TY - JOUR
T1 - Migration of heavy metals in soil as influenced by compost amendments
AU - Farrell, Mark
AU - Perkins, William T.
AU - Hobbs, Phil J.
AU - Griffith, Gareth W.
AU - Jones, Davey L.
PY - 2010/1
Y1 - 2010/1
N2 - Soils contaminated with heavy metals can pose a major risk to freshwaters and food chains. In this study, the success of organic and inorganic intervention strategies to alleviate toxicity in a highly acidic soil heavily contaminated with As, Cu, Pb, and Zn was evaluated over 112 d in a mesocosm trial. Amelioration of metal toxicity was assessed by measuring changes in soil solution chemistry, metal leaching, plant growth, and foliar metal accumulation. Either green waste- or MSW-derived composts increased plant yield and rooting depth, reduced plant metal uptake, and raised the pH and nutrient status of the soil. We conclude that composts are well suited for promoting the re-vegetation of contaminated sites; however, care must be taken to ensure that very short-term leaching pulses of heavy metals induced by compost amendment are not of sufficient magnitude to cause contamination of the wider environment.
AB - Soils contaminated with heavy metals can pose a major risk to freshwaters and food chains. In this study, the success of organic and inorganic intervention strategies to alleviate toxicity in a highly acidic soil heavily contaminated with As, Cu, Pb, and Zn was evaluated over 112 d in a mesocosm trial. Amelioration of metal toxicity was assessed by measuring changes in soil solution chemistry, metal leaching, plant growth, and foliar metal accumulation. Either green waste- or MSW-derived composts increased plant yield and rooting depth, reduced plant metal uptake, and raised the pH and nutrient status of the soil. We conclude that composts are well suited for promoting the re-vegetation of contaminated sites; however, care must be taken to ensure that very short-term leaching pulses of heavy metals induced by compost amendment are not of sufficient magnitude to cause contamination of the wider environment.
KW - Acidity
KW - In situ immobilization
KW - Land restoration
KW - Municipal solid waste
KW - Organic matter
KW - Soil pollution
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=74249099283&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.envpol.2009.08.027
DO - 10.1016/j.envpol.2009.08.027
M3 - Article
C2 - 19773103
AN - SCOPUS:74249099283
SN - 0269-7491
VL - 158
SP - 55
EP - 64
JO - Environmental Pollution
JF - Environmental Pollution
IS - 1
ER -