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Using undisturbed columns to predict long term behaviour of effluent irrigated soils under field conditions

Dawes, Les A. and Goonetilleke, Ashantha (2006) Using undisturbed columns to predict long term behaviour of effluent irrigated soils under field conditions. Australian Journal of Soil Research 44(7):pp. 661-676.

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Abstract

Soils only have a finite capacity for the removal of wastewater pollutants and with time this capacity could in fact decline. Not all soil types have the capacity to provide adequate treatment and dispersal of sewage effluent. For continued long term application to be successful, it is essential that infiltration and drainage characteristics of soils do not decline. Also it is critical how long term application of nutrients and cations affects the soils and whether any leaching occurs. The research project described in this paper compares the outcomes of detailed field studies with results from an undisturbed soil column study where typical soils in the South East region of Queensland State, Australia have been subjected to sewage effluent application over a period of 12 months. Multivariate analysis helped to classify the influential soil characteristics and to identify relative changes in each soil after the application of effluent. Identification and correlation of influential soil characteristics in field and accelerated column studies confirmed that undisturbed soil column studies can be useful in predicting long term behaviour of effluent irrigated soils.

Item Type:Journal Article
Status:Published
Keywords:Effluent irrigation, soil column study, chemometrics, wastewater treatment, sewage effluent
Subjects:250000 Chemical Sciences > 250400 Analytical Chemistry > 250408 Chemometrics
290000 Engineering and Technology > 291100 Environmental Engineering > 291101 Environmental Engineering Modelling
ID Code:5537
Deposited By:Goonetilleke, Ashantha
Deposited On:24 November 2006
Alternative Locations:http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/SR06030
Copyright Owner:Copyright 2006 CSIRO Publishing
Copyright Statement:Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher.