Who controls how much biosolids are applied to the land?
The Regulatory Agencies, through permits issued to biosolids management facilities, set limits for the application of biosolids. These limits are based either on the yearly loading of metals, available nitrogen, or soil lime requirement, depending on the type of biosolids being used. The most restrictive requirement is the one which limits biosolids application. In most cases, biosolids application is limited by the amount of nitrogen needed by the crop. This requirement is based on soil type and recommendations contained in the Rutgers Cooperative Extension Service Field Crop Guide. Here, biosolids are being used in place of commercial fertilizers. When biosolids, such as compost, are used in land reclamation, application rates are higher but application is limited to a one-time use. For AASS, which is used in place of agricultural lime, the lime needs of the soil, based on soil pH, are used to determine application rate.
