The objective of the present work was to assess the short-term potential of treated wastewater and sewage sludge for ornamental lawn fertilization and irrigation. A field experiment was performed and the following treatments were considered: sewage sludge application + irrigation with public water; sewage sludge application + irrigation with treated wastewater; irrigation with public water; irrigation with treated wastewater (TW). Irrigation with treated wastewater showed a positive effect on lawn installation through higher growth of grass (1,667 cm) and higher dry matter yield (18,147 g m(-2)). These results represent a significant increase in the grass yield compared with public water irrigation. The grass height (2,606 cm) and dry matter yield (23,177 g m(-2)) increased even more, when sewage sludge produced in the wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) was applied to soil, which proves once more its benefits as an organic fertilizer. At the end of the experiment, an increase of some soil parameters (pH, electrical conductivity, organic matter, Ca2+, Na+, K+, Mg2+ and NH4+) was observed, indicating that treated wastewater irrigation can cause a soil sodization. This short-term study indicated that use of treated wastewater and sewage sludge for ornamental lawn fertilization and irrigation is an environmentally sustainable option for re-use of the WWTP by-products.
Application of organic residues to soil may supply nutrients to plant, namely, nitrogen (N). But, generally, organic residues contain mostly organic N that has to be mineralized prior to plant uptake. This process depends on several parameters such as the carbon to nitrogen ratio of the residues or the soil moisture. The aim of the present work was to assess the effect of the ammonium (NH 4 þ ) and organic N contents of the soil solution on potential N mineralization (PNM) of organic residues applied to soil. Seven organic residues (rice straw, wheat straw, maize straw, sewage sludge, liquid pig manure, poultry manure, and poultry excreta) combined each with three soil solutions: N orgþmin (63 mg L 71 total N with 47% organic N and 53% NH 4 þ -N), N org (5.6 mg L 71 total N with 92% organic N and 8% NH 4 þ -N), and control (no N) were compared. Our results indicated that a small amount of organic N and low NH 4 þ -N in the soil solution enhanced the PNM of organic residues, whereas larger amounts of NH 4 þ -N and organic N in the same proportions decreased the PNM and could lead to N immobilization.
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