Open AccessCan sewage sludge increase soil fertility and replace inorganic fertilizers for pineapple production?
Author(s) -
Mauro Franco Castro Mota,
Rodinei Facco Pegoraro,
Victor Martins Maia,
Regynaldo Arruda Sampaio,
Marcos Koiti Kondo,
Silvânio Rodrigues dos Santos
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
research, society and development
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2525-3409
DOI - 10.33448/rsd-v10i11.19310
Subject(s) - sewage sludge , agronomy , cultivar , human fertilization , nutrient , organic matter , soil fertility , sewage , phosphorus , chemistry , environmental science , biology , soil water , environmental engineering , organic chemistry , soil science
Sewage sludge from treatment plants is an important source of N and organic matter for agriculture. The objective of this study was to analyze the effect of sewage sludge and mineral fertilization on the soil chemical properties and production of five pineapple cultivars. The study was conducted in 2 x 5 factorial scheme, consisting of two different fertilizers (sewage sludge and mineral fertilizers), combined with five pineapple cultivars (‘Pérola’, ‘Vitória’, ‘Smooth Cayenne’, ‘MD-2’, and ‘IAC Fantástico’). Sewage sludge fertilization favoured soil fertility by promoting a decrease in the pH and increase in the content of soil organic matter, phosphorus, calcium, iron, and zinc, compared to soil with mineral fertilization. In pineapple plants, sewage sludge fertilization provided statistically similar yields and physic chemical fruit characteristics compared to mineral fertilization. Among cultivars, the ‘Smooth Cayenne’ presented the highest yield (125 t ha-1), followed by cultivars ‘MD-2’ and ‘IAC Fantástico’, with intermediate yields of 98 and 90 t ha-1. Cultivars ‘Pérola’ and ‘Vitória’ presented lower yields. In this context, it was observed that sewage sludge can be used in pineapple cultivars, as an alternative source of nutrients to partial replaces inorganic fertilization.