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Manurial value of septic‐tank sludge on grassland
Author(s) -
CARLTONSMITH C. H.,
COKER E. G.
Publication year - 1985
Publication title -
grass and forage science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.716
H-Index - 56
eISSN - 1365-2494
pISSN - 0142-5242
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2494.1985.tb01772.x
Subject(s) - septic tank , nutrient , environmental science , sewage sludge , grassland , fertilizer , phosphorus , agronomy , sewage , population , sewage sludge treatment , environmental engineering , zoology , sewage treatment , biology , ecology , chemistry , medicine , environmental health , organic chemistry
About 5% of the UK population is served by septic tanks and cesspits. In some districts this is applied to farmland. The Water Research Centre and South‐West Water collaborated in establishing a field trial to provide knowledge of the manurial value of septic‐tank sludge. The trial was designed to investigate the value of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) contained in the sludge and applied over a 3‐year period to grassland. The approximate proportions of total nutrients present in the sludge applied which became available to ryegrass as inorganic fertilizer nutrients were: Barley grown in the fourth year when no sludge was applied showed a significant response to residual sludge N and P remaining in the soil. It is concluded that septic‐tank sludge can supply useful amounts of N and P, and, unlike other forms of sewage sludge, significant quantities of K to grassland. Estimates of the nutrient value should be based on analysis for dry solids, and total N, P and K. Septic‐tank sludge is usually low in metal content and no metal contamination problems should arise when it is applied to land.