Impact of Elemental Interactions on Soil Metal Availability and Growth of Ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) Under Wastewater and Biosolids

The effect of treated wastewater (TMWW) and biosolid (BSD) on the available soil metal levels was studied through a field experiment conducted in Amfissa, Greece (Geo. Coordinates X 360,030.956 and Y 4,265,145.376), using a randomized block design and applying the following treatments, in 4 replications: (i) TMWW, (ii) BSD, (iii) TMWW + BSD, and (iv) CONTROL. The perennial Ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) was chosen as a test crop. Under these treatments, the differences in soil metal concentration between pre- and post-application were statistically significant. A considerable metal contribution to soil and plant was attained by the following interactions: (a) between “soil chemical and physical characteristics with metals” and with essential nutrients, (b) between “metals and essential nutrients” occurring in the soil, and (c) between “metals and essential nutrients” within the plant tissues. It is suggested that the interactions between metals and soil characteristics must be further studied to attain a more accurate knowledge in relation to soil fertility and productivity.