Molybdenum, cobalt and boron uptake from sewage-sludge-amended soils

• Published in: Canadian journal of soil science 1985-01, Vol.65 (3), p.507-517
• Main Authors: Soon, Y.K, Bates, T.E
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Biological and medical sciences; boron; Bromus inermis; Chemical, physicochemical, biochemical and biological properties; cobalt; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General agronomy. Plant production; Mineral components. Ionic and exchange properties; molybdenum; Other nutrients. Amendments. Solid and liquid wastes. Sludges and slurries; Physics, chemistry, biochemistry and biology of agricultural and forest soils; plant nutrition; sewage sludge; soil amendments; Soil and water pollution; Soil science; Soil-plant relationships. Soil fertility. Fertilization. Amendments; uptake; Zea mays
• ISSN: 0008-4271; 1918-1841
• DOI: 10.4141/cjss85-054

Molybdenum, Co and B concentrations in, and uptake by, corn and bromegrass were measured over a period of several years from three field experiments in which sewage sludge was applied and compared with ammonium nitrate as a source of N. There was little effect of sludge on B and Co concentrations in the crops grown. Slight increases in uptake were apparently due to yield increases due to sludge. A lime-treated sludge increased Mo concentration in plant tissues after several years of sludge application. The increase in plant Mo concentration was highest in the eighth and last year of the experiments, although lime-sludge application had ceased 1–3 yr previously. The soil-sludge interactions contributing to increased Mo uptake are discussed. Key words: Molybdenum, cobalt, boron, sewage sludge, corn (Zea mays L.), bromegrass (Bromus inermiss Leyss).