Abstract

The effect of biosolid application on the distribution and extractability of Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn was assessed in Mollisol soils from an important agricultural zone in central Chile. These were amended with biosolids at the amounts of 15 and 30 Mg ha(-1) and incubated for 60 days under controlled conditions of moisture and temperature. Four domestic biosolids were obtained from the monofill at one of the Santiago wastewater treatment plants. Biosolid and soil sequential extraction was performed according to the procedure recommended by BCR, which considers four extractions to obtain an acid-soluble fraction (exchangeable, carbonates), a reducible fraction (iron/manganese oxides), an oxidizable fraction (organic matter and sulfides) and the residual one. Trace metals were determined by flame atomic absorption spectrometry and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Among the metals determined in biosolids, Zn had the highest concentration. Total trace metal contents found, except for Ni in some biosolids, was below the limits allowed by the Chilean regulation for biosolids. In general, without considering the residual fraction, the metals were found predominantly as reducible and oxidizable fractions. A multifactorial design was applied to assess the effects of biosolid application amounts, biosolid type and incubation time. Biosolid incorporation at the amount of 30 Mg ha(-1) produced an increase in Zn and Ni availability in all soils and Cu in most of them, while Cr, and Pb showed no significant variations. In general, the factors incubation and type of biosolid did not show remarkable effects compared with initial conditions.