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Elemental Composition of Twelve Plant Species Grown with Irradiated Municipal Sludge
Author(s) -
Kirkham M. B.
Publication year - 1981
Publication title -
zeitschrift für pflanzenernährung und bodenkunde
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.644
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1522-2624
pISSN - 0044-3263
DOI - 10.1002/jpln.19811440211
Subject(s) - spinach , raphanus , phaseolus , sewage sludge , lactuca , cucurbita pepo , composition (language) , agronomy , fertilizer , horticulture , chemistry , biology , sewage , environmental science , biochemistry , linguistics , philosophy , environmental engineering
The objective of this research was to determine the availability to plants of elements in sewage sludge irradiated with high‐energy electrons for disinfection. Irradiated raw sludge (irradiated with an electron dose of 400 krad) and non‐irradiated raw sludge were obtained from the Deer Island Wastewater Treatment Plant of Boston, Massachusetts. The sludges were used to grow 12 plant species under controlled‐environmental conditions. The species were: bush bean ( Phaseolus vulgaris L.), sweet corn ( Zea mays L.), dill ( Anethum graveolens L.), lettuce ( Lactuca sativa L.), mustard ( Brassica juncea Coss.), parsley ( Petroselinum crispum Nym.), pumpkin ( Cucurbita pepo L.), radish ( Raphanus sativus L.), spinach ( Spinacia oleracea L.), Swiss chard ( Beta vulgaris cicla L.), tomato ( Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.), wheat ( Triticum aestivum L. em. Thell.). Plants were also grown with inorganic fertilizer added at recommended rates or with tap water. At the end of the experiment (44 days after planting), dry weight and elemental composition of the plants and soil (fine sandy loam, Typic Ustifluvent) were determined. There was no measurable difference in nutrient composition of soil treated with irradiated and non‐irradiated raw sludge. In general, plants treated with irradiated raw sludge grew as well as plants treated with non‐irradiated raw sludge. Most plants treated with sludge grew as well as plants treated with inorganic fertilizer. Elemental composition of plants treated with irradiated sludge was similar to that of plants treated with non‐irradiated sludge. Sludge‐treated dill, parsley, spinach, and Swiss chard had high concentrations of one or more of the following heavy elements: Zn, Cu, Ni, Cr. The results showed that plants grown with sludge irradiated with high‐energy electrons were similar to plants grown with non‐irradiated sludge.