Movement of heavy metals in an Oxisol fertilized with municipal solid waste compost

Abstract

From 1996 to 1998, a field experiment was carried out to study the effects of successive application of a municipal solid waste compost on the movement of Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn through the profile of a Yellow Latossol (Typic Hapludox) cropped with sugarcane. The compost was applied at rates of 20, 40 and 60 Mg ha^-1 (dry base) in the first year, and of 24, 48 and 72 Mg ha^-1 in the second year, respectively, plus a control treatment. The results demonstrated that there was no movement of Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, and Pb through the profile of this acid soil. Nevertheless, Zn mobility was verified at the end of the second year, when content of Zn increased from 0.4 to 0.6 m layer.