BLEACHED, PRIMARY PAPERMILL SLUDGE EFFECT ON BERMUDAGRASS GROWN ON A MINE SOIL

Abstract

A greenhouse study was conducted to determine the effects of bleached, primary papermill sludge on the yield and elemental concentrations of common bermudagrass (Cyanodon dactylon L.) grown on a mine soil. Pots containing soil treated with lime, fertilizer, and sludge (at the rate of 56, 112, and 224 Mg/ha added alone or in combination with fertilizer) were planted to bermudagrass from April through September 1988, following subterranean clover (Trifolium subterranean, L. W. woogenelux). Fertilizer application was found necessary to revegetate the mine soil. Addition of sludge and fertilizer gave significantly higher yields in two of the last three harvests. Maximum production was obtained in the second harvest with 112 Mg/ha sludge and fertilizer. Addition of N, P, and K resulted in concentrations lower than reported sufficient levels for N and K and similar levels for P in the forage. Generally, high tissue concentrations of Mg, Fe, Zn, Mn, and Cu and low levels of S were observed in all three harvests. Calcium was low in the fertilizer-only treatment. Aluminum decreased as the sludge increased because of its liming ability, and Na increased as the sludge increased as a result of the high levels of exchangeable Na in the sludge. Neither concentration was high enough to cause determintal effects.