Modelling the risk of nitrate leaching from two soils amended with five different biosolids

Abstract

High N concentrations in biosolids are one of the strongest reasons for their agricultural use. However, it is essential to understand the fate of N in soils treated with biosolids for both plant nutrition and managing the environmental risk of NO3̇-N leaching. This work aimed at evaluating the risk of NO3̇-N leaching from a Spodosol and an Oxisol, each one treated with 0.5-8.0 dry Mg ha-1 of fresh tertiary sewage sludge, composted biosolids, limed biosolids, heat-dried biosolids and solar-irradiated biosolids. Results indicated that under similar application rates NO3̇-N accumulated up to three times more in the 20 cm topsoil of the Oxisol than the Spodosol. However, a higher water content ..