Reference: 23/CL/01/38 ISBN: 978-1-84057-979-6 Published Date: 07/06/2023 Biosolids recycling to agricultural land is considered the Best Practicable Environmental Option providing a valuable source of nutrients and organic matter.
These nutrients also offset greenhouse gas emissions produced during artificial fertiliser manufacture.
Knowledge of carbon storage and the factors controlling GHG emissions following biosolids recycling to agricultural land is required. Available literature was reviewed to investigate biosolids and to review Emission Factors.
An overview of soil carbon storage was also carried out to: support sustainable use of biosolids: inform water company business plans: review GHG emission factors. An international seminar also allowed intelligence gathering.
Organic material composition of biosolids influence both SOC retention and N2O loss. Soil carbon retention rates appear much lower for biosolids with a high fraction of easily decomposable carbon. Emisssion Factors tended to be low for biosolids with dry matter of >30%, C:N ratio of >12 or <15% of total N as ammonium-N. |