Biosolids in the Dryland Pacific Northwest Seven Years After Application

Abstract

In dryland region of the inland Pacific Northwest (iPNW), the two-year winter wheat–fallow rotation is associated with wind erosion and a decline in soil organic carbon (SOC) and overall soil health. The use of biosolids, produced as by-products of municipal wastewater treatment, in agriculture is gaining traction as an effective way to improve SOC and nutrient availability. While immediate benefits of biosolids application have been studied to some extent, there is still a lack of research-based information on the persistence and residual effects of biosolids applications in the low-precipitation region of the iPNW. Therefore, a study was conducted to address that gap by assessing the legacy effects of biosolids, seven years after their application. Earn 0.5 CEUs in Soil & Water Management by reading this article and taking the quiz at https://web.sciencesocieties.org/Learning-Center/Courses.