Effects of Sewage Sludge and Acacia dealbata Composts on Soil Biochemical and Chemical Properties

Abstract

We studied the effects of different composts made of different mixtures of sewage sludge and Acacia plants on the soil biochemical and chemical properties. The proportions of mixed acacia plant and sewage sludge were: AL1/1 (50% acacia/50% sewage sludge), AL1/2 (33.3% acacia/66.6% sewage sludge), and AL1/3 (25% acacia/75% sewage sludge). Composts were added to the soil at a rate of 2%. Soil samples were collected during 150 days and analyzed for soil enzyme activities and chemical properties. An unamended soil was used as the control. Compared to the AL1/1 treatment, soil dehydrogenase, urease, phosphatase and β-glucosidase activities decreased respectively by 14.6%, 15.4%, 12.5%, and 19.3% for AL1/2 treatment and by 20.7%, 25.6%, 23.7%, and 28.4% for AL1/3 treatment. Soil water-soluble carbohydrates and polyphenols were the greatest in AL1/1. The lowest contents of heavy metals in the AL1/1 compost may be responsible for the increase of soil biochemical and chemical properties.