Evaluation of Seasonal Dynamics of Soil Macro-Nutrients and Corn Nutrient Uptake in Fields Amended with Three Types of Municipal Biosolids

Abstract

Field-based experiments are being conducted to examine the effect of three municipal biosolids (composted, liquid mesophilic anaerobically digested, and alkaline stabilized) on soil nutrient dynamics, applied over three years in Nova Scotia. A total of fifteen treatments are being evaluated in this study based on management associated with surface vs. incorporation of biosolids and the application of biosolids with urea supplementation. The results suggest that alkaline treated biosolids can increase soil pH in acidic agricultural soil. The incorporation of biosolids was greater than the surface spreading on soil mineral nitrogen, crop yield, and nitrogen uptake, but no management practices and rate effects were observed on Mehlich 3 extractable P and K and plant P and K uptake in this study. Crop responses highly depended on N availability and weather conditions and were greatest for alkaline treated biosolids > liquid mesophilic anaerobically digested biosolids > biosolids compost.