Recent Research on Municipal Sludge as Soil Fertilizer in China: a Review

Due to the annual increase in wastewater treatment in most Chinese cities, a major environmental issue has arisen: safe treatment, disposal, and recycling of municipal sludge. Municipal sludge has a high content of carbon and essential nutrients for plant growth; hence, it has gained interest among researchers as a soil fertilizer. This study discusses the potential usage of municipal sludge as soil fertilizer (indicators include nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and trace elements) along with its shortcomings and drawbacks (potentially toxic elements (PTEs), organic matter (OM), pathogens, etc.) as well as reviews the latest reports on the role of municipal sludge in land use. The use of municipal sludge as a soil fertilizer is a sustainable management practice and a single application of sludge does not harm the environment. However, repeated use of sludge may result in the accumulation of harmful chemicals and pathogens that can enter the food chain and endanger human health. Therefore, long-term field studies are needed to develop ways to eliminate these adverse effects and make municipal sludge available for agricultural use.

Automated summary

Due to the increase in wastewater treatment in Chinese cities, there is a major environmental issue of treatment, disposal, and recycling of municipal sludge. Municipal sludge, rich in carbon and essential nutrients, is being studied as a soil fertilizer, but it also has drawbacks such as potentially toxic elements, organic matter, and pathogens. The use of municipal sludge as a soil fertilizer is sustainable, but repeated use may harm the environment and human health, thus long-term field studies are required to find solutions.