34 Years of Biosolids

Lee JacobsDepartment of Crop and Soil Sciences

Michigan State University

presented at

MWEA Biosolids Conference

Bay City, Michigan

February 21, 2008

Some Background on Me1) grew up on a small dairy & grain farm in Manteno, IL2) B.S. at U. of Illinois, 1967; M.S. and Ph.D at U. of

Wisconsin – Madison, 1969 & 19733) came to MSU, October, 1973, as Asst. Professor, Dept.

of Crop and Soil Sciences4) my professional activities have involved Extension (or

Outreach) and applied research

What I plan to do is:1st, describe my Extension activities involving biosolids;

(Includes State, Regional, National, and one International)

2nd, describe several research projects involving biosolids in which I have participated during my tenure at MSU.

Extension Activities -- State

1978 – began teaching a 2-day workshop on “Utilizing Municipal Sewage Sludge on Agricultural Land”

Extension Activities -- State

1978 – began teaching a 2-day workshop on “Utilizing Municipal Sewage Sludge on Agricultural Land”

Topics covered:1) basic soil science and plant nutrition2) soil sampling/testing, fertilizer recommendations3) biosolids handling & application to crop and forest land4) problem on quantities of biosolids that are possible to apply5) health concerns & public acceptability of applying biosolids6) factors that determine acceptable application rates of biosolids7) problem on how to calculate proper application rates of biosolids8) state rules and federal regulations governing application of biosolids

Locations of workshops:1978 1984 19943/28 East Lansing 2/21 Frankenmuth 5/24 Grayling4/4 Gaylord 3/6 Grayling 19954/6 East Lansing 1985 cancelled1979 3/19 Grayling 19973/15 Flint 4/10 East Lansing 11/4 Grayling3/27 Traverse City 1986 19984/3 Kalamazoo 3/4 Grayling 3/25 East Lansing4/10 Escanaba 4/8 Escanaba 20001980 1987 3/14 Grayling2/12 East Lansing 3/12 Grayling 20022/14 East Lansing 1988 3/26 Grayling1981 3/24 Grayling 20043/10 Grand Rapids 1989 3/2 Lansing3/17 Grayling 3/30 Grayling 20064/7 East Lansing 1990 2/28 Traverse City1982 4/3 Grayling 20082/23 Kalamazoo 1991 2/19 Bay City3/2 Grayling 4/2 Grayling3/9 Escabana 1992 38 total workshops1983 6/2 Grayling taught on 24 years across3/8 East Lansing 1993 a 31-year time period3/15 Grayling 7/29 Grayling

Invited Speaker for MWPCA & MWEA

MWPCA

1975 – Application of sewage sludge to agricultural land

1983 – Management of chemicals present in sewage sludge

1990 – Proposed Federal 503 rule for use or disposal of sewage sludge

MWEA Biosolids Seminar/Conference

1998 – Biosolids program origins (Dick Sprague, Dan O’Neil -- SWQD)

2000 – Nutrient management: Managing application rates for N and P

2002 – The role of MSU Extension in the MI Biosolids Team

2003 – Evaluation of N-Viro products for environmental impact

2008 – Micronutrients needed by crops

In-State Presentations at U. of MI

1980

A seminar on Sludge and Its Ultimate Disposal, Jan. 30-31 & Feb.1

“Agricultural Application of Sewage Sludge”

Became Chapter 9 of a book published under the same seminar name

In-State Presentations at U. of MI

1980

A seminar on Sludge and Its Ultimate Disposal, Jan. 30-31 & Feb.1

“Agricultural Application of Sewage Sludge”

Became Chapter 9 of a book published under the same seminar name

1996

A seminar on Advancements in Water & Wastewater, Jan. 30-31 & Feb.1

“Biosolids Utilization in Michigan:

Where Should We be in Relation to 503 Regulations”

The Biosolids Demo plot and Biosolids Team tent has been a part of the Ag Expo on the MSU campus from 2000 thru 2007.

MSU Ag Expo – 2007

Two extension bulletins were written in 2001 to assist with educational efforts by the Michigan Biosolids Team and others involved with biosolids land application programs in Michigan.

Extension Activities -- Regional1974

Coordinated a North Central Workshop on “Educational Needs Associated with the Utilization of Wastewater Treatment Products on Land” held Sept. 24-26, at MSU

Extension Activities -- Regional1974

Coordinated a North Central Workshop on “Educational Needs Associated with the Utilization of Wastewater Treatment Products on Land” held Sept. 24-26, at MSU

1977

Edited and co-authored chapters in a North Central Regional Extension Pub. No. 52

Extension Activities -- Regional1979

Invited to present “Land Application of Wastewater and Sludge” at a workshop held June 12-13 at U. of Illinois

1980

Invited to present “Utilizing Sewage Sludge on Agricultural Land” at a seminar held March 6 at Cornell University

Extension Activities -- Regional1987

Invited to help teach training session for Extension Service Agents on “Agricultural Utilization of Sewage Sludge held April 30 at U. of Maryland

1989

Invited to present a paper on “Michigan Sludge Application Studies” at U. Wisconsin meeting on Sewage Sludge Application to Land held Sept. 28 at Elkhorn, WI

Extension Activities -- Regional2000

Invited to give presentation on “Nitrogen Management Protocols for Beneficially Using Biosolids on Crop Land” held Nov. 30-Dec. 1 at Ohio State U. (GLBMA Conf.)

