Organic Molecular Markers in a Fluvisol Amended with Organic Ameliorants

Abstract

Three types of organic ameliorants, sheep manure, sewage sludge from a waste water treatment plant and a plant compost were added to an Alluvialmeadow soil (Fluvisol). There was evidence for well-preserved biomarker signals and higher values of the carbon preference index (CPI) in the sludge and manure-treated soils, while lower values, typical of microbial alkanes, indicating a high degree of degradation were observed in the plant compost amended soil. Sludge and sheep manure originating metabolic products, such as steroids and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) have been preserved in the Fluvisol after 104 days of composting.