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Effects of sewage sludge amendment and wetting–drying cycles of wastewater irrigation on structural improvement of clay soil

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Abstract

Improving the structure of clay soils with sewage sludge to achieve better aeration and infiltration is one of the practical ways to maintain sustainable use of agricultural land. Furthermore, wetting–drying processes on the surface caused by changing irrigation intervals can supplement benefits to structural improvement under wastewater irrigation conditions. Therefore, a laboratory model study was carried out using three sewage sludge doses (50, 100, and 150 Mg ha−1), two types of water (freshwater, recycled wastewater) and three irrigation intervals (4, 8, and 12 days; as wetting–drying cycles) in clay soil containers. The highest dose caused a lower pH (6.92) and particle density (2.612), while organic matter (4.33%), CaCO3 (2.21%), electrical conductivity (2.476 dS m−1), wet aggregate stability (74.3%), field capacity (0.395 m3 m−3), stable and mean infiltration rates (10.4 and 13.9 mm h−1) increased. Wastewater increased electrical conductivity, CaCO3 content and bulk density, and decreased porosity and macro-porosity. The highest irrigation interval decreased particle density, and increased electrical conductivity and organic matter content. The moderate irrigation interval was the most effective option in delivering higher mean infiltration rates. It can be concluded that adding sewage sludge to clay soil, especially at a dose of 150 Mg ha−1 is an appropriate option to improve infiltration with better wet aggregate stability. Wastewater irrigation in clay soil can be a practical way both to dispose waste and to save freshwater. Long irrigation intervals can maintain organic matter for a longer time.

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Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank all who assisted in conducting this work.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Agricultural Structures and Irrigation, Faculty of Agriculture, Ataturk University, 25240, Erzurum, Turkey

    A. N. Aboubacar Dan Badaou & U. Sahin

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  1. A. N. Aboubacar Dan Badaou
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  2. U. Sahin
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Correspondence to U. Sahin.

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The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

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Editorial responsibility: Samareh Mirkia.

This study has been supported by BAP Coordination Unit at Ataturk University in Turkey as financially with the project number of FYL-2018–6843.

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Badaou, A.N.A.D., Sahin, U. Effects of sewage sludge amendment and wetting–drying cycles of wastewater irrigation on structural improvement of clay soil. Int. J. Environ. Sci. Technol. 19, 6453–6466 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13762-021-03585-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13762-021-03585-8

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