Journal of Food, Agriculture and Environment

Use of sewage sludge in growth media for ornamental plants and its effects on growth and heavy metal accumulation

Author(s):

Reyhan Erdogan ^1*, Zeynep Zaimoglu ², Fuat Budak ², Cem Köseoglu ²

Recieved Date: 2011-01-18, Accepted