2002

Invited to give presentation on “New Mineralization Factors for Estimating Plant-Available Nitrogen (PAN) in Biosolids” held Oct. 31-Nov. 1 at Purdue U. (GLBMA Conf.)

Extension Activities -- National

1978

Invited to give presentation on “An Agricultural Perspective on Applying Sludges to farmland” held July 10-12 at Kansas City, MO

Extension Activities -- National

1978

Invited to give presentation on “An Agricultural Perspective on Applying Sludges to farmland” held July 10-12 at Kansas City, MO

1980

Invited to teach part of training session at the National Workshop on Utilization of Wastes on Land: Emphasis on Municipal Sludge held July 15-17 at U. of Maryland (similar to my biosolids workshop)

Extension Activities -- National

1989, 1990, 1991, 1993

Invited to teach part of a national short course on Beneficial Use of Municipal and industrial Sludge sponsored by U. Wisconsin-Milwaukee held June, ’89; Feb., ’90; March, ’91; June, ’93

“Applying Sludges to Cropland”

Extension Activities -- National

1994

Invited to present a workshop on “Biosolids Application to Land” an annual training session of Bio Gro Systems, Inc. employees located across the U.S. (similar to my Biosolids Workshop)

Extension Activities -- National

1995

Invited to revise the chapter on “Process Design for Agricultural Utilization”

in the

1983 USEPA Process Design Manual, Land Application of Municipal Sludge

Extension Activities -- National

1995

Invited to revise the chapter on “Process Design for Agricultural Utilization”

in the

1983 USEPA Process Design Manual, Land Application of Municipal Sludge

for the

1995 Process Design Manual, Land Application of Sewage Sludge and Domestic Septage

Chapter 7, “Process Design for Agricultural Land Application Sites”

Extension -- InternationalInvited to present a paper at an international seminar on“The Use of Organic Fertilizer in Crop Production”held June 1990 in Suweon, Korea

Research Projects on Biosolids1976-1978: Metal-contaminated sludge expt. at Muskegon WWT site

1977-2008: High sludge metal loadings to crop land at MSU research farm

1978-1982: W-124/W-170 field research nationally using Chicago sludge

1980-1981: Analyzing MI sewage sludges for hazardous chemicals

1982-1984: Mo accumulation by corn/soybeans from Mo-rich sludge

1991-1993: Long-term experience of biosolids land application programs

1998-2000: Estimating plant-available nitrogen in biosolids

2001-2004: Evaluation of N-Viro products for environmental impact

Joint Conference sponsored by USEPA, USDA, and NASULGC held at U. of Illinois on July 9-13, 1973.

Purpose: 1) to identify what was known about application of liquid effluent and sludge to land and 2) what research was needed to successfully utilize the land as a treatment system.

1976-1978: Metal-contaminated sludge experiment at Muskegon WWT site

Sludge Rates* Total Metal Loadings (lb/ac) Suggested Maximum (lb/ac)

- - ton/ac - - Cd Cu Pb Ni Zn Cd Cu Pb Ni Zn

5 + 5 + 5 1.2 90 33 69 290

10 +10 + 10 2.3 180 65 140 590 5 125 500 50 25044 + 36 + 62 11 830 330 690 3100 2-3x 6-7x 2/3 13-14x 12-13x

* Grand Rapids sewage sludge

Conclusions:1) Yields of corn signif. increased by 5 t/ac sludge but not additionally by higher rates.

2) Zn was the only metal signif. increased in the corn grain (30 50 ppm) but still safe.

3) Some increase in Cu (0.04 0.13 ppm), Ni (0.03 0.07 ppm), and Zn (0.1 0.8 ppm) was measured in groundwater at the top of the water table (~3-4 ft) below the highest sludge application rate (142 ton/ac). No movement occurred at the lower sludge rates.

1977-2008: High sludge metal loadings to crop land at MSU research farm

Goal: To apply quantities of sludge metals that would cause plant toxicity by Ni (Tmt #3) and Zn (Tmt #2) and high Cd uptake (Tmt #1) into the food chain.

High Sludge Metal Loadings Study

Tmt #1 Tmt #2 Tmt #3 CPLR

Sludge add’ns 107 t/ac388 t/ac 308 t/ac

Metal add’ns - - - - - - lb/acre - - - - - -

Cadimum 39 19 15 35

Chromium 1,000 2,700 2,400 2,700

Copper 310 1,600 1,700 1,300

Lead 54 430 380 270

Nickel 250 1,900 1,500 370

Zinc 1,300 10,100 2,400 2,500

1977-2008: High sludge metal loadings to crop land at MSU research farm

Goal: To apply quantities of sludge metals that would cause plant toxicity by Ni (Tmt #3) and Zn (Tmt #2) and high Cd uptake (Tmt #1) into the food chain.

