Abstract
The organic matter content of sludge can improve the physical, chemical and biological properties of the soil ensuring better cultivation and good agricultural productivity. The objective of this study is to evaluate the effect of sewage sludge on the main physicochemical and biological properties of the soil. The sludge was spread in an agricultural field in Ain defla (Algeria) cultivated with a tomato crop (‘Panikra’) in four treatments: (T): soil without sewage sludge and without mineral fertilization, (B): soil with sewage sludge, (E): soil with mineral fertilization, (B + E): soil with sewage sludge and mineral fertilization. For this, several physical, chemical and microbiological properties were analyzed on the residual sludge used and the soils collected in the studied plots. The results show that the sludge used does not exhibit any toxicity and that the treatment with the sewage sludge with the fertilizer used on the agricultural soil forms a better compost for improving the physicochemical quality of the soil compared to the other treatments. The application of sewage sludge also can accelerate microbial activity by increasing the number of bacteria, fungi and azotobacter.
Highlights
The beginning of the 21st century has been marked by notable developments that continue to transform world agriculture and rural economies due to the continued growth of the world population, the demands to feed and improve the quality of life of this population so we are concerned
The soil samples are characterized by a low organic matter content and an alkaline pH (8.36) a slight increase in pH was recorded after harvest (8.52), the statistical study shows that this difference in pH was and weakly significant (p < 0.05)
The results showed that the pH, electrical conductivity Electrical Conductivity (EC), Total Organic Carbon (TOC), organic matter, and total content of major elements (Na, Mg, P) increased when the soil was amended with sewage sludge and fertilizer compared to all treatments
Summary
The beginning of the 21st century has been marked by notable developments that continue to transform world agriculture and rural economies due to the continued growth of the world population, the demands to feed and improve the quality of life of this population so we are concerned. Interested in developments in agriculture that could directly address growing concerns about future food security, productivity and sustainability (FAO, 2015). The recovery of urban sludge in agriculture is a major sector in wastewater management. 70% of sewage sludge is recovered by composting or agricultural spreading, and more than 80% in the sanitation services managed by water companies. Received in revised form: 05 Feb 2021. From Volume 13, Issue 1, 2021, Notulae Scientia Biologicae journal will use article numbers in place of the traditional method of continuous pagination through the volume
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