The Effect of Sewage Sludge Applications on the Growth of Maize (Zea mays L.) and Some Soil Properties


ÇAKIR H. N., Çimrin K. M.

Kahramanmaraş Sütçü İmam Üniversitesi Tarım ve Doğa Dergisi, vol.23, no.2, pp.321-327, 2020 (ESCI) identifier

Abstract

The aim of this study is to investigate the existing changes for cornyield with the changes on the soil properties after the applications ofincreased sewage sludge (SS 0 %, 2.5 %, 5 %, 7.5 %, 10 %). Whilestatistically significant decreases were determined in the pH andlime contents of the experimental soil, there were also statisticallysignificant increases for the contents of organic matter and salt ofthe soil by the effects of applied sewage sludge at the increased doses.The applications statistically increased corn fresh and dry rootweights, fresh and dry shoot weights, plant height and diametercompared to the control in the all treatments. It can be concludedthat that sewage sludge is not appropriate to use in the agriculturalsoils in the present form because of very high salt amounts presencein the sewage sludge although there were some positive effects onthe plant and soil properties to some great extent with no determinedheavy metal toxicity by the application of that sewage sludge intosoil at different rates taken freshly from the biological sewage sludgefoundation of district İskenderun of province Hatay.