to two acidic top soils namely Inanda and Avalon at 0%, 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% of the recommended rates for these soils. Maize was planted and after 6 weeks it was harvested and evaluated for above-ground dry matter yields and plant nutrient concentrations. Non-significant effects were recorded for above-ground dry matter, N, P and K as a result of altering the liming rate and type within each soil. The effects of lime application were apparent in the soils after harvest as increasing the lime rate caused an increase in pH and an inverse relationship with the exchangeable acidity and acid saturation in soils, as expected. Although the unlimed treatments did not impact on the acidity as much as the limed treatments, effluent irrigation was shown to reduce soil acidity after harvest when compared to the soils at the beginning of the experiment. Phosphorus accumulation in plants was also unaffected by either lime rate or type which showed that effluent irrigation could influence P availability and further liming would not accrue benefits to the soil so as to influence plant P uptake. Based on these data, ABR effluent could be perceived as a resource rather than a waste product. It could conveniently be used for irrigation provided there is soil and plant monitoring to assess build-up of elements especially in the long term. Further investigations have to be carried out on other crop types both in the field and glasshouse to ascertain nutrient uptake and effect on different soil types. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2012.

High rate algae oxidation ponds (HRAOP) for domestic wastewater treatment generate biosolids that are predominantly microalgae. Consequently, HRAOP biosolids are enriched with minerals, amino acids, nutrients and possibly contain plant growth regulator (PGR)-like substances, which makes HRAOP biosolids attractive as fertiliser or PGR. This study investigated HRAOP biosolids as a starting material for a natural, cost-effective and readily-available eco-friendly organic fertiliser and/or PGRs. Various HRAOP extract formulations were prepared and their effect on plant growth and development was evaluated using selected bioassays. Initial screening included assessing the effect on change in specific leaf area, radish cotyledon expansion as an indicator of PGR-like activity, and seed germination index (GI). More detailed studies on fertiliser efficacy and PGR-like activity utilised bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) and tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) plants. Combined effects of sonicated (S) and 40% v/v methanol (M) extract (5:1 SM) had impressive plant responses, comparable to Hoagland solution (HS). Other potentially fertiliser formulations included 0.5% M, 1% M, 2.5% S and 5% S formulations. The 5:1 SM and 5% S showed greater PGR-like activity, promoting cotyledon expansion by 459 ± 0.02% and 362 ± 0.01%, respectively. GI data showed that none of the formulations negatively impacted germination. Further investigation showed that the 5% S formulation increased leaf length, width and area by 6.69 ± 0.24, 6.21 ± 0.2 mm and 41.55 ± 0.2 mm². All formulated fertiliser extracts had no adverse effect on chlorophyll content and plant nutrient balance as indicated by C:N (8-10:1) ratio. In addition, plants appeared to actively mobilise nutrients to regions where needed as evidenced by a shift in shoot: root ratio depending on C, N and water availability. Furthermore, 5% S caused a 75% increase in tomato productivity and had no effect on bean productivity. Whereas, 5:1 SM and 1% M formulation improved bean pod production by 33.3% and 11%, respectively but did not affect tomato production. Harvest index (HI) however indicated a 3% reduction in tomato productivity with 5:1 SM and little or no enhancement in bean productivity with both 5:1 SM and 5% S treatments. Bean plants treated with 5:1 SM and 5% S produced larger fruits, which could be an indication of the presence of a PGR effect. Overall, HRAOP biosolids extracts prepared and investigated in this study demonstrated both fertiliser characteristics and PGR-like activity with performances comparable and in some cases exceeding that of commercial products. However additional research is needed to confirm presence of PGR-like activities and fertiliser efficacy.

O lançamento de poluentes no ambiente tem estado sobre severo controle nos países desenvolvidos e vem crescendo a importância dada ao problema nos países em desenvolvimento, como o Brasil e Cabo Verde. Uma alternativa viável para a destinação de resíduos é a sua aplicação na agricultura, como recondicionante do solo, podendo se tornar relevante do ponto de vista econômico e ambiental. O presente estudo teve como objetivo avaliar os efeitos causados pelo uso do lodo de esgoto em solo cultivado com rabanete (Raphanus sativus L.). O trabalho foi conduzido em área experimental situada na Comunidade Famílias Unidas, no bairro de Santa Mônica, município de Camaragibe, Pernambuco, Brasil, em solo ARGISSOLO VERMELHO Distrófico. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi o de blocos casualizados, com cinco tratamentos (zero, 25, 50 e 75 Mg ha-1 de lodo de esgoto mais 25 Mg ha-1 de lodo de esgoto vermicompostado com a Vermelha da Califórnia Eisenia foetida) e três repetições. Os canteiros de alvenaria mediram 1 m de largura por 6 m de comprimento e 0,20 m de profundidade, com 21 fileiras espaçadas de 0,35 m entre fileiras e 0,15 m entre plantas. A colheita do rabanete foi realizada 30 dias após semeadura, observando-se, após análise estatística, uma produção em torno de 18 t/ha na dose equivalente a 25 Mg ha-1 de lodo de esgoto. Os demais parâmetros analisados também responderam de acordo com os limites da legislação à presença do lodo de esgoto / The release of pollutants in the environment has been under severe control in developed countries. In developing countries like Brazil and Cabo Verde this control has also been increasing. A viable alternative for the purpose of this waste is its application in agriculture as reconditionant soil, thus becoming important from the economic and environmental points of view. This study aimed to evaluate the effects caused by the use of sewage sludge on land cultivated with radish (Raphanus sativus L.). The work was conducted in an experimental area located in the United Families Community, in the district of Santa Monica, City of Camaragibe, Pernambuco, Brazil, using Dystrophic RED ARGISOIL soil. A randomized block experimental design with five treatments (zero, 25, 50 and 75 Mg ha-1 of sewage sludge and 25 Mg ha-1 of humus California red - Eisenia foetida) and three repetitions was used. The masonry plots measured 1 m wide, 6 m long and 0.20 m deep, with 21 rows spaced between rows of 0.35 m and 0.15 m between plants. The harvest of the radish was held 30 days after sowing. It was observed, after statistical analysis, a production of around 18 t / ha in the dose equivalent to 25 Mg ha-1 of sewage sludge. The other examined parameters had also a positive behaviour in the presence of sewage sludge

