Abstract
The use of treated pulp mill effluent on eucalyptus plantation appears to be an attractive option for plant nutrition and water supply. It also constitutes a supplementary treatment process or final disposal option for the mill effluent. This study aimed at the investigation and evaluation of the effects of bleached kraft pulp mill treated effluent (BKME) on three typical Brazilian soils used for Eucalyptus plantation. The BKME was characterized and five different application rates, defined according to the load of sodium, were tested in controlled environment experiments (greenhouse). After BKME application over a six month period an expressive increase in the salinity of the studied soils was observed, although no dispersal effects in soil with high clay content were detected. The low content of some nutrients in the BKME, indicated the need for complementation in fertirrigation. In general, the best biomass productivity and plant growth results were obtained in fine textured soil at a loading rate of6.49 t sodium.ha-I. In general, the good response of the soil-plant system under different effluent application rates showed the possibility of agricultural use of BKME if adequate management practices and monitoring are conducted.
Highlights
The pulp industry is among those that have been considering and using land application as an alternative for disposing its wastcwatcrs
The first experience on effluent land application in the pulp industry occurred in North America, during the 1950's, mainly in experimental or pilot forestation projects [I, 2]
This paper evaluated the agronomic and environmental implications of using a bleached kraft pulp mill treated effluent (BKME) on Eucalyptus plantation in Brazil, through trickle irrigation technique, The effects of this application on soil characteristics, on plant nutrition, growth and on biomass production were evaluated, 2
Summary
The pulp industry is among those that have been considering and using land application as an alternative for disposing its wastcwatcrs. Pulp mills generate large volumes of effluent with different characteristics. Land application becomes an attractive alternative to existing disposal systems because it reduces the effluent load to surface water and works as a source of water and nutrient for cultivated areas. The first experience on effluent land application in the pulp industry occurred in North America, during the 1950's, mainly in experimental or pilot forestation projects [I, 2]. In the 1980's, land application technique was limited to few mills and employed only in non forested areas. Literature reported some studies aimed at application of pulp mill effluents as an option of water closed-cycle in the forest industry [3, 4]
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