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Paper Mill Sludge Disposal on Soils: Effects on the Yield and Mineral Nutrition of Oats (Avena sativa L.)
Author(s) -
Dolar S. G.,
Boyle J. R.,
Keeney D. R.
Publication year - 1972
Publication title -
journal of environmental quality
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.888
H-Index - 171
eISSN - 1537-2537
pISSN - 0047-2425
DOI - 10.2134/jeq1972.00472425000100040015x
Subject(s) - avena , agronomy , fertilizer , greenhouse , soil water , limiting , plant growth , paper mill , environmental science , yield (engineering) , chemistry , environmental engineering , biology , effluent , soil science , mechanical engineering , materials science , metallurgy , engineering
Abstract A greenhouse investigation to evaluate the effects on plant growth of incorporation of high rates (2.5% or 10% by weight of soil) of paper mill sludge material from several primary and secondary treatment processes was conducted. Sludges from secondary biological treatment processes contained sufficient N in relation to organic C (range of C/N values was 12:1–50:1) so that N was not limiting to plant growth. However, sludges from primary treatment processes contained high organic C/N ratios (ca. 150:1) and would require considerable supplementary N fertilizer if cereal crops or grasses were to be planted soon after sludge application. At the high sludge rate, plant growth was diminished even though sufficient fertilizer N, P and K had been applied.