Title: Use of sludge (a waste) as a resource for getting enhanced plant productivity

Authors: Bhupinder Dhir

Addresses: Department of Genetics, University of Delhi South Campus, New Delhi-110021, India

Abstract: Experiments were carried out to check the utility of sludge, a waste generated from wastewater treatment as a soil supplement. Sludge collected from wastewater treatment plant was tested for presence of toxicants (if any) and supplemented in soil. Field experiments were conducted with crop plants vis. Brassica juncea var. Pusa Vijay (NPJ-93), Triticum aestivum var. HD-2967, Solanum lycopersicum var. Pusa hybrid 2 and Vigna unguiculata var. Pusa Komal. Results indicated that morphological growth was positively affected in plants raised in sludge supplemented soil in comparison to control. Plant growth parameters such as plant height, number of leaves, biomass showed enhancement, whereas biochemical attributes such as chlorophyll, soluble sugars and protein did not depict any significant alteration. Enhanced vegetative growth supported high yield. Present investigations suggested that sludge can be used as a partial substitute for fertiliser and hence can prove to be an effective soil supplement.

Keywords: Brassica; crops; productivity; Solanum; soil; sludge; supplement; Triticum; Vigna.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEWM.2017.087159

International Journal of Environment and Waste Management, 2017 Vol.20 No.3, pp.254 - 263

Received: 31 Jan 2017
Accepted: 19 Apr 2017
Published online: 06 Oct 2017 *

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