A Field Trial to Determine the Effect of the Land Application of Treated Municipal Wastewater Onto Selected NZ-Native Plants on Banks Peninsula
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A field trial to determine the effect of the land application of treated municipal wastewater onto selected NZ-native plants on Banks Peninsula Alexandra Meister1, Maria Jesus Gutierrez-Gines2 and Brett Robinson1* 1School of Physical and Chemical Sciences, University of Canterbury, 20 Kirkwood Ave, Christchurch 8041 2Institute of Environmental Science and Research (ESR), 27 Creyke Rd, Christchurch 8041 *[email protected] Executive Summary • The application of Treated Municipal Wastewater (TMW) on NZ-native vegetation is a management option under consideration for towns on Banks Peninsula and elsewhere. There is little information on the effect of TMW on the growth of NZ-native plants or the fluxes of nutrients or contaminants in the underlying soil. • In July 2015, 1350 native species were planted onto a 20 m x 55 m plot on Piper’s Valley Road, Duvauchelle, Banks Peninsula. The plants were arranged into 27 blocks (4.5 m x 4 m), with 12 of the blocks receiving TMW. There were three NZ-native vegetation types tested: Type 1 (Phormium tenax, Phormium colensoi, Cordyline australis, Griselinia littoralis, Pittosporum eugenioides), Type 2 (Leptospermum scoparium, Kunzea robusta) and Type 3 (Coprosma robusta, Pseudopanax arboreus, Podocarpus laetus, Olearia paniculata). Irrigation with TMW at a rate of 1000 mm/yr started in January 2016. • In October/November 2018 forty soil pits were opened and samples taken from five depths (0-5, 15, 30, 45 and 60 cm). From January 2016 to the time of sampling, the soils received a total of 3400 mm of TMW. Soils were analysed for pH, total elements, and soluble (‘phytoavailable’) fractions of key nutrients and contaminants (ammonium, nitrate, Olsen phosphorus, heavy metals). • There was no visible evidence of changes in soil structure as a result of TMW application that have been reported to occur in other soils receiving TMW due to the accumulation of sodium. Nor was there any visible evidence of runoff. • On average the Na concentrations in the topsoil (0-5 cm) was significantly higher in the TMW- irrigated plots compared to the control plots. This is only a 25% increase, despite a disproportionately large mass of Na that was added with the effluent. This indicates that Na is moving down the soil profile and not accumulating in the root-zone, where it may cause degradation of the soil structure. • There was a significant (6%) increase in the total nitrogen concentration in the topsoil (0-5 cm) but at greater soil depths, the total nitrogen in the TMW-treated plots was not significantly greater than the control plots. There were no significant differences in ammonium in any of the soils. Nitrate was significantly higher in the surface soil but not deeper in the soil profiles. It is likely that most excess nitrogen added to the soil (200 kg/ha/yr) is either taken up into the vegetation, denitrified into N2 and N2O or leached. 1 • There was no evidence of phosphorus accumulation in the soil, probably because the amount of phosphorus added in the TMW (110 kg/ha/yr, total of 312 kg/ha) was small compared to the mass of P in the soil profile (7606 kg/ha). This is consistent with the findings of our previous report, modelling the accumulation of P in these soils. Available phosphorus (Olsen-P) was within the range (10 - 30 mg/kg) typically found on extensive farming systems, and well below concentrations reported on soils irrigated with high-P effluent. • Soil concentrations of potentially toxic heavy metals, including copper, cadmium, lead, and zinc, were not affected by TMW application. The concentrations of these elements were similar to background values reported for Canterbury Soils. • Plant survival and growth was monitored throughout the trial. Growth (biomass) was assessed initially by canopy volume, and following canopy closure, by plant height. Harvested biomass will be determined at the conclusion of the trial. Plant suitability for effluent application on Banks Peninsula was determined by survival and growth. • The effluent had a negligible effect on the concentrations of nutrients and contaminants in the plant tissues. While the growth of all species was accelerated by the effluent, there was no indication of luxury uptake of plant nutrients or increased concentrations of elements that may be harmful. This indicates that TMW is unlikely to affect ecological food chains. • This trial demonstrated the feasibility of establishing NZ-native vegetation using TMW. We recommend irrigation rates of 500 - 800 mm/yr. Further experimental plantings should be conducted with these species to explore the possibility of using TMW to re-establish rare or endangered plants that may significantly enhance the ecological value of the area. A critical success factor for the establishment of New Zealand native vegetation on Banks Peninsula that are to receive TMW is the control of exotic weeds. It is likely that some weeds will have a greater growth response to TMW than the native species. It is therefore critical that these weeds be suppressed as the native vegetation becomes established. 2 Contents Executive Summary ................................................................................................................................. 1 Contents .................................................................................................................................................. 3 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................ 4 Aims .................................................................................................................................................... 5 Methods .................................................................................................................................................. 6 Field trial ............................................................................................................................................. 6 Sample collection ................................................................................................................................ 9 Chemical analyses ............................................................................................................................... 9 Calculation of nitrate leaching .......................................................................................................... 11 Statistical analysis ............................................................................................................................. 11 Results and discussion .......................................................................................................................... 12 Infiltration and accumulation of sodium and other basic cations .................................................... 12 Carbon and Nitrogen ......................................................................................................................... 16 Nitrate leaching ................................................................................................................................. 21 Other elements ................................................................................................................................. 25 Plant development ............................................................................................................................ 25 Plant elemental composition ............................................................................................................ 27 Conclusions ........................................................................................................................................... 29 References ............................................................................................................................................ 30 Appendix 1: Supplementary data ......................................................................................................... 34 Appendix 2: Nitrogen report ................................................................................................................. 40 Appendix 2: Phosphorus report ............................................................................................................ 46 Appendix 4: Development of the field trial from 2015 to 2019 ........................................................... 53 3 Introduction In 2014, the Christchurch City Council (CCC) commissioned an investigation to determine whether Treated Municipal Wastewater (TMW) from the township of Duvauchelle could be irrigated onto the local golf course or surrounding grazed pasture. Subsequent engagement with the community during public open days in 2015 and 2016, this brief was expanded to include cut-and-carry pasture as well as New Zealand (NZ) native vegetation. The feasibility of irrigating TMW onto pasture was demonstrated for two soil types, Barry’s soil and the Pawson Silt Loam, from Duvauchelle and the Takamatua Peninsula in lysimeter experiments (Gutierrez-Gines et al., 2017, 2020). Potentially, TMW from the town of Akaroa, Banks Peninsula, could be irrigated onto NZ-native vegetation, instead of being discharged into Akaroa harbour. Such an approach is consistent with land application being the preferred option over discharge into waterways or the ocean (Sparling et al., 2006), where it can exacerbate eutrophication and/or toxic algal blooms (Sonune and Ghate, 2004). The Irrigation of TMW onto land