The Effect of Different amounts Wastewater Sludge Application on Soybean Yield and Nitrate Concentration in Shallow Depth Drainage Water

آب و خاک

Article 8, Volume 27, Issue 1, March 2013, Pages 70-79   

Document Type: Research Article

DOI: 10.22067/jsw.v0i0.22205

Author

A. Hassanoghli^*

Abstract

Produced sludge from wastewater treatment plants is a source of macro and micro nutrients and organic matters which is needed for agriculture. On the other hand, application of sludge with no criterion may cause some health risks and also, soil and surface water and ground water resources pollution may be followed. In this regards, the effect of different amounts of sewage sludge used as organic fertilizer in compare with chemical fertilizers on transport of minerals below the root zone and yield and yield components in soybean cultivation were studied. Therefore, 15 cylindrical plastic soil culomns with a height of 100 cm and 60 cm diameter were constructed and drainage PVC pipes with geotextile filter were installed for all of them. The sludge of Ekbatan housing complex wastewater treatment plant after processing and digestion was taken place and used. The culomns were filled by a Clay Loam textured soil and Soybean (Williams variety) was planted. Treatments include three levels of wastewater sludge fertilizer (10, 25 and 50 ton/ha), chemical fertilizers (150 kg/ha ammonium phosphate and 50 kg/ha urea) and control without using fertilizer in three replications. According to the results, the highest mean amount of nitrate in drainage water of culomns (base on split plot through time as statistical completely randomized design) was 57.17 mg/lit in the early season and treatment related to the use of sludge was 50 ton/ha. The lowest mean value of nitrate obtained from the control in the end of cultivation season and was 3.51 mg/lit. The most yield of Soybean was 277.85 gr grains per culomn which obtained from use of 50 ton/ha of manure sludge. The greatest weight of 1000 grains and the number of pods with values of 127.42 gr and 856 in number, measured in this treatment too. Application of 25 ton/ha sludge, chemical fertilizers and 10 ton/ha sludge were after it, respectively. So, the highest use of sewage sludge on soybean cultivation (at the rate of 50 ton/ha), transfer the highest amount of nitrate below the root zone and led to the best yield indicators

Keywords

Drainage water; Irrigation; Nitrate; Soybean; Wastewater; yield