Carbon sequestration value of biosolids applied to soil: A global meta-analysis

Wijesekara, Hasintha; Colyvas, Kim; Rippon, Paul; Hoang, Son A.; Bolan, Nanthi; Manna, M. C.; Ramesh, T.; Seshadri, Balaji; Vithanage, Meththika; Awad, Yasser M.; Surapaneni, Aravind; Saint, Christopher P.; Tian, Guangming; Torri, Silvana Irene; Ok, Yong Sik; Kirkham, M.B.

doi:10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.112008

Cited by 24 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 53 publications

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“…Reports such as this have led to recommendations that applying biosolids and other recycled organics can be used as a practice to increase soil carbon sequestration, reduce carbon dioxide emissions and mitigate the consequences of global warming. Many of these studies were, however, located in cooler, wetter and more temperate climates than semi‐arid Australia (Bolan et al, 2013; Wijesekara et al, 2021). A meta‐analysis conducted by Wijesekara et al (2021) of 297 studies on the effects of biosolid application which excluded alkaline soils indicated that SOC concentrations and stocks in the surface horizons initially increased but with increasing time, decreased, whereas a high application frequency increased SOC more than with a single application.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Many of these studies were, however, located in cooler, wetter and more temperate climates than semi‐arid Australia (Bolan et al, 2013; Wijesekara et al, 2021). A meta‐analysis conducted by Wijesekara et al (2021) of 297 studies on the effects of biosolid application which excluded alkaline soils indicated that SOC concentrations and stocks in the surface horizons initially increased but with increasing time, decreased, whereas a high application frequency increased SOC more than with a single application. Although our study was conducted in an alkaline vertisol, the results are comparable to those reported in the meta‐analysis by Wijesekera et al (2021).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A meta‐analysis conducted by Wijesekara et al (2021) of 297 studies on the effects of biosolid application which excluded alkaline soils indicated that SOC concentrations and stocks in the surface horizons initially increased but with increasing time, decreased, whereas a high application frequency increased SOC more than with a single application. Although our study was conducted in an alkaline vertisol, the results are comparable to those reported in the meta‐analysis by Wijesekera et al (2021). With respect to the present site, a high frequency of biosolid application at a sufficiently high rate to enhance SOC sequestration (Wijesekara et al., 2021) is difficult to support because production of composted biosolids by the Narrabri waste treatment facility is relatively low because of the small population of the town (pop.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A long‐term study by Tian et al (2009) showed that carbon sequestration rate was of the order of 1.73 (0.54–3.05) Mg C ha −1 year −1 in biosolid‐applied fields compared with −0.07 to 0.17 Mg C ha −1 year −1 in control fields where nutrient input was in the form of mineral fertilizer. A meta‐analysis by Wijesekara et al (2021) concluded that biosolid application rates of up to 100 Mg ha −1 increased soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks in the year following application but losses occurred subsequently. However, applying biosolids at such high rates with the aim of increasing soil carbon may result in negative environmental consequences and raise questions on its use as a sustainable soil management practice because excessive losses of nutrients such as nitrogen offsite Pu et al (2008) reported that between 12% and 29% of N contained in biosolids were lost through volatilization or emissions.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Soil nitrogen and carbon changes in a biosolid amended sodic vertisol with a history of treated sewage effluent‐enriched water irrigation

Nachimuthu

Hulugalle

Watkins

et al. 2021

Soil Use and Management

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The application of biosolids to cropping soils may improve soil health, supply nitrogen and other nutrients for crops. There are specific guidelines on the quantity of biosolids that can be applied to a soil to grow selected crops. However, some recommendations overlook environmental factors such as soil organic N and N supplied by irrigation water. We conducted a three‐year field monitoring programme to study the effect of biosolid application on sodicity, soil nitrogen and organic carbon status to a depth of 1.8 m in a vertisol with a history of sewage effluent water irrigation. Biosolid application had no effect on soil sodicity. Improvements in soil organic carbon (SOC) were short‐lived and occurred only during the first year. N accumulation and leaching below the root zone (1.2 m) occurred after two years and suggest a possible off‐farm environmental risk. The higher residual mineral N in biosolid treatment 2 years after application implies an opportunity to reduce N inputs in vertisols treated with biosolids and effluent water. The biosolid application rate of 35 Mg ha−1 was well below the nitrogen‐limited biosolid application rate (NLBAR) (100 Mg ha−1) under the current guidelines. This warrants further refinement of NLBAR to suit specific circumstances such as effluent‐enriched water irrigation and additional in‐crop fertilizer application.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Soil nitrogen and carbon changes in a biosolid amended sodic vertisol with a history of treated sewage effluent‐enriched water irrigation