Conclusions:1) Zn toxicity occurred on Tmt #2 plots. No plants survived for soybeans, whereas

corn and sorghum-sudangrass yields were significantly increased on Tmt #1 and Tmt #3 compared to control and similar on Tmt #2 compared to control.

2) Concentrations of Cd in corn and sorghum-sudangrass tissue were significantly higher for Tmt #1 but not for Tmt #2 and #3 compared to control.

3) Concentrations of Cu, Ni and Zn in corn and sorghum-sudangrass tissue were significantly higher for all treatments compared to control.

4) Metals have not moved below the 6-12” depth.

1978-1982: W-124/W-170 field research nationally using Chicago sludge

A common field experiment established at 16 sites in 15 states using the same application rates (45 t/ac vs. 5 annual 9 t/ac) of Chicago sewage sludge and growing the same crop, barley, to determine the effects of regional soil and climate differences on plant uptake.

1978-1982: W-124/W-170 field research nationally using Chicago sludge

A common field experiment established at 16 sites in 15 states using the same application rates (45 t/ac vs. 5 annual 9 t/ac) of Chicago sewage sludge and growing the same crop, barley, to determine the effects of regional soil and climate differences on plant uptake.

Conclusions:1) Sludge application increased Zn and Cd levels in barley leaf and grain at most locations.

2) Sludge applications had minimal impact on Cu, Ni, or Pb in barley tissues.

3) Sludge applications generally resulted in enhanced yields of barley grain (nutrient add’ns)

4) Cumulative metal loadings (1 x 45 vs 5 x 9 ton/ac) results in similar uptake of Zn and Cd.

1980-1981: Analyzing MI sewage sludges for hazardous chemicals

1) provided average concentrations of 503 pollutants in 1980 for comparison to national averages over time

2) analysis data for 72 different organic chemicals in sewage sludges from over 204 MI WWTP’s was the most extensive data set available at that point in time

Part 503 Pollutants• MI MI NSSS AMSA• (1973) (1980) (1988) (1996)

• - - - - - - - - mg/kg or ppm - - - - - - - -

• As 1.6 - 18 8 9.9 5.4

• Cd 2 – 1,100 11 6.9 4.4

• Cr 22 – 30,000 130 119 62.0

• Cu 84 – 10,400 580 741 416

• Pb 80 – 26,000 270 134 75.7

• Hg <0.1 – 56 2 5.2 1.8

• Mo - - - - 32 9.2 12.0

• Ni 12 – 2,800 49 43 35.0

• Se - - - - 32 5.2 4.1

• Zn 72 – 16,400 1,200 1,200 744

1982-1984: Mo accumulation by corn/soybeans from Mo-rich sludge

A high-Mo (1,500 ppm) sewage sludge was applied at rates of 19 and 42 ton/ac to give loading rates of 56 and 126 lb Mo/ac (Mo CCL = 75 ppm & CPLR = 16 lb/ac).

Conclusions:1) Corn and soybean yields were not significantly affected by either sludge rate.

2) Concentrations of Mo in whole plant, diagnostic tissue and grain samples from both crops were significantly increased at both sludge rates and could make these crops unsafe for animal consumption.

1991-1993: Long-term experience of biosolids land application programs

1) Data from 10 long-term biosolids land application programs across the U.S. [AZ, NM, VA, WI, CO, IL(2), MI, NC, NV] were evaluated for maximum cumulative loadings of several 503 pollutants (Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, & Zn).

2) Biosolids loadings ranged from 15-630 ton/ac which could represent 4-630 years of continuous, annual biosolids applications, assuming agronomic rates of 1-4 ton/ac/yr.

3) One site exceeded the CPLR for all six metals and one site exceeded the CPLR for Pb.

4) In spite of high metal loadings at these two sites, very little negative impact on the soil-plant system and water resources were observed.

5) No toxicity to plants were observed at any to the 10 sites.

1998-2000: Estimating plant-available nitrogen in biosolids

1) Laboratory incubation studies with a wide range of different biosolids and a computer model were used to predict PAN for different climates across the U.S. Field studies were established in AR, MI, VA, and WA to verify PAN released by N mineralization from biosolids applications.

2) Predicted PAN using the computer model, DECOMPOSITION, actual growing season weather, actual analytical data of biosolids and laboratory decomposition kinetics compared well with the observed PAN in the field.

3) GIS maps of the U.S. based on average weather at 140 U.S. locations show the expected mineralized PAN released during the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th growing seasons following a biosolids application.

2001-2004: Evaluation of N-Viro products for environmental impact

1) Determine the long-term environmental impact of trace substances in N-Viro Soil and NureSoil when applied to crop land.

2) We initiated a field experiment in October, 2001, with East Lansing N-Viro Soil (ELNVS) and swine NureSoil (SNS) at rates of 8, 58 and 120 ton/ac and 13, 26 and 100 ton/ac,respectively.

3) Field corn and soybeans were grown during the 2002, 2003 and 2004 growing seasons.

4) Currently completing data summaries and statistics for final research report and writing scientific papers.