Effects of sludge on germination and initial growth performance of Leucaena leucocephala seedlings in the nursery

Abstract

A study was carried out to determine the influence of different types of sludges (municipal, industrial and residential) on field germination, growth and nodulation of L. leucocephala seedlings in the nursery. Before sowing of seeds, different combinations of sludges were incorporated with the nutrient deficient natural forest soils. Field germination, nodulation status and physical growth parameters of seedlings (shoot and root length, vigor index, collar diameter, leaf number, fresh and dry weight of shoot and root and total dry biomass increment) were recorded after three and six months of seed sowing. Field germination, nodulation status and growth parameters were varied significantly in the soil amended with sludges in comparison to control. The highest number of nodule was recorded from soil amended with residential sludge (1:1) and highest fresh and dry nodule weight was also found from the same combination in both three and six month old seedlings. In case of growth parameters, the highest growth was recorded from soil and residential sludge (1:1) combination compared to control. From the study, it can be recommended that soil amended with residential sludge (1:1) provide better field germination, growth and nodule formation of L. leucocephala in degraded soil.

Effects of industrial and residential sludge on seed germination and growth parameters of Acacia auriculiformis seedlings

“…The present study was also coincided with the studies from Labrecque et al (2006) who reported that fast growing species can benefit from sludge amended soil. The results of the present study are also corresponded with that of Iqbal et al (2007). They noticed that residential (soil + residential sludge = 1:1) sludge may be used for obtaining maximum and optimum seedling growth and nodule formation of Leucaena leucocephala.…”

“…Mixing soil with sludge is of considerable interest and importance in sludge utilization (Riekerk and Zasoski 1979;Iqbal et al 2007;Chandra et al 2008). Fast growing tree species can be benefited from sludge application (Labrecque et al 2006).…”

“…Fast growing tree species can be benefited from sludge application (Labrecque et al 2006). Though much research has been done on the use of sewage sludge as crop fertilizers (Van den Berg 1993; Gardiner et al 1995;Selivanovskaya et al 1997;Selivanovskaya and Latypova 1999;Selivanovskaya and Latypova 2006), very few information is available in case of fast growing species especially in soil conditions of Bangladesh (Iqbal et al 2007). In this study we evaluated the effects of different concentrations of residential and industrial sludge on seed germination and physiological parameters of A. auriculiformis seedlings.…”

Effect of Household Solid Waste on Initial Growth Performance of Acacia auriculiformis and Cedrela toona in Mycorrhiza Inoculated Soil

“…Similar result was also stated by Iqbal et al (2007). In their study it was revealed that nodulation status and growth parameters were varied significantly in the soil amended with sludge in comparison to control.…”

“…Similar works was done by Iqbal et al, 2007. According to his findings growth parameters (shoot and root length, vigor index, collar diameter, leaf number, fresh and dry weight of shoot and root and total dry biomass increment) and nodule formation of seedlings recorded from different combinations of sludge treatments in L. leucocephala varied significantly compared to control.…”