Carbon Turnover during Effluent Application to the Land: A Potential Role for Vegetation?

Water

Vasileios A. Tzanakakis¹  Giannis Vagiakis³  Myrto Tsiknia³  Andreas N. Angelakis²  Nikolaos V. Paranychianakis³ 

[1] Region of Crete, Directorate of Agricultural Economy, Iraklion 71201, Greece;National Agricultural Research Foundation (N.AG.RE.F.), Institute of Iraklion, Iraklion 71307, Greece; E-Mail:;School of Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Crete, Chania 73132, Greece; E-Mails:

关键词: land application;    land treatment;    wastewater treatment;    E. camaldulensis;    A. donax;    carbon cycling;    respiration rate;    carbon mineralization;    dissolved organic carbon (DOC);   

DOI  :  10.3390/w7010288

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

This work investigates the effect of plant species (Eucalyptus camaldulensis vs. Arundo donax) on carbon (C) turnover during wastewater application to the land. The study was carried out in 40-liter pots under field conditions and plant species were treated either with pre-treated municipal wastewater or freshwater. Plant species had a strong effect on soil organic matter with pots planted with E. camaldulensis showing greater values than pots planted with A. donax. In accordance, greater respiration rates were measured in E. camaldulensis pots compared to those planted with A. donax. The respiration rate followed a decreasing trend with the progress of the season for both species. These findings suggest differences in soil microbial community composition and/or activity in the rhizosphere of plant species. Minor effects of plant species or effluent were observed in dissolved organic carbon, protein, and hexoses content. In conclusion, the results of the present study reveal an important role of plant species on C cycling in terrestrial environments with potential implications on the sequestration of C and release of nutrients and pollutants.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2015 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.