Planning Model for Land Application of Sewage Sludge

Abstract

A simple mathematical model is presented for estimating nitrate‐nitrogen concentrations in percolation from sludge land application sites. The model is based on annual mass balances of sludge and soil inorganic nitrogen and includes the processes of mineralization, ammonia volatilization, crop uptake, and leaching. Most input parameters are readily obtained from published sources and standard sludge analyses. Default values are given for remaining parameters. Model predictions compared favorably with field measurements taken over three years in a previous study in Ocean County, New Jersey.