Nachimuthu

Hulugalle

Watkins

et al. 2021

Soil Use and Management

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“… 149 Terrestrial ecosystems could increase C sequestration readily by restoring vegetation and incorporating organic soil amendments. 150 , 151 , 152 In addition to these terrestrial ecosystems, inland waters also emit CO 2 to the atmosphere, known as CO 2 evasion. The global inland water CO 2 evasion rate was estimated to exceed 7.70 Gt CO 2 -eq year −1 .…”

Section: Technologies For Enhanced Carbon Sink In Global Ecosystemsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Technologies and perspectives for achieving carbon neutrality

et al. 2021

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Global development has been heavily reliant on the overexploitation of natural resources since the Industrial Revolution. With the extensive use of fossil fuels, deforestation, and other forms of land-use change, anthropogenic activities have contributed to the ever-increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases (GHGs) in the atmosphere, causing global climate change. In response to the worsening global climate change, achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 is the most pressing task on the planet. To this end, it is of utmost importance and a significant challenge to reform the current production systems to reduce GHG emissions and promote the capture of CO 2 from the atmosphere. Herein, we review innovative technologies that offer solutions achieving carbon (C) neutrality and sustainable development, including those for renewable energy production, food system transformation, waste valorization, C sink conservation, and C-negative manufacturing. The wealth of knowledge disseminated in this review could inspire the global community and drive the further development of innovative technologies to mitigate climate change and sustainably support human activities.

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Water table effect on phosphorus solubility in biosolids‐amended soils

Vieira‐Filho,

Silveira,

Kohmann

et al. 2023

Soil Science Soc of Amer J

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The predominantly coarse texture of Florida Spodosols, limited P‐holding capacity, and fluctuating water table present major challenges for management of P, particularly in agricultural areas receiving biosolids. This study evaluated the impacts of water table level on P fate in Spodosols with contrasting P‐management histories. Treatments were a combination of soils with different biosolids histories (control [no biosolids], intermediate and high [biosolids‐P loads of 567 and 706 kg P ha−1, respectively]) and two moisture regimens (drained and flooded [water table at the depth of spodic horizon or 2 cm above soil surface, respectively]). Soil samples (A, E, and B horizons) were packed into PVC columns (96 cm tall, 11 cm in diameter), mimicking the soil profile. Leachate and pore water samples were collected at 2‐week intervals for 20 weeks. Regardless of treatment, proportion of P leached was low (∼0.2% total P mass). This was due to the significant P storage provided by the spodic horizon. Despite elevated soil P levels, Al and Fe added with biosolids reduced P solubility by as much as 55% compared with the control. Although flooding increased P leaching due to the reductive dissolution and hydrolysis of Al‐P and Fe‐P compounds, moisture regimen effects were generally negligible and inconsistent. Soil P storage capacity has been used as a risk assessment tool to determine biosolids‐P applications; however, our data demonstrated that additional field studies are needed to validate this concept, particularly its applicability and interpretation in biosolids‐amended soils that contain appreciable amounts of Fe‐ and Al‐organic complexes.

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Carbon sequestration value of biosolids applied to soil: A global meta-analysis

Cited by 24 publications

References 53 publications

Soil nitrogen and carbon changes in a biosolid amended sodic vertisol with a history of treated sewage effluent‐enriched water irrigation

Soil nitrogen and carbon changes in a biosolid amended sodic vertisol with a history of treated sewage effluent‐enriched water irrigation

Technologies and perspectives for achieving carbon neutrality

Water table effect on phosphorus solubility in biosolids‐amended soils

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