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    Agronomic Issues with Alum-Sludge

    154760_31903_18_Rigby_H.pdf (134.1Kb)
    Access Status
    Open access
    Authors
    Rigby, Hannah
    Pritchard, Deborah
    Collins, D.
    Date
    2010
    Type
    Conference Paper
    
    Metadata
    Show full item record
    Citation
    Rigby, Hannah and Pritchard, Deborah L. and Collins, David. 2010. Agronomic Issues with Alum-Sludge, in Wiesner, D. (ed), Biosolids Specialty Conference V, Jun 2 2010. Sydney, NSW: Australian Water Association.
    Source Title
    Biosolids Specialty Conference V
    Source Conference
    Australian Water Association
    ISBN
    978-1-921335-10-5
    School
    Department of Environment and Agriculture
    URI
    http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/23021
    Collection
    • Curtin Research Publications
    Abstract

    A two year field experiment was established to investigate the use of alum sludge from wastewater treatment for cereal production. Alum sludge (5.0% N, 3.7% P, 7.5% Al) was applied at six rates (0, 3.4, 6.7, 10.1, 13.5 and 20.1 Mg DS ha-1) on a P deficient sand, supplying up to 744 kg P ha-1 at the highest rate. In addition, one rate of inorganic fertiliser at district practice was applied, containing 72 kg N ha-1 and 20 kg P ha-1, this was reapplied in the second year. The inorganic fertiliser treatment yielded 44-58% higher than the nil fertiliser treatment at final grain harvest, demonstrating the requirement for applied N and P on this site for crop production. Alum sludge was an adequate source of nitrogen (N) for crop growth as indicated by plant tissue N content, and supplied sufficient residual N to meet crop requirements in the second year.However, grain yield in alum sludge treatments was reduced to 62% (year 1) and 69% (year 2) of the yield in the inorganic fertiliser treatment, though greater than the nil fertiliser treatment in both years. Plant shoot tissue analysis at 9 weeks after establishment at the tillering stage of development indicated that plants sown in alum sludge-amended soil and in the nil fertiliser treatment were P deficient, whereas P was adequate in the inorganic fertiliser treatment. There was no evidence of any other nutrient deficiency in plant shoot samples besides P. Therefore, it is suggested that on this P deficient soil, the ability of alum sludge to provide P for plant production was limited in the two years after application.

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