Metals in Soil and Runoff from a Piedmont Hay Field Amended with Broiler Litter and Flue Gas Desulfurization Gypsum. Issue 2 (1st March 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Schomberg, Harry H.; Endale, Dinku M.; Jenkins, Michael B.; Chaney, Rufus L.; Franklin, Dorcas H.
• Is Part Of: Journal of Environmental Quality. Volume 47:Issue 2(2018)
• Page Start: 326
• Page End: 335
• Publication Date: 2018-03-01
• Subjects: Agricultural ecology -- Periodicals; Environmental engineering -- Periodicals; Pollution -- Periodicals; 630
• DOI: 10.2134/jeq2017.09.0353
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0047-2425

Abstract

Abstract : Flue gas desulfurization gypsum (FGDG) from coal‐fired power plants is readily available for agricultural use in many US regions. Broiler litter (BL) provides plant available N, P, and K but can be a source of unwanted As, Cu, and Zn. As a source of Ca and S, FGDG can reduce losses of P and other elements in runoff from BL‐amended areas. Rainfall simulation plots (2.0 m 2 ) were established on a Piedmont Cecil soil growing 'Coastal' bermudagrass ( Cynodon dactylon L.) for hay. Accumulation and transport of As, Cu, Cd, Cr, Hg, Pb, and Zn were evaluated after annual BL applications (13.5 Mg ha −1 ) with four FGDG rates (0, 2.2, 4.5, 9.0 Mg ha −1 ) and two FGDG treatments (0 and 9 Mg ha −1 ) without BL. Runoff As concentrations were sixfold greater with BL than without ( P ≤ 0.01) and were similar to BL with FGDG at 2.2, 4.5 or 9.0 Mg ha −1 ( P ≤ 0.10). Runoff concentrations of target elements did not increase where FGDG was applied alone. After three annual applications of FGDG and BL, soil concentrations of As, Cr, Pb, Hg, and Cu were well below levels of environmental concern. Our findings indicate that runoff losses of As from BL application are not reduced with FGDG but support other research indicating no identifiable environmental risks from FGDG beneficial use in agricultural systems. Core Ideas: After 3 yr, FGDG alone did not influence runoff concentrations or loads of As, Cu, and Zn. With BL, the first 10 min runoff concentration and load of As, Cu, and Zn increased linearly with FGDG rate. A similar response was not observed for composite samples collected over the full 1 h. FGDG beneficial use does not present an environmental risk due to heavy metals or other constituents.