No description available.

Orientadores: Durval Rodrigues de Paula Junior, Sylvio Luis Honório / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Engenharia Agrícola / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-23T17:03:06Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Aguiar_RosaHelena_D.pdf: 2411611 bytes, checksum: cc0a7bb404d742457c915d8126132bf5 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013 / Resumo: O saneamento além de ser importante para a preservação dos recursos naturais representa uma ação preventiva eficaz para a melhoria do bem estar e da qualidade de vida da população nas questões relacionadas à saúde pública. A prática do uso de água residuária tem grandes vantagens, sobremaneira no aporte de nutrientes às plantas, fator que contribui para um crescimento mais rápido. Nesta pesquisa optou-se por utilizar o girassol (Helianthus annuus L.) ornamental que foi irrigado com águas residuárias. Objetivou-se a viabilidade do uso da área com disposição de esgoto tratado em reatores anaeróbios, por meio da avaliação do seu desenvolvimento e da sua produtividade durante três diferentes épocas de semeadura, visando reduzir os custos com nutrientes. Realizou-se esse experimento na área experimental da Faculdade de Engenharia Agrícola FEAGRI/UNICAMP, e foram avaliados cinco diferentes experimentos, dois deles por meio de reuso de efluentes de reatores - Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket (UASB) e Reator Anaeróbio Compartimentado (RAC) associado a filtros anaeróbios, enquanto que os outros foram constituídos de: Testemunha, sem qualquer tipo de irrigação; com irrigação, utilizando somente água tratada, e com água tratada em área fertilizada com NPK. Foram avaliados respostas fitomorfológicas da cultura, assim como: diâmetro dos caules (DC); altura das plantas (HP); diâmetro dos capítulos (DCp); massa seca dos caules e das folhas (MS); número de folhas (NF) e sua produtividade. Os sistemas modulares (UASB e RAC) de tratamento de esgoto apresentaram um bom desempenho, com elevados valores de remoção de SSed (98,72; 98,36%), e DQO (72,37; 75,79%) não havendo diferença significativa entre os sistemas de tratamento. Constatou-se também que os canteiros com tratamentos com reuso de efluentes promoveram alteração na fertilidade do solo, com o aumento nos valores de saturação por bases (V%) na profundidade de 0 - 20 cm. Analisando os efeitos sobre a cultura nos três plantios, verificou-se um melhor desenvolvimento nos canteiros com os tratamentos do efluente, quando comparado com os demais tratamentos principalmente no segundo e terceiro plantio. Sistemas modulares de tratamento de esgotos associados ao reuso agrícola de seus efluentes podem agregar valores à produção agrícola, podendo ser utilizado inclusive no período de chuvas e em locais onde há escassez de água pluvial / Abstract: Sanitation is also important for the preservation of natural resources, represents an effective preventive action to improve the well-being and quality of life of the population on issues related to public health. The practice of using wastewater has great advantages, particularly in the supply of nutrients to plants, factor that contributes to a faster growth. In this research we decided to use the Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) ornamental that was irrigated with wastewater. The viability of the use of the area with provision of treated sewage in anaerobic reactors, by assessing their development and their productivity during three different periods of sowing to reduce costs with nutrients. This research was developed in the experimental area of the Faculty of agricultural engineering FEAGRI/UNICAMP, and evaluated five different treatments, two of them by means of Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket reactors (UASB) and Anaerobic Reactor Chambered (ARC) associated with anaerobic filters, while the others were made up of: witness, without any kind of irrigation; with irrigation, using only treated water and treated water in the area fertilized with NPK. Fitomorfológicas culture responses were evaluated as: diameter of stems (DS); plant height (HP); diameter of the chapters (DCp); dry mass of stems and leaves (DM); number of leaves (NF) and your productivity. Modular systems (UASB and ARC) sewage treatment showed a good performance, with high values of removing SSed (98.72; 98.36), and COD (72.37; 75.79) with no significant difference between the treatment systems. It was noted also that the flower beds with wastewater reuse treatments promoted change in the fertility of the soil, with the increase in base saturation values (V%) at the depth of 0-20 cm. Analyzing the effects on culture in three plantations, there was a better development in the flower beds with the effluent treatments, when compared with the other treatments mainly in the second and third planting. Modular wastewater treatment system associated with the agricultural reuse of wastewater can add value to their agricultural production, and can be used throughout the year even in places where there is scarcity of rainwater / Doutorado / Agua e Solo / Doutor em Engenharia Agrícola