You are here:
EFFECT OF LAND DISPOSAL APPLICATIONS OF MUNICIPAL ENVIRONMENTAL WASTES ON CROP YIELDS AND HEAVY METAL UPTAKE
Citation:
Giordano, P. AND D. Mays. EFFECT OF LAND DISPOSAL APPLICATIONS OF MUNICIPAL ENVIRONMENTAL WASTES ON CROP YIELDS AND HEAVY METAL UPTAKE. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., EPA/600/2-77/014 (NTIS PB266649), 1977.
Description:
This report provides the cumulative data acquired from 1969 through 1975 from field and greenhouse investigations pertaining to the effects on selected soils and plants from municipal compost and sewage sludge applications. Multiple applications of composted municipal refuse resulted in satisfactory crop growth with only moderate increase of some heavy metals in plant tissue. In contrast, lower rates of several domestic sewages resulted in significant uptake of certain metals, especially in more sensitive species, such as leafy vegetables and string beans. Plant availability of metals derived from sewage seems to be related to product matrix rather than to total metal content. Little downward movement of heavy metals was observed under conditions of heavy leaching in the greenhouse or natural rainfall outdoors.