Nitrogen mineralization in soils treated with fly ash-amended wastewater sludges

Abstract

Alkaline-treated wastewater sludges with varying doses of fly ash were added to a clay soil at rates equivalent to 100 t (dry weight) raw sludge ha(-1) soil, and the variations in ammonium, nitrate, and total nitrogen contents were monitored throughout an incubation period of 360 days at 28 degrees C. The results showed that inhibition of organic nitrogen mineralization occurred in soil amended with fly ash-containing sludge during the first 90 days of incubation. After the total incubation period of 360 days, the inhibition effects of alkaline sludge amendments totally disappeared. In fact, mineralization was enhanced in alkaline pasteurized sludges containing 80% and 120% fly ash. The overall results indicated that application of sludges amended with fly ash may prolong the use (3 to 6 months) of nitrogen from the organic nitrogen pool in sludge.