Nitrogen mineralisation potential in calcareous soils amended with sewage sludge

Mineralisation of organic N is an important consideration when determining the annual amount of sewage sludge to be applied to agricultural soils. The mineralisation of sludge organic N was studied in two different textured soils (clayey and sandy soil) treated with aerobic and anaerobic sludge at two different rates (30 and 50 g sludge kg(-1) soil). The mineralisation of sludge organic N was determined during 20 weeks incubation period by analysis of inorganic N produced by a non-leached procedure. Sludge organic N mineralisation was influenced by soil type, organic N mineralisation being greater in the sandy soil (from 30% to 41%) than in the clayey soil (from 13% to 24%). Mineralisation rates decreased rapidly the first two weeks, followed by a slower decrease with time. Although total mineralisation increased with sludge addition rate, net mineralisation decreased with sludge addition rate, probably due to denitrificaton losses. The aerobically treated sludge gave higher mineralisation rates than the anaerobically treated one. The values of N0 and k for treated soils varied depending on the type of sludge and soil.