Survey on heavy metal concentrations and maturity indices of organic fertilizer in China

Authors

  • Xi Zhang 1. Institute of Energy and Environmental Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Engineering Planning and Design, Beijing 100125, China; 2. Key Laboratory of Technologies and Models for Cyclic Utilization from Agricultural Resources, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing 100125, China
  • Haibo Meng 1. Institute of Energy and Environmental Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Engineering Planning and Design, Beijing 100125, China; 2. Key Laboratory of Technologies and Models for Cyclic Utilization from Agricultural Resources, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing 100125, China
  • Yujun Shen 1. Institute of Energy and Environmental Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Engineering Planning and Design, Beijing 100125, China; 2. Key Laboratory of Technologies and Models for Cyclic Utilization from Agricultural Resources, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing 100125, China
  • Ji Li Beijing Key Laboratory of Farmland Soil Pollution Prevention and Remediation, College of Resources and Environmental Science, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
  • Jiarui Wang 1. Institute of Energy and Environmental Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Engineering Planning and Design, Beijing 100125, China; 2. Key Laboratory of Technologies and Models for Cyclic Utilization from Agricultural Resources, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing 100125, China
  • Haibin Zhou 1. Institute of Energy and Environmental Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Engineering Planning and Design, Beijing 100125, China; 2. Key Laboratory of Technologies and Models for Cyclic Utilization from Agricultural Resources, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing 100125, China
  • Jingtao Ding 1. Institute of Energy and Environmental Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Engineering Planning and Design, Beijing 100125, China; 2. Key Laboratory of Technologies and Models for Cyclic Utilization from Agricultural Resources, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing 100125, China
  • Jian Wang 1. Institute of Energy and Environmental Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Engineering Planning and Design, Beijing 100125, China; 2. Key Laboratory of Technologies and Models for Cyclic Utilization from Agricultural Resources, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing 100125, China
  • Liqiu Song 1. Institute of Energy and Environmental Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Engineering Planning and Design, Beijing 100125, China; 2. Key Laboratory of Technologies and Models for Cyclic Utilization from Agricultural Resources, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing 100125, China

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.25165/ijabe.v11i6.4671

Keywords:

heavy metal, organic fertilizer, risk assessment, maturity indices

Abstract

A nationwide survey of organic fertilizer was carried out in China, and 263 samples were collected to be analyzed for maturity indices (moisture content (MC), pH, electrical conductivity (EC), E4/E6, and germination index (GI)) and 7 heavy metals (Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb, Cr, As and Ni). The MC, pH, EC, E4/E6 and GI showed large variations among the organic fertilizer samples with ranges of 6.9%-66.68%, 4.40-9.19, 0.76-13.38 mS/cm, 1.07-9.40, and 10%-150%, respectively. The concentrations of 7 heavy metals (Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb, As, Cr, Ni) were also with large variations at 7.53-580.4, 0-2818, 0.02-149.3, 0 (not detected)-1321, 0.14-26.9, 3.70-1237, and 0 (not detected)-214.6 mg/kg dry weight. Compared with the limit values of the Chinese standard for organic fertilizers (NY525-2012), 9.51%, 73.4%, 3.19%, and 3.04% of the samples exceeded the limit values of Cd, Pb, As and Cr, respectively. No limits have been set for Cu, Zn and Ni in China, and 35.0%, 13.3% and 16.7% of the samples exceeded the Cu, Zn and Ni limits for composts in Germany, respectively. Monte Carlo simulations indicated that with the continuous application of organic fertilizer, Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb and Cr would accumulate to the risk control standard for soil contamination of agricultural land (GB15618-2018) within a relatively short period. It is urgent to establish suitable limits of heavy metals in organic fertilizer in China to control the risk of heavy metal pollution in agricultural land. Keywords: heavy metal, organic fertilizer, risk assessment, maturity indices DOI: 10.25165/j.ijabe.20181106.4671 Citation: Zhang X, Meng H B, Shen Y J, Li J, Wang J R, Zhou H B, et al. Survey on heavy metal concentrations and maturity indices of organic fertilizer in China. Int J Agric & Biol Eng, 2018; 11(6): 172–179.

Author Biographies

Xi Zhang, 1. Institute of Energy and Environmental Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Engineering Planning and Design, Beijing 100125, China; 2. Key Laboratory of Technologies and Models for Cyclic Utilization from Agricultural Resources, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing 100125, China

Engineer

Haibo Meng, 1. Institute of Energy and Environmental Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Engineering Planning and Design, Beijing 100125, China; 2. Key Laboratory of Technologies and Models for Cyclic Utilization from Agricultural Resources, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing 100125, China

Professor

Yujun Shen, 1. Institute of Energy and Environmental Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Engineering Planning and Design, Beijing 100125, China; 2. Key Laboratory of Technologies and Models for Cyclic Utilization from Agricultural Resources, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing 100125, China

Senior Engineer

Ji Li, Beijing Key Laboratory of Farmland Soil Pollution Prevention and Remediation, College of Resources and Environmental Science, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China

Professor

Jiarui Wang, 1. Institute of Energy and Environmental Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Engineering Planning and Design, Beijing 100125, China; 2. Key Laboratory of Technologies and Models for Cyclic Utilization from Agricultural Resources, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing 100125, China

Assistant Engineer

Haibin Zhou, 1. Institute of Energy and Environmental Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Engineering Planning and Design, Beijing 100125, China; 2. Key Laboratory of Technologies and Models for Cyclic Utilization from Agricultural Resources, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing 100125, China

Senior Engineer

Jingtao Ding, 1. Institute of Energy and Environmental Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Engineering Planning and Design, Beijing 100125, China; 2. Key Laboratory of Technologies and Models for Cyclic Utilization from Agricultural Resources, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing 100125, China

Senior Engineer

Jian Wang, 1. Institute of Energy and Environmental Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Engineering Planning and Design, Beijing 100125, China; 2. Key Laboratory of Technologies and Models for Cyclic Utilization from Agricultural Resources, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing 100125, China

Engineer

Liqiu Song, 1. Institute of Energy and Environmental Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Engineering Planning and Design, Beijing 100125, China; 2. Key Laboratory of Technologies and Models for Cyclic Utilization from Agricultural Resources, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing 100125, China

Senior Engineer

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Published

2018-12-08

How to Cite

Zhang, X., Meng, H., Shen, Y., Li, J., Wang, J., Zhou, H., … Song, L. (2018). Survey on heavy metal concentrations and maturity indices of organic fertilizer in China. International Journal of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, 11(6), 172–179. https://doi.org/10.25165/ijabe.v11i6.4671

Issue

Vol. 11 No. 6 (2018): IJABE

Section

Renewable Energy and Material Systems

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