Impact of FGD Gypsum Application on Trace Elements.

here are concerns regarding the fate of nutrients from surface application of animal waste. One approach to reduce losses of P is to treat manure with industrial byproducts such as flue gas desulfurization gypsum (FGDG). However, concerns regarding heavy metal contributions to the environment have arisen based on previous element rich forms of FGDG which included fly ash while “new” FGDG, without fly ash inclusion, is much lower in contaminants. This study examined the impact of FGDG application on soil, plant, and runoff when applied alone or with poultry litter (PL) to soil. The study consisted of a plant response study (4 rates of FGD gypsum of 0, 2.2, 4.4, and 8.9 Mg ha-1 and 4 rates of PL of 0, 4.4, 8.9, and 13.4 Mg ha-1) and a rainfall simulation study (3.4 Mg ha-1 PL with 4 rates of FGD gypsum of 0, 2.2, 4.4, and 8.9 Mg ha-1 and controls). Plant, soil, and runoff samples were analyzed for As, Ba, Ca, Cd, Ba, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, P, Pb, Sb, Se, V, and Zn. Results indicated that FGD gypsum application would not result in increased heavy metal concentrations in plant, soil, or runoff. In addition, the application of FGD gypsum significantly reduced P, As, and Fe concentrations in runoff indicating that FGD gypsum can reduce the negative impact of manure surface application on surface water degradation.