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Economic impacts of soil fertility degradation by traces of iron from drinking water treatment

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Abstract

The most common drinking water clarification technology worldwide is based on precipitation using the floccules of iron(III) oxide-hydroxide FeO(OH). The coagulation sludge obtained is usually mixed with biowaste and composted. Inexperienced farmers are interested in these composts, in the expectation that the smallest fractions of the precipitated organic matter together with the colloidal particles of clay captured during the clarification process might increase the level of soil organic matter as well as cation-exchange capacity (CEC) of soil and increase crop yields. Nevertheless, those who have used these composts observed that plants on treated soil show signs of phosphorus (P) insufficiency, despite having been fertilized appropriately. It has been published recently that the traces of iron (Fe) from the FeO(OH) turn the soil P into Fe phosphates (FeP), which makes P not readily available to agricultural plants. A 6-year field-scale experiment was carried out and was accompanied by robust analyses on soils and yields. It was confirmed that the traces of Fe from the coagulation sludge worsen the availability of soil P to plants. However, for the first time, evidence has been obtained concerning the fact that the Fe also damages the efficiency of P fertilizers applied afterward. A questionnaire was conducted among drinking water treatment plant operators and regulators to identify a reason why similar practices have not been banned yet. The results showed a growing awareness of the issue among experts, but politicians seem to prefer putting off unpopular measures. We recommend abandoning the application of these composts onto arable land and the revitalization of the affected fields using biochar activated by calcium and aluminum phosphates (CaP and AlP) so that the problem is not delayed to such an extent that its solution would become a problem for future generations.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Technology and Business in České Budějovice, Okružní 517/10, 370 01, České Budějovice, Czech Republic

    Josef Maroušek & Anna Maroušková

  2. Faculty of Agriculture (Studentská 1668, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, 370 05, České Budějovice, Czech Republic

    Josef Maroušek, Tomáš Zoubek & Petr Bartoš

  3. Faculty of Economics (Studentská 13, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, 370 05, České Budějovice, Czech Republic

    Anna Maroušková

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  1. Josef Maroušek
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Maroušek, J., Maroušková, A., Zoubek, T. et al. Economic impacts of soil fertility degradation by traces of iron from drinking water treatment. Environ Dev Sustain 24, 4835–4844 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10668-021-01636-1

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