Publications by authors named "O Lense"
Increasing production of biowastes, particularly biosolids (sewage sludge), requires sustainable management strategies for their disposal. Biosolids can contain high concentrations of nutrients; hence, land application can have positive effects on plant growth and soil fertility, especially when applied to degraded soils. However, high rates of biosolids application may result in excessive nitrogen (N) leaching, which can be mitigated by blending biosolids with other biowastes, such as sawdust.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFLand application of biosolids to low-fertility soil can improve soil quality by increasing concentrations of macronutrients and trace elements. Mixing biosolids with sawdust could reduce the risks of contaminant accumulation posed by rebuilding soils using biosolids alone. We aimed to determine the effects of biosolids and biosolids-sawdust on the plant quality and chemical composition of sorghum, rapeseed, and ryegrass.
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- Biosolids can enhance soil quality and nutrient levels in plants, but their application may pose risks due to certain trace elements.
- Mixing biosolids with sawdust reduces risks, particularly cadmium uptake, while still increasing essential micronutrients in plants.
- In a study involving ryegrass, blending sawdust with biosolids led to moderate growth benefits and a balance of nutrient availability over a 5-month period.
Humanity produces ∼27 kg of dry matter in biosolids per person per year. Land application of biosolids can improve crop production and remediate soils but may result in excessive nitrate N (NO-N) leaching. Carbonaceous materials can reduce the environmental impact of biosolids application.
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