Vertical mobility of arsenic in a sandy soil superficially amended with biosolids or manure

Abstract

The accumulation of excreta in intensive livestock systems or biosolids in large cities constitutes a serious ecological and economic problem. The presence of arsenic in drinking water causes this element to be found in excreta. Given its toxicity even at relatively low concentrations, the objective of this work was to study the vertical mobility of arsenic (As) in columns of a disturbed sandy soil, superficially amended with manure or biosolids (treatments E and B respectively). After 30 days, the maximum availability of As was observed between 3.5 and 7 cm depth in E, while the availability of As in B was below the quantification limit in all the studied strata. In leachates, the As concentration was significantly higher in E at the end of the trial, compared to B or control. This mobilization may be attributed to the higher
concentration of phosphorus or to the soluble organic matter generated by manure throughout the test, facilitating the vertical migration of As.