Study of the Effect of Sewage Sludge and Zeolite, Pre-Sowing Spring Barley Seed Treatment on Its Yield

Abstract

Purpose: to study the chemical composition of sewage sludge and zeolite, the sludge structure and also to evaluate the spring barley yield against the background of the ameliorant application and pre-sowing seed treatment with bischofite. Materials and methods. The object of research is the sewage sludge from the treatment facilities of Volzhsky and natural limestone zeolite. The chemical composition of sewage sludge and zeolite was studied under laboratory conditions. The study of sewage sludge structure was carried out by scanning electron microscopy. The field experiment was set up in accordance with generally accepted methods. Results. The chemical composition of the sewage sludge and the quality indicators of zeolite were determined. During the study, the increased content of nitrogen (6.7 %), phosphorus (2.8 %), potassium (0.21 %) was found in the sediment, the organic matter content was 80.0 %. Zeolite analysis data showed that it is based on silica SiO₂ (60.49 %) and alumina Al₂O₃ (12.1 %). When studying the structure of sewage sludge, it was found that the sample has a porous structure, particles of various sizes are found in it, meso- and macropores are present. Data on spring barley yield indicate that when treated with worked out sewage sludge, it increases to 3.15 and 3.25 t/ha against the background of control without seed treatment and with seed treatment with bischofite, respectively. In the variant without pre-sowing seed treatment and with the ameliorant introduction (sewage sludge + zeolite), the yield was 3.88 t/ha, in the variant with seed treatment with bischofite – 4.05 t/ha. Conclusions. To increase the productivity and yield of spring barley in the arid zone of the Volgograd region, it is advisable to use non-traditional ameliorant fertilizers with an optimal chemical composition. Pre-sowing seed treatment with bischofite had a positive effect on field germination and spring barley yield, however, additional studies of its effectiveness in pre-sowing seed treatment are needed.

Study and evaluation of the chemical composition of bottom sediments of the Volga-Akhtunisky flood

“…It is known that due to catastrophic changes in ecosystems, the global consequences of intensive land use, leading to soil degradation, it is required to improve agricultural production. The solution of the global environmental problem of land degradation is possible through the use of non-traditional soil ameliorants [1][2][3][4], but due to the lack of scientific and industrial infrastructure in the field of processing, recycling and disposal of waste, technologies for the secondary use of resources are practically not used. Bottom sediments are sediments that cover the bottom of a water body.…”