Bioavailability of Heavy Metals in Sewage Sludge-Amended Thai Soils

Plough and subsoil layers of two majoragricultural soil series, Rangsit and Thonburi, foundin Bangkok area of Thailand were studied fordetermining the bioavailability and solubilitybehavior of heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Zn, Mn, and Fe)following application of sewage sludge from awastewater treatment plant and a series of laboratoryexperiments. The soils contained low indigenous heavymetals while the sludge contained higher amounts ofheavy metals but in an acceptable range forapplication as plant nutrient source in agriculturalsoil. Applications of sewage sludge increased pH ofthe acid soil and available plant nutrients to thesoils. The heavy metal concentration levels in thesoils also increased. Most partitioned into easilymobile pools and later into sparingly mobile poolsfollowing 12 weeks of incubation time. Bioavailabilityforms of Cd in soil solution were low but that of Cu,Zn, and Mn remained elevated even at 12 weeks of thereaction time. Applied inorganic Zn depressed Cdsorption capacity of two soils studied but it had noeffect on Cd desorption.