Assessing the Effectiveness of Vermicomposted Products and Predicting Potential Hazards From Metal Contaminated Steel Waste Through Multi-model Analysis

Article Type

Research Article

Publication Title

Water, Air, and Soil Pollution

Abstract

Ecotoxicity and bioavailability of heavy metals (HMs) from steel industrial waste and the overuse of chemical fertilizers are the two prime environmental concerns. By using vermicomposting technology, steel industrial waste slag was transformed into valuable organic fertilizers for agricultural purposes. The primary goal of the research was to compare the effects of organic vermicomposted steel waste, inorganic fertilizers, and the direct application of steel slag waste on soil and sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) plants (oil seed crops). The findings showed that T3 (1:1HD + F), which was amended with high-quality vermicomposted steel waste in soil, had greater enzymatic attributes than T6 and T7. After post-harvest, T3 showed a higher reduction in the bioavailability of HMs. HMs accumulation in sesame pods was negligible in all treatments, except T6, and T7. Due to the presence of toxic steel waste in T6 and T7, the SAMOE risk thermometer indicated a high-risk (class 5) hazard. Fuzzy-TOPSIS and ANN results also reveal that, based on synergetic performance score and rank, the concentration of HMs in the treatment was in the order of T7 > T6 > T10 > T5 > T8 > T4 > T9 > T2 > T3 > T1. These results also supported the finding that T3 showed the lowest risk as compared to T7 and T6. According to the correlation statistics, the bioavailability of HMs has a significant detrimental effect on microbial activity and growth. Overall results indicate that the vermicomposting steel waste slag showed promise as a potential organic fertilizer in the foreseeable future.

DOI

https://10.1007/s11270-023-06687-w

Publication Date

11-1-2023

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