¹³C/¹²C composition, a novel parameter to study the downward migration of paper sludge in soils†

δ ¹³C values of crop and forest soils were measured 8 years after disposal of paper sewage sludge. The carbon transfer from paper sludge downward to the first humic layer is evidenced by a ¹³C-enrichnient of up to + 5.6‰ due to the input of ¹³C-enriched sludge carbonates. ¹³C/¹²C composition is thus a novel, sensitive parameter to follow the downward transfer of paper sludge carbon.