Ion availabilities in two forest soils amended with alkaline-treated biosolids, agricultural lime, and wood fly ash over a 10-week period
Keys, K.;Burton, D.L.;Price, G.W.;Duinker, P.N.. 2021. Canadian Journal of Forest Research 51:41-48
Abstract
Two forest soil B-horizons were amended with alkaline-treated biosolids (ATB), powdered agricultural lime, and wood fly ash under controlled conditions to compare initial ion availabilities over a 10-week period. ATB was most effective in supplying available Ca2 but least effective in supplying available Mg2 , for which lime was most effective. Availability of K and SO42?-S was greatest in fly ash amended soils because of high K and S loading rates and the high electrical conductivity of this amendment. Mineral N (NO3?-N NH4 -N) availability increased in ATB amended soils, stayed the same in lime amended soils, and decreased in fly ash amended soils. Availability of PO43?-P was low in all soils but slightly enhanced in ATB amended soils. Fluxes of Cu2 , Pb2 , Zn2 , and Mn2 in amended soils generally decreased over time in association with increased soil pH. Fluxes of Cd2 were not affected by any treatment. Results suggest that ATB is equally as effective as or more effective than lime and fly ash at immediately supplying Ca2 , but less effective at supplying Mg2 because of low inputs and cation competition. This suggests that ATB amendments could be an alternative means of quickly adding available Ca2 to Ca-depleted forest soils as long as potential impacts on other nutrient base cations are considered.
