Title: Evaluation of processed sludge as a sustainable and efficient soil conditioner and organic fertiliser for Qatari soil

Authors: Majeed Ali; Talaat Ahmed; Mohammad A. Al-Ghouti

Addresses: Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, College of Arts and Science, Qatar University, State of Qatar – Doha, P.O. Box 2713, Qatar ' Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, College of Arts and Science, Qatar University, State of Qatar – Doha, P.O. Box 2713, Qatar; Environmental Science Center, Qatar University, State of Qatar – Doha, P.O. Box 2713, Qatar ' Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, College of Arts and Science, Qatar University, State of Qatar – Doha, P.O. Box 2713, Qatar

Abstract: Qatar is implementing the use of treated sludge as a sustainable resource in the green infrastructure. The study employed an experimental research design where five samples (two kilograms each) of pelletised sludge of both class A and class B were collected randomly from Doha North Sewerage Station. Results showed that Aspergillus flavus was present in class A biosolids while class B biosolids samples had Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus niger. Class A and class B biosolids were indicted by the number of total coliforms, faecal coliforms, and E. coli. It was found that no pathogenic indicators in class A pelletised sludge were present, while class B sludge had a trace amount of total coliforms. Moreover, As, Cd, Co and Sn were not detected. Furthermore, in the pot experiment, results revealed a very healthy, vigorous plant growth for the sludge treatment with both 5, 10 kg/sqm in rows, by achieving elongation in leaves from 20 cm to 60 cm and a width development from 0.15 to 0.55, with significant differences in the overall conditions, number and the thickness of leaves base.

Keywords: processed sludge; soil conditioner; organic fertiliser; green infrastructure.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEWM.2022.128242

International Journal of Environment and Waste Management, 2022 Vol.30 No.2, pp.221 - 240

Received: 12 Nov 2019
Accepted: 02 Jul 2020

Published online: 12 Jan 2023 *

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