Effect of Sewage Sludge Amended Soil on Maize Crop I. Influence on yield and mineral nutrition

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficiency of sewage sludge application on maize (Zea Mays L.) growth, yield and macroelements accumulation (N, P, K, Ca, Mg) when different doses of sewage were applied accompanied by mineral fertilization. The results indicated that sewage sludge fertilization produces significant increase of maize yield that are evident starting with 200 kg N/ha rate, and the highest increases were recorded in the rate of 400 kg N/ ha. The nitrogen content in the maize leaves increased significantly in the variants fertilized with sludge at a rate over 300 kg N/ha, meanwhile the potassium content of the maize leaves was significantly reduced as a result of sludge fertilization at a rate equivalent to 400 kg N/ha. Nitrogen and phosphorus contents in the maize kernels increased with sewage sludge loading, meanwhile in the case of potassium the data showed that there were no statistically significant changes in the potassium content of the maize kernels under the influence of sewage sludge fertilization. The application of sewage sludge caused a significant increase of the calcium and magnesium contents in the maize leaves at equivalent rates higher than 200 kg/N ha.

Effect of cleanup of spiked sludge on corn growth biosorption and leaching of metals

“…To obtain significant differences compared to unfertilized soil, one has to consider higher sludge application. Ilie et al [4] observed during an experimental pots study, that sewage sludge fertilization produces significant increase of corn yield that is evident starting with 200 kg N ha -1 rate (equivalent to 10 t ha -1 ), compared to the soil control where the lowest yield was obtained. Furthermore, Tejada et al [36] obtained 17% increase in the corn yield, with the foliar application of sewage sludge, compared to the untreated samples.…”

“…Beneficial effect of sewage sludge can be noticed even two years after their field application, and they also contribute to a stabilization in the grain yield of maize [3]. Indeed, sewage sludge contains important amounts of nutrients that are indispensable to plant growth [4] and it creates very little to zero environmental impact, if utilized properly [5].…”

Use of Ethoxylated Surfactants to Improve Digestate Stability

“…Large-* email: bombos.mm@gmail.com scale application of anaerobic digestion resulted in large amounts of residual digestate to be processed. Anaerobic digestate after post-treatment is good as fertilizer [5] and soil conditioner and as a pollutant absorber. Dehydration is a necessary step in digestate treatment.…”

Evaluation of Porphyridium purpureum and Nannochloropsis sp. for Carbohydrates and Lipids Production

“…In this study, the concentration of exo-polysaccharide extracted from culture media by precipitation with ethanol was 1.43±0.25 g/L. These compounds serve as antiviral agents, health foods, antioxidants, they have anti-inflammatory properties and, also, a role in the immunomodulatory system; they may also be used as lubricants for bone joints, or even as drag-reducing substances for ships [20][21][22][23].…”