有几项研究评估了明矾污泥的土地利用对各种农业和/或森林状况的影响。这些研究通常表明对作物生长和质量的影响最小，强调污泥土地施用率高达干重的2-3%。然而，有关明矾污泥土地利用的文献通常基于实验室研究中观察到的短期环境影响。因此，本研究项目的目的是对长期的- 明矾污泥土地利用的长期环境影响。具体研究目标是:在施用污泥30个月后，返回明矾污泥土地施用现场，并评估明矾污泥成分在土壤环境中的去向和流动性；并确定明矾污泥土地应用计划对长期地下水质量和松树生长的影响。

Several studies have evaluated the impact of land application of alum sludges to various agricultural and/or forest situations. These studies have typically shown minimal impacts on crop growth and quality, emphasizing sludge land application rates up to 2-3% by dry weight. However, the literature regarding alum sludge land application is often based on short-term environmental effects observed in laboratory studies. Therefore, the purpose of this research project was to perform a field study investigating the long-term environmental effects of alum sludge land application. Specific research objectives were: return to an alum sludge land application site 30 months after the sludge was applied and evaluate the fate and mobility of alum sludge constituents in the soil environment; and determine the impact of the alum sludge land application program on long-term groundwater quality and pine tree growth.