Heavy metal mobility in a Typic Hapludox amended with sewage sludge and planted to sugarcane

Abstract

The movement of heavy metals through the soil profile in a sewage sludge amended soil must be evaluated, mainly in acid soils, because of the possibility of underground water pollution. The aim of this study was to evaluate the movement of the metals Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn in a Typic Hapludox amended with 33, 66 and 99 Mg ha-1 of sewage sludge during 1996/97 and with 37, 74 and 110 Mg ha-1 in 1997/98. The sludge was applied in the whole experimental area, and the amount of metals during this period was evaluated through amounts removed from soil solution, at the 0.3, 0.6 and 0.9 m soil depths, using porous suction cups. Cd, Ni and Pb were not detected in soil or soil solution. Cr and Cu did not show mobility in the soil profile. Zn was a mobile element and in the 0.4 -- 0.6 m soil layer there was a significant increase of the Zn level due to the two sewage sludge applications.