Contamination of soil and pineapple fruits under fertilization with sewage sludge

Mauro F C Mota,Marcos K Kondo,Victor M Maia,Silvânio R Dos Santos,Rodinei F Pegoraro,Regynaldo A Sampaio

doi:10.1590/1807-1929/agriambi.v22n5p320-325

Abstract

ABSTRACT Sewage sludge is rich in organic matter and nutrients for the plants, and can be used in pineapple production, but there are few studies with scientific evaluation of possible inorganic and biological contaminants in pineapple plantations. In view of the above, this study aimed to evaluate the contamination of the soil and in fruits of pineapple fertilized with sewage sludge. The study was conducted in the municipality of Janaúba-MG. Treatments were arranged in a randomized block design, with four replicates, in a 2 x 5 factorial scheme, consisting of two different fertilizers: sewage sludge (SS) and mineral fertilizers (MF), and five pineapple varieties (Pérola, Vitória, Smooth Cayenne, MD-2, Fantastic IAC). Nitrogen was adopted as the base element to calculate the sewage sludge dose in the pineapple crop. Fertilization with sewage sludge increased the Zn and Cu contents in the soil and the Zn content in the leaves of the pineapple plants. Sewage sludge did not change the contents of As, Pb, Ba, Cu and Zn in the fruit, and Cr, Ni and Cd contents were not detected by the method used. Pineapple fruits did not show microbiological contamination above the limits established by the Brazilian legislation.

Highlights

The sludge generated in sewage treatment has physicochemical properties that make it apt for use as organic fertilizer in agriculture
The present study aimed to evaluate the contamination of soil and fruits of pineapple under sewage sludge fertilization
Fertilization with sewage sludge caused greater increments in Cu and Zn contents in the soil (10.31 and 16.86 mg kg-1, respectively) compared with mineral fertilization, which led to contents of 7.06 mg kg-1 of Cu and 8.79 mg kg-1 of Zn (Table 2)

Summary

Introduction

The sludge generated in sewage treatment has physicochemical properties that make it apt for use as organic fertilizer in agriculture. Pineapple cultivars have great variability regarding size, leaf architecture and fruit height in the plant (Caetano et al, 2015). These differences in the features may be determinant, making it easier or more difficult the contact of the fruit with the waste applied in the soil. Pineapple cultivation with sewage sludge may reduce production costs and provide adequate destination to these wastes, decreasing the environmental impact favored by the production of chemical fertilizers and inadequate disposal

Objectives

Methods

Results