Sewage Sludge as Fertilizer in Soybean Cultivation

Abstract

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effects of the application of treated sewage sludge on the initial development of soybean plants (Glycine max L.). Seven treatments were used: (T1) only the soil (absolute control); (T2) soil + residue at the dose of 5.0 g/dm3; (T3) soil + residue at a dose of 10.0 g/dm3; (T4) soil + residue at the dose of 15.0 g/dm3; (T5) soil + residue at the dose of 20.0 g/dm3; (T6) soil + residue at the dose of 25.0 g/dm3; and (T7) culture with PK. The variables of emergence, first count and emergence speed of seedlings, green mass, shoot length, root length, dry shoot mass and dry root mass of the plants were analyzed. The experimental design was in randomized blocks, with four replicates of 25 plants for each treatment. The use of the organic residue positively influenced the characteristics observed in relation to the control and the PK, and in the appropriate dose, it can be recommended as an input and soil conditioner. Sewage sludge presents high potential as a fertilizer for soybean cultivation.