Soil as a waste management system Restraints imposed by persistent constituents

F.A.M. de Haan; S.E.A.T.M. van der Zee

18 Soil as a waste management system Restraints imposed by persistent constituents

In: Soil pollution and soil protection

Authors:

F.A.M. de Haan

F.A.M. de Haan Wageningen Agricultural University, Department of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition The Netherlands

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S.E.A.T.M. van der Zee

S.E.A.T.M. van der Zee Wageningen Agricultural University, Department of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition The Netherlands

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Type:: Chapter

Pages:: 271–289

DOI:: https://doi.org/10.1163/9789004684188_020

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Summary

Soil can be considered as an extremely reactive biofilter in which processes of physical, chemical and biological nature take place. These processes may occur separately or in a combined way, simultaneously or subsequently. As such the soil system may offer an excellent opportunity for disposal and natural treatment of wastes, sometimes combined with efficient reuse of constituents present in the waste materials, for example in agricultural or horticultural crop production.

One of the main problems with wastes is brought forward by their composition. Even if they contain reusable constituents only, like in the case of potato starch wastewater, these usually do not prevail at optimum relative concentrations for fertilization purposes. If then application rates are adjusted to the constituent at minimum level, additional fertilization with for instance artificial fertilizers may allow optimal recycling of the waste without adverse environmental effects.

However, examples of such wastes are scarce. In most cases there is an imbalance of constituents in the wastes, especially if these contain compounds which cause potential hazards. Examples in this respect are persistent constituents like heavy metals or certain organic chemicals. Repeated application to soil of wastes containing such persistent hazardous compounds may introduce the build-up of a chemical time-bomb.

The same is true for phosphate. Repeated excessive application of this major plant nutrient element as compared to plant uptake occurs in areas with an animal manure excess problem. This causes saturation of the P-binding capacity of soil, which eventually will lead to phosphate leaching at unacceptable concentrations to groundwater and surface water. Once the leaching process starts, it will continue for very long time periods (decades).

Some important aspects of reactions in soil of major plant nutrients (N, P, K) from wastes are briefly discussed. Main attention is given to persistent constituents which impose limitations to waste usage in order to prevent pollution of soil, groundwater and surface water.

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Soil pollution and soil protection

E-Book ISBN:: 9789004684188

Publisher:: Wageningen Academic

Print Publication Date:: 01 Jan 1996

Subjects
- Life Sciences
  - General
  - Agriculture & Environment

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18 Soil as a waste management system Restraints imposed by persistent constituents

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Soil pollution and soil protection

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