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Leaching of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) to groundwater can limit the land application of fertilizer, biosolids, and other soil amendments. Groundwater quality monitoring data collected over a 34‐yr period at a 1790‐ha site in Fulton County, Illinois, where strip‐mined land was reclaimed with biosolids, were used to evaluate long‐term impacts of biosolids on groundwater N, P, and other parameters. Seven strip‐mined fields repeatedly treated with biosolids at 801 to 1815 Mg ha−1 cumulative rate (equivalent to 24–55 dry Mg ha−1 yr−1) between 1972 and 2004 were compared with another seven fields treated annually with chemical fertilizer at agronomic rates. Groundwater from wells installed in each of the fields and two public wells that served as background (reference) were sampled for 35 yr, monthly between 1972 and 1986 and quarterly between 1987 and 2006. Data show greater chloride (Cl−), sulfate (SO42−) and electrical conductivity (EC) of groundwater from wells in biosolids fields than those in fertilizer fields. Also, groundwater nitrate N (NO3–N) concentrations were greater in biosolids‐amended fields than in fertilizer fields, but below regulatory limit of 10 mg L−1 in Illinois Part 620 regulation. Conversely, groundwater P concentrations were consistently lower in biosolids than in chemical fertilizer wells throughout the 35‐yr monitoring period. The study demonstrates that the repeated application of biosolids, even at higher than agronomic rate, would cause only minor nitrate increase and no P increase in groundwater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The author reflects on the issues related to education in Chicago, Illinois. He stated that the Colonel Parker's school was closed due to a decision of county officials to make no appropriation for its maintenance. He added that there was a reduction in the salaries of teachers because residents discovered that the costs for educating 100,000 students is greater than the costs for construction sewers, lay water mains, and pave streets.

The article applauds the vacation-industry contests of 1930 which are the latest of 20 annual creations in education of Edward J. Tobin, superintendent of Cook County, Illinois. The teachers and parents were interested in the activities of the children's vacation industry, and each community enjoyed the creative ways in which children were earning while learning.

The article focuses on the developments of the Illinois State Normal University that turned seventy-four years in service in 1932. The university has reached significant scholastic and professional achievements under the leadership of its president Henry Alvin Brown. The author remarked on the appropriate training received by teachers from the university.

The author reflects on the performance of teachers and administration of schools in Chicago, Illinois. He mentioned about the George D. Strayer report which highly commended the city's teachers. In addition, he acknowledged the remarkable management of administrators George Howland and Ella Flagg Young. Lastly, the author recognized the efficient teachers, assistants, supervisors, principals, and teachers under the administration of William J. Bogan, despite the financial crisis.

In agricultural soils, a large portion of C in crop residues (i.e., non-harvested plant parts left in the field) is annually lost to atmosphere due to the low C use metabolism of soil microorganisms adapting to the environmental stress (moisture stress and substrate C and N imbalance). In this study, we tested the hypothesis that amending soil with biosolids (treated sewage sludge with high stable organic matter and low C:N ratio) can improve the C metabolism of microorganisms in agricultural soils through alleviation of microbial stress, leading to increased sequestration of crop residue-C in agricultural soils. Biosolids were applied at a mean annual rate of 4.2 kg m −2 (dry weight) to eight agricultural fields (biosolids-amended) for 13 years (1972–1984) in western Illinois. Four agricultural fields (unamended) received chemical fertilizer as control. We measured the sequestration rate of crop residue-C in the soils over the span of 34 years (1972–2006) using a 13 C technique. We found dramatically greater sequestration rate of crop residue-C in biosolids-amended soil (32.5 ± 1.7% of total crop residue-C) versus unamended soil (11.8 ± 1.6%). Soil microbial metabolic quotient was significantly lower in biosolids-amended than in unamended fields, indicating that biosolid-amendment reduced soil microbial stress and improved microbial C metabolism. The study concludes use of a soil amendment with high stable C and low C:N is a valid approach to transform agricultural soils from current C-neutral status to a C sink. Biosolids represent a good choice of such soil amendments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Data collected for 35 yr from a 1790-ha strip mine reclamation site in Fulton County, Illinois, where biosolids were applied from 1972 to 2004, were used to evaluate the impacts of long-term biosolids application on metal concentrations in groundwater. Groundwater samples were collected between 1972 and 2006 from wells installed in seven strip-mined fields treated with biosolids at cumulative loading rates of 801 to 1815 dry Mg ha and from another seven fields (also strip mined) treated with mineral fertilizer. Samples were collected monthly between 1972 and 1986 and quarterly between 1987 and 2004 and were analyzed for total metals. The concentrations of metals in groundwater were generally below regulatory limits. Lead, Cd, Cu, Cr, Ni, and Hg concentrations in groundwater were similar for the biosolids-amended and fertilizer-treated sites across all sampling intervals. Zinc concentration was increased by biosolids application only for samples collected before the 1993 promulgation of the USEPA 40 CFR Part 503 rule. Iron and Mn were the only metals that were consistently increased after biosolids application; however, Mn concentrations did not exceed the 10 mg L regulatory limits. Zinc, Cu, Cd, Pb, Fe, Al, and Mn concentrations in groundwater decreased with time, coupled with the change from pre-part 503 to post-Part 503 biosolids. The concentrations of other metals, including Ni, Cr, and Hg, did not increase in groundwater with the prolonged biosolids application. The study suggests that the long-term application of biosolids at high loading rates does not result in trace metal pollution of groundwater., (Copyright © by the American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America, and Soil Science Society of America, Inc.)