Environmental Impacts of Using Municipal Biosolids on Soil, Plant and Groundwater Qualities

Majeed Ali, Talaat Ahmed, Mohammed Abu-Dieyeh and Mohammad Al-Ghouti
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Majeed Ali: Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, College of Arts and Science, Qatar University, Doha 2713, Qatar
Talaat Ahmed: Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, College of Arts and Science, Qatar University, Doha 2713, Qatar
Mohammed Abu-Dieyeh: Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, College of Arts and Science, Qatar University, Doha 2713, Qatar
Mohammad Al-Ghouti: Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, College of Arts and Science, Qatar University, Doha 2713, Qatar

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 15, 1-25

Abstract: This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of three different rates of municipal biosolids produced in Qatar on plant characteristics and soil texture and its potential impacts on groundwater. Petunia atkinsiana , was used in this study. The experiment took place in a greenhouse in pots with soil mixed with 0, 3, 5, and 7 kg/m 2 biosolids. Pelletized class A biosolids from the Doha North Sewage Treatment Plant were used. Results revealed significant differences in all measured parameters, which were affected by biosolid treatments compared to the control treatment. Electrical conductivity, pH, macro and micronutrients and heavy metals were significantly affected by biosolid treatments. The comparison of the discovered levels against the international acceptable ceilings of pollutants indicated the advantages of utilizing class A biosolids, as they were well below the international acceptable levels and showed the best test rates, indicating that the product is a sustainable and efficient organic fertilizer for ornamental plants. Furthermore, the results highlight no potential significant impacts on groundwater due to trace presence of heavy metals, owing to the nature of deep groundwater in Qatar and the usage of modern irrigation devices that fulfil the exact needs of plants in a harsh climate and high evaporation rate.

Keywords: biosolids; agriculture soil; waste management; leachability; groundwater (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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