Open AccessUSE PF URBAN SLUDGE COMPOST AS FERTILIZANT ON APPLE ORCHARDS
Author(s) -
Claudia Nicola,
AUTHOR_ID,
Mihaela Paraschiv,
AUTHOR_ID
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
fruit growing research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.1
H-Index - 3
eISSN - 2344-3723
pISSN - 2286-0304
DOI - 10.33045/fgr.v37.2021.15
Subject(s) - compost , sewage sludge , human fertilization , orchard , agronomy , phosphorus , environmental science , sewage treatment , horticulture , chemistry , zoology , environmental engineering , biology , organic chemistry
This study shows the influence of compost fertilization derived from sludge obtained from wastewater treatment on the nutrition of an eight-year-old apple orchard, ʹJonathanʹ cv. A field experiment was conducted to demonstrate the beneficial and negative aspects of (urban) sludge compost fertilization in apples and to assess the risk of soil contamination with heavy metals from municipal sewage sludge compost. The experimental factor was the compost with the following gradations: V1 = 0 t/ha, V2 = 20 t/ha, V3 = 40 t/ha, V4 = 60 t/ha, V5 = 80 t/ha. After two years (2019-2021) from soil fertilization with compost, the nitrogen content of the leaves increased in the treatment with the maximum fertilization dose (80 t/ha) by 30% compared to the unfertilized control, while the phosphorus content of leaves increased by 80% compared to non-fertilization control. The potassium content of the leaves increased by 36% in the 80 t/ha treatment compared to the unfertilized control, but still remained at a deficit level. The results showed that growth and yield were improved by using sewage sludge compost. However, sewage sludge compost applications have not significantly altered the heavy metal content of plant tissues. The concentration of heavy metals in the soil did not exceed the maximum permissible thresholds according to standards established in other EU countries, where compost from sewage sludge is considered product, not waste. However, the calculation of the Igeo index (geoaccumulation index of heavy metal in soil) showed certain levels of soil pollution already installed with Cd Zn, Pb in all variants fertilized with compost.