Abstract
Refuse compost and sewage sludge were mixed with a loamy sand at various rates in pots and sown withBrassica chinensis, Daucus carota andLycopersicon esculentum in a glasshouse. A commercial fertilizer was also applied to the same soil for comparison. Dry matter production of the three crops and contents of Cd, Cu, Mn, Pb and Zn in the harvested tissues were determined at the end of the experiment.
In general, crop yield in refuse compost treatment was improved over that in sandy soil alone, but was less than that in the sludge and fertilizer treatments. Despite the relatively high heavy metal contents of refuse compost, crops grown on compost-treated soils accumulated lower levels of metal than those grown on sludge-treated soils. This is probably due to the high pH and organic matter content of the composted refuse. Higher levels of heavy metals were found in the roots than in the aerial parts ofB. chinensis andL. esculentum, but the reverse was found inD. carota. In the edible tissue of the three crops,L. esculentum accumulated metals to a lesser extent than the other two.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Explore related subjects
Discover the latest articles, news and stories from top researchers in related subjects.Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Cheung Y H and Wong M H 1983 Utilization of animal manures and sewage sludges for growing vegetables. Agric. Wastes 5, 63–81.
Cox W J and Rains D W 1972 Effect of lime on lead uptake by five plant species. J. Environ. Qual. 1, 167–169.
Hortenstine C C and Rothwell D F 1968 Garbage compost as a source of plant nutrients for oats and radishes. Compost Sci. 9, 23–25.
Hortenstine C C and Rothwell D F 1973 Pelletized municipal refuse compost as a soil amendment and nutrient source for sorghum. J. Environ. Qual. 2, 343–345.
John M K and van Laerhoven C J 1972 Lead uptake by lettuce and oats as affected by lime, nitrogen, and source of lead. J. Environ. Qual. 1, 169–171.
King L D and Morris H D 1972 Land disposal of liquid sewage sludge: II The effect on soil pH, manganese, zinc, and growth and chemical composition of rye (Secale cereale, L.). J. Environ. Qual. 1, 425–429.
Mitchell G A, Bingham F T and Page A L 1978 Yield and metal composition of lettuce and wheat grown on soils amended with sewage sludge enriched with cadmium, copper, nickel and zinc. J. Environ. Qual. 7, 165–171.
National Research Council 1980 Mineral Tolerance of Domestic Animals. National Academy Press, Washington.
Purves D 1977 Trace Element Contamination of the Environment. Elsevier Scientific Publishing Company, Amsterdam.
Schroeder H A and Balassa J J 1963 Cadmium: uptake by vegetables from superphosphate in soil. Science 140, 819–820.
Street J J, Lindsay W L and Sabey B R 1977 Solubility and plant uptake of cadmium in soils amended with cadmium and sewage sludge. J. Environ. Qual. 6, 72–77.
Terman G L, Soileau J M and Allen S E 1973 Municipal waste compost: Effects on crop yields and nutrient content. J. Environ. Qual. 2, 84–89.
Tietjen C 1964 Conservation and field testing of compost. Compost Sci. 5, 8–14.
Walkley A and Black I A 1934 An examination of the Degtjareff method for determining soil organic matter and a proposed modification of the chromic acid titration method. Soil Sci. 37, 29–38.
Walsh L M, Erhardt W H and Seibel H D 1972 Copper toxicity in snapbeans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.). J. Environ. Qual. 1, 197–200.
Watanabe F S and Olsen S R 1962 Colorimetric determination of phosphorus in water extracts of soil. Soil Sci. 93, 183–188.
Williams C H and David D J 1976 The accumulation in soil of cadmium residues from phosphate fertilizers and their effect on the cadmium content of plants. Soil Sci. 121, 86–93.
Wong M H, Mok C M and Chu L M 1983 Comparison of refuse compost and activated sludge for growing vegetables. Agric. Wastes 6, 65–76.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Chu, L.M., Wong, M.H. Heavy metal contents of vegetable crops treated with refuse compost and sewage sludge. Plant Soil 103, 191–197 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02370388
Received:
Revised:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02370388