Effect of Different Types and Rates of Composted Sewage Sludge on Yield and Composition of Two Strawberry Cultivars

Abstract

A field experiment was carried out during 2000/2001-growth season at the Experimental Farm of the Faculty of Agriculture, Suez Canal University. The aim of the present work is to evaluate two strawberry (Fragaria x aananssa) cultivars (Camarosa and Chandler) yields response and compositions to varying rates (0, 40 and 60 m 3 ha -1 ) of different composted sewage sludge, plant residues and cement kiln dust (5:5:0, 5:5:0.4, 5:5:0.8 and 5:5:1.6 v/v).Fresh and dry weights, NPK contents and uptakes of shoot and fruit of strawberry were significantly increased as result of applying different compost mixtures to the soil as compared with untreated soil. Also, Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu and Ni contents of shoot and fruit of strawberry were significantly increased (but they were still in safe concentrations, often do not build-up to phytotoxic levels) as result of applying different compost mixtures to the soil as compared with untreated soil. All measured parameters were also increased with increasing compost application rates. There are different responses for the two strawberry cultivars in yield, metal contents and uptakes as result of applying of different compost mixtures and rates. Generally, although fresh weights of shoot, fruit, and total yield and dry weights of shoot and total yield of Chandler cultivar were more significantly higher in the compost untreated soil, they more responded to the application of the compost to the soil in Camarosa cultivar.