ABSTRACT
The global population, now estimated at about 5.8 billion, is expected, barring some catastrophe, to reach 10 billion within the next 20 or so years. An increasing population in and of itself would pose growing pains if it were uniformly distributed over the land areas. Food needs alone lead to export from production areas and import into rather dense urban centers. Wastes produced as a result of the natural consumption process, historically having little value, have been discharged as sewerage into waterways and the oceans. The ability of plants to thrive in a given soil environment depends on soil physical, chemical, and biological (especially microbiological) characteristics. Use of biosolids as soil amendments has some predictable effects on soil properties and processes. The water-holding capacity of the soil is a complex function of several factors, but clay content in particular and particle size distribution in general, and organic matter content are two of the more important factors.
