A2B—Lancaster Farming, Saturday, December 5,1981 Pa. sludge for farm ‘fertilizer’ UNIVERSITY PARK - With proper precautions, sludge from many Pennsylvania sewage plants can be used to grow corn without harming the food chain, says Dale E. Baker, soil chemist at Penn State. Baker bases his comments on several years of field studies ap plying sludge, plus tests of sludge from 50 sewage treatment plantsm industrial areas where toxic levels of heavy metals might occur. In 37 of the 50 sewage treatment plants, heavy metal contents in sludge were low enough to avoid harmful effects on the food chain, he affirmed. Certain municipalities and sewage haulers in Pennsylvania have permits from the Department of Environmental Resources for land application of sludge. Of ficials and haulers are required to test the sludge composition periodically to determine levels of plant nutrients and trace metals. In addition, records must be kept of spreading locations and rates of sludge applied. “We recommend that sludge should be analyzed more than once a year, preferably every three months,” Baker stated. “Above all, the soil receiving sludge should be tested at least once yearly for cadmium and other metals in cluding copper, chromium, lead, nickel, and zinc.” Until chemical analysis proves otherwise, it is advisable to think of sewage sludge as potentially harmful when appbed to land over a few years, he added. He described cadmium as the most harmful trace element m sewage sludge. Cadmium is not needed for growth of plants and animals, including humans, in general, however, sewage sludge contains abundant amounts of organic matter and elements essential for plant growth such as nitrogen, phosphorus, zinc, and copper. Corn gram m the experiments | ORDER IN TIME FOR I | CHRISTMAS AND THOSE % | COLD WINTER DAYS... | % % iSSm I *oo™to«iith » oV miiwmSw KT McltY tMK COMPANY INC 17 »ST MOOtTON STREET OCMTOT U»MU3«I PH0K(205)3»175? ® Please send me games at $11.85 ea. Pa. orders add 60' i I "sales tax I ■* I am enclosing □ Check $ □ Money Order $ I | Make checks payable to; RAYTEC MFG. ■ ■ name Mail Orders to: _ ■ address RAYTEC MFG. J I riTY RD 3, EPHRATA, PA I | CTY 17522 ■ . STATE ZIP " Delivery by UPS ■ is safe did not accumulate large quan ' titles of cadmium. Crops such as wheat and potatoes, however, built up cadmium more rapidly than corn gram to potentially harmful levels. Thus, with crops being rotated from field to field, Baker said routine testing of soil and sludge is vital Recent work at Penn State showed that treatment plant operators with land application permits, and haulers, were not keeping adequate v records regarding spreading locations and rates of spreading. Baker said such records are important for an adequate monitoring program to protect land from excessive “loading” with metals. “In Pennsylvania, sludge and soil testing services are available to allow safe and beneficial use of sludge on cropland,” he remarked, and added that “a soil testmg program has been developed to determine that soil loading has not reached excessive levels.” Such testmg services can be made by commercial laboratories or the Soil and Environmental Chemistry Laboratory at Penn State. County agents with the Extension Service have forms to use in submitting sludge or soil samples for analysis. Of the 50 sewage plants tested by Baker and associates, 19 had no heavy metal concentrations ex ceeding safe limits set by the Department of Environmental Resources. Application of sludge on farmlands from these sewage plants would be limited by the nitrogen content of the sludge, as with commercial fertilizer, Baker pointed out.- Ten sewage treatment plants had only one heavy metal ex ceeding harmful levels. The amount that could apphed to farmland would be based on three factors the excess amount of that one heavy metal, the nitrogen content in the sludge, and the crop to be grown. If you were or are a farmer dk and you liked playing Monopoly, jar you'll enioy this game even 4 more because this is the only 0 farm game that puts you in the Jt tractor seat and lets everyone 3 experience real life farming An entertaining and educational 0m game for the whole family at jm only 510 00 plus $1 85 Ti shipping and handling per m game gf Receiving the dairy production awards for ——Jrold . Jlinger, wmanstown; their family farm operations were: from left, James Bennetch, R 2 Myerstown; and Malcolm Raymond Getz, Myerstown; Norman Kline, R 2 Sonnen. i m I® not L10N... THE CLASSIFIED LIVESTOCK SECTION HAS BEASIIY SELECTIONS! IMPEL® 13-34-10 fertilizer can get your com crop off to a super start: It has a high concentration of water-soluble Phosphorus that gets to young seedlings quickly. Helps plants establish a good root system—the starting point for top yields. Its quick-acting and long-lasting Nitrogen team up to feed the young plants for full yield potential, continually from sprouting to harvest. This is the Starter Special that com growers know from good experience. It’s highly effective as a banded starter. And it’s SAFE... no chance of ammonia damage to tender, young seedlings when used as a “pop up’’ and applied directly with the seed at 50 Ibs./acre jjw* How can we fit UNIPEL 13-34-10 into your com Qp il||V|||| fertility program? g JjjU FERTILIZERS <S) Helping the World Grow Better QSHSIHSEn SMOKETOWN, PA PH: 717-299-2571 Corn Yield 1. Herman Sauter, 189.38 bu./acre; 2. Willow Maple Farms, 186.58; 3. Hoy Miller, 186.52; 4. Paul and Donald Bollinger, 183.14; 5. Hoy Weaver, 178.37. Hay Quality 1. Kline Springs Farm, 19.46 total i(w jOHTHO Chevron a'ij design UNIPEL Req US Pal Oft Elco Y.F. (Continued from Page A 27) digestible protein; 2. Raymond Getz Family, 17.95; UrJohn Moyer, 17.66; 4. Herman Sauter, 17.22; 5. Sonnen Acres, 16.55. Haylage 1. Herman Sauter, 15.30 TDP; 2. Willow Maple Farms, 14.76; 3. Malcolm Sonnen, 11.37. CHV 677 22N
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