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Sewage Sludge as Soil Ameliorator

Tanushyam Sikder
Department of Soil, Water and Environment, University of Dhaka, Dhaka-l000, Bangladesh.

J C Joardar
Department of Soil, Water and Environment, University of Dhaka, Dhaka-l000, Bangladesh.

S M Imamul Huq
Department of Soil, Water and Environment, University of Dhaka, Dhaka-l000, Bangladesh.

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

A field experiment was conducted with sewage sludge to study the possible use of it as a soil ameliorator vis-a-vis its effect on amaranthus (Amaranthus gangeticus L) growth. The experiment was randomly arranged in three separate blocks. In one block only sewage sludge at the rates of 1, 2.5, 5 and 10 t/ha was applied; in the second block, sewage sludge along with fertilizer was applied while in the third block only fertilizer was applied at 1/2, 1 and 1 1/2 rates of the requirement for Amaranthus gangeticus L. The plants were grown for up to 45 days. Treatment responses were evaluated in terms of soil organic matter, plant yield and concentrations of N, P, K, Fe, Zn, Mn, Pb and Cd in soil and plant. It was found that sewage sludge significantly increased the content of soil organic matter. Application of sewage sludge @ 10 t/ha raised the soil organic matter by about 42%. The yield of the plant was also increased significantly (p=0.005 and 0.011 for sewage sludge and sewage sludge plus fertilizer). The soil pH decreased. The N, P, Fe, Zn, Pb and Cd content in soil and plant was increased but the content of K and Mn was unaffected. The heavy metals, except Pb, both in soil and plants were, however, below toxic levels. The effect of sewage sludge mixed with fertilizer was found better than sewage sludge alone.

Keywords: Sewage sludge, Nutrient element, Heavy metals

Location: Pagla sewage treatment plant, Shyampur, Dhaka

Start Date:

End Date:

Program Area: Crop-Soil-Water Management

Commodity: Soil fertility

Objectives:

To see the effect of sewage sludge as a source of plant nutrient and at the same time its effect on plant growth

Methodology:

The field experiment was conducted in a field situated in the premises of the Pagla sewage treatment plant, Shyampur, Dhaka, Bangladesh. The georeference of the selected field is 23° 40.986' N, 90° 27.035' E. The landscape of the study area is almost level to gently undulating. The land of the study area belongs to Sonatala soil series belonging to the AEZ-9(e). The soil samples were collected from the experimental site to determine the physical properties and nutritional status of the soil. The soil samples were processed and sieved through a 0.5 mm sieve and stored for analysis. The treated sewage sludge samples were collected from the lagoons of Pagla sewage treatment plant. The sewage sludge samples were also air dried, ground and screened through a 0.5 mm sieve and then mixed thoroughly for laboratory analysis. Certified seeds of Amaranthus gangeticus L. (BARI Lalshak-1) were collected from Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI). Treatments used were four rates each of sewage sludge and three combinations of sewage sludge + fertilizers and three rates of fertilizer. The whole experimental site was divided into three experimental blocks. The first block was used for sewage sludge, second for sewage sludge plus fertilizer, and the third for only fertilizer. Required numbers of plots for the three experiments were laid in each block. Each set of plots was arranged in a completely randomized way in the respective blocks. There was a control treatment in each the blocks of the experiment. There were three replications for each treatment. Plot sizes were (3m x 3m) with intra plot spacing of 0.5 m and intra block spacing of 1m. The total area of the experimental field was 646 m². The required nutrients were calculated on the basis of soil test value interpretation. The amount of nutrients were 113.88 kg N!ha, 34.59 kg P/ha and 24.64 kg K/ha. The total amount of P and K fertilizer (from TSP and MP, respectively) and 1/3 of N fertilizer (from urea) as well as sewage ludge were applied at the time of field preparation. The rest 2/3 of N fertilizer was applied in two installments: the first after 14 days and the second after 21 days of sowing. Seeds of amaranth us were sown in line in the plots one week after application of the treatments and allowed to germinate. Germination started 5 days after sowing. Moisture content, texture (only for soil), pH, organic matter, total N, P, K, Fe, Zn, Mn, Pb, Cd. Available N, P and K were also determined. b) Plant: Yield, N, P, K, Fe, Zn, Mn, Pb and Cd . Statistical analyses were done by using the software Minitab 13.0. Physical, chemical and physiochemical properties of the soil and sewage sludge were determined. Total Fe, Zn, Mn, Pb, and Cd contents of soil, sewage sludge and plant were extracted by digesting with the ternary acid mixture and the content of these samples were estimated by Atomic Absorption Spectrometer (AAS).

Source of Information: BANGLADESH JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURE AND ENVIRONMENT, Vol-3(1), pp.63-73, June 2007, ISSN-1816-0808.

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

It was found that sewage sludge significantly increased the content of soil organic matter. Application of sewage sludge @ 10 t/ha raised the soil organic matter by about 42%. The yield of the plant was also increased significantly (p=0.005 and 0.011 for sewage sludge and sewage sludge plus fertilizer). The soil pH decreased. The N, P, Fe, Zn, Pb and Cd content in soil and plant was increased but the content of K and Mn was unaffected. The heavy metals, except Pb, both in soil and plants were, however, below toxic levels. The effect of sewage sludge mixed with fertilizer was found better than sewage sludge alone. Further research with more crops are needed to make any recommendation on the commercial use of this sludge.

Knowledge Management: Journal