The effects of biosolid application on soil chemical properties and Zea mays nutrition

Shahrzad Kabirinejad,Mehran Hoodaji

doi:10.1186/2251-7715-1-4

Abstract

The application of biosolid as a fertilizer in agricultural cultivation is a common practice in many countries. This study investigates the effects of sewage sludge and compost usage on soil chemical properties and Zea mays nutrition in comparison with those of iron and manganese sulfate solution. The experiment was carried out in a completely randomized block design with the following treatments: sewage sludge and compost with three levels (0, 25 and 50 t ha−1) and iron and manganese sulfate solution (1 g l−1 solution) with three replications. The application of sewage sludge (50 t ha−1) had highly significant (P < 0.01) positive effects on cation exchange capacity and organic matter, total nitrogen, phosphorus, iron and manganese diethylenetetramine-penta-aceticacid-extractable in soil, and nitrogen, phosphorus, iron and manganese in plant. Also, compost application (50 t ha−1) increased significantly (P < 0.01) the electrical conductivity in soil and potassium in soil and plant. Dry biomass increased significantly (P < 0.01) from 7.7 to 28.7 g per pot with sewage sludge application (50 t ha−1). Application of biosolid as fertilizer sources has become a common practice in Iran, especially in the agricultural lands. The reuse of these nutrients had some beneficial effects on soil fertility, such as increased cation exchange capacity, pH, organic matter, total nitrogen, phosphorous, iron and manganese. However, these benefits were limited by the presence of some potentially toxic trace metals in biosolid.

Highlights

Open-field burning of rice straw after harvesting is a conventional method of rice straw disposal in many rice-based countries (Trinh et al 2017)
Factor A was the N2 fixers, factor B was the microbial treatments which were either cellulose decomposers or polyamines producers or control and factor C was the effect of different physical treatments
Data show that Azotobacter chroococcum, Azospirillum brasilense and Bacillus circulans were able to fix atmospheric nitrogen and the highest nitrogenase activity was obtained with Azotobacter chroococcum, 133.9 μmol C2H4 ml−1 h−1

Summary

Introduction

Open-field burning of rice straw after harvesting is a conventional method of rice straw disposal in many rice-based countries (Trinh et al 2017). Rice straw could be considered an important feeding material during dry seasons when the availability of pasture decreases and other feeds are inadequate. Rice straw is characterized by low digestibility, low protein content, poor palatability, high bulkiness and low mineral content which discourages its use as the sole source of feed for ruminants (Van Soest 2006). Several investigations have been documented on the use of mechanical, physical, chemical and biological treatments as. Most of the researches reported that by supplementing rice straw with protein or nitrogenous compounds, the degradability of rice straw, animal intake, milk yield and meat yield can be enhanced when compared with those feeding on untreated rice straw (Wanapat et al 2009). High costs of chemical nitrogenous materials restrict their use in proper amounts, causing obstruct in animal feeding and production.

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Conclusion