Sewage sludge has been used in agriculture in many crops as an alternative to reduce environmental impacts and water pollution. Nonetheless there is a need to adjust rates and timing for each crop. Therefore, the effects of sludge application on earliness and heart-of-palm yield were studied in peach palm in a field experiment carried out in Ubatuba, SP, Brazil. Four annual nitrogen rates, (0, 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 times the recommended amounts for the crop) were tested in a complete block […]

The presence of organic ligands in the rhizosphere plays an important role in heavy metal solubilization in soils treated with sewage sludge. Low molecular weight organic acids exuded by roots and/or released by microorganisms are considered mobilizing agents of these metals. The present study determined Cd, Cu, Cr, Ni, and Zn solubilization kinetics in sewage sludge-treated soils using a mixture of four organic acids (acetic, citric, lactic, and oxalic) in 0.05 and 0.10 mol L-1 solutions. Based on the batch extraction method […]

High N concentrations in biosolids are one of the strongest reasons for their agricultural use. However, it is essential to understand the fate of N in soils treated with biosolids for both plant nutrition and managing the environmental risk of NO3–-N leaching. This work aimed at evaluating the risk of NO3–-N leaching from a Spodosol and an Oxisol, each one treated with 0.5-8.0 dry Mg ha-1 of fresh tertiary sewage sludge, composted biosolids, limed biosolids, heat-dried biosolids and solar-irradiated biosolids. Results indicated that […]

The application of sewage sludge into agricultural soils, as organic fertilizer or soil conditioner, is becoming an increasingly more attractive alternative. It is occurring because of the high costs and environmental impacts caused by other sludge disposal methods, besides the presence of plant nutrients and organic matter in the sludge and the need to reduce costs in agriculture. However, sewage sludge can contain heavy metals, pathogenic microorganisms, and toxic organic compounds. In order to study the impact of sewage sludge […]

This work aimed to evaluate the effects of sewage sludge application on the saturated and unsaturated hydraulic conductivity of a eutrophyc Red Latosol (Oxisol) during two consecutive years. This field experiment was conducted in a complete randomized block design with 3 replications and with the following treatments: control and increasing doses organic fertilization with sewage sludge (6, 12, 18, 24, and 36 Mg ha-1 on a dry basis) and mineral supplementation. The conductivity was measured in the field with a controlled suction […]

Repeated sewage sludge application to soils can cause changes in some soil chemical properties. The goal of this paper was to evaluate changes in soil organic carbon content, electric conductivity, pH and CEC after sewage sludge application during two years in a row. The soil used was as a Typic Hapludox and, after the sludge application, was planted with sugarcane. The experiment had five treatments: lime + inorganic fertilization, control and sewage sludge in three levels: 33, 66 and 99 […]