Heavy Metals Behavior in Soil/Plant System after Sewage Sludge Application

Abstract

One of the possibilities of removing heavy metals (HMs) from soil is the use of phytoremediation techniques supported with biosolids, which also allow for their disposal. Therefore, the objective of the research was the determination of the sewage sludge suitability after its application to urban soil in order to increase the phytoremediation efficiency of contaminated soil. A field experiment was established on lawns in Białystok (Poland) in two locations with different traffic. The research plots were fertilized with sludge in doses of 14.5 t DM/ha and 29 t DM/ha. A mixture of lawn grasses was sown on the prepared plots. During two years of experiment soil/plant samples were collected, and pH, organic matter, dehydrogenase and catalase activity (soil), the total content of Cd, Cr, Cu, Mo, Ni, Pb, Zn, and Hg (soil/plant), and their fractions (soil) were determined. The HMs in soil were present mainly in residual and reducible fractions. Zn had the highest share in acid-soluble fractions (17–45%). The efficiency of urban soil phytoremediation was determined by the calculation of bioconcentration (BCF) and translocation (TF) factors. The highest values for BCF and TF were obtained for Mo (1.97 and 1.99, respectively). In the presented study, sludge amendment caused an immobilization of heavy metals.