Abstract
Experiments were conducted in Avra Valley, Arizona to compare plant growth, hay yield, grain yield, straw yield, and livestock feeding qualities of wheat (Triticum durum Desf.) fertilized with sewage sludge with that of wheat fertilized with inorganic nitrogen (N). The wheat was grown on a sandy loam soil (of the coarse loamy mixed typic torrifluvents series) and fertilized with recommended rates of inorganic N and recommended rates of plant-available N from anaerobically digested liquid sewage sludge. Fertilization with sewage sludge increased number of days from planting to heading, plant height, and tillering. The low sludge rate and the inorganic N treatment produced similar yields of hay, grain, and straw. The high sludge rate produced the most hay and straw; however, it did not result in a significant increase in grain yield. Wheat hay, grain, and straw grown with sewage sludge and inorganic N were similar in livestock feeding qualities. Heavy metal concentratons in wheat hay, grain, and straw were low in all fertilizer treatments. Cadmium and Nickel levels were below detectable limits. When wheat was grown to maturity, more heavy metals accumulated in the grain than in the straw.
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