Arsenic in soils and forages from poultry litter-amended pastures.
Int J Environ Res Public Health
; 8(5): 1534-46, 2011 05.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-21655135
ABSTRACT
In regions of concentrated poultry production, poultry litter (PL) that contains significant quantities of trace elements is commonly surface-applied to pastures at high levels over multiple years. This study examined the effect of long-term applications of PL on soil concentrations of arsenic (As), copper (Cu), Zinc (Zn), and the uptake of these elements by bermuda grass grown on Cecil (well-drained) and Sedgefield (somewhat poorly-drained) soils. The results showed that concentrations of As, Cu, and Zn in soils that had received surface-applied PL over a 14-year period were significantly greater than untreated soil at 0-2.5 and 2.5-7.5 cm depths. However, the levels were well below the USEPA loading limits established for municipal biosolids. Arsenic fractionation showed that concentrations of all As fractions were significantly greater in PL-amended soils compared to untreated soils at 0-2.5 and 2.5-7.5 cm depths. The residual fraction was the predominant form of As in all soils. The water-soluble and NaHCO(3)-associated As were only 2% of the total As. Significant differences were found in concentrations of these trace elements and phosphorus (P) in forage from PL-amended soils compared to that in untreated plots. The concentrations of Cu, Zn, As, and P were significantly greater in forage from Sedgefield amended soil compared to Cecil soil, but were in all cases below levels of environmental concern.
Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Arsenic
/
Soil
/
Soil Pollutants
/
Animal Feed
/
Manure
Limits:
Animals
Language:
En
Journal:
Int J Environ Res Public Health
Year:
2011
Document type:
Article