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NO2 − and NO3 − leaching and solubilization of Al in variable charge soils treated with sewage sludge

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Abstract

The use of sewage sludge (SS) for agricultural purposes provides macronutrients and micronutrients and increases the soil organic matter. This study was conducted after 5 years of agricultural sludge application to a variable charge soil (clay loam-textured dark red dystroferric oxisol) in an experimental field at the Brazilian Federal Agriculture Research Institute in Jaguariúna, São Paulo. The mineralization of SS organic matter forms sulfate (SO4 2−) and ammonium (NH4 +) or ammonia (NH3). Subsequently, nitrification of NH4 + or NH3 occurs, resulting in the formation of nitrite (NO2 −) and NO3 − which release H+ and increases the redox potential of the solution. In studied area, the SS organic matter decomposition favored the anion exclusion, which led to SO4 2−, NO2 − and NO3 − leaching along the profile. At 2 m, the soil solution showed pH and Eh values of 4.2 and 600 mV, respectively. In addition, the highest soil NO2 − (27 mg/L), NO3 − (1220 mg/L) and Al (20 mg/L) concentrations were observed at 2 m. The low pH and high Eh at 2 m potentially resulted from the oxidation of leached NO2 −. Furthermore, the H+ released in solution due to nitrification was partially consumed during the solubilization of soil Al compounds, such as kaolinite and amorphous Al oxide. Geochemical modeling (GM) indicated that Al3+ in solution results from the solubilization of kaolinite and amorphous Al oxide. GM also highlights the importance of soil oxide protonation in buffering the soil solution acidity and in controlling the solubility of Al compounds and free Al in solution.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by Grants from FAPESP (02/09667-3; 02/12671-2; 03/10949-6).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Instituto de Geociências, UNICAMP, João Pandiá Calógeras, 51, Campinas, SP, CEP 13083-870, Brazil

    Ricardo Perobelli Borba

  2. Centro de Solos e Recursos Ambientais, Instituto Agronômico-SP, Av. Barão de Itapura, 1481, Campinas, SP, CEP 13012-970, Brazil

    Otávio Antonio de Camargo & Aline Reneé Coscione

  3. Centro de Alimentos, Instituto Adolfo Lutz, Av. Dr. Arnaldo, 355, São Paulo, SP, CEP 01246-902, Brazil

    Carmen Silvia Kira

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  1. Ricardo Perobelli Borba
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  2. Otávio Antonio de Camargo
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  3. Carmen Silvia Kira
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  4. Aline Reneé Coscione
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Correspondence to Ricardo Perobelli Borba.

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Borba, R.P., de Camargo, O.A., Kira, C.S. et al. NO2 − and NO3 − leaching and solubilization of Al in variable charge soils treated with sewage sludge. Environ Earth Sci 74, 4625–4638 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-015-4428-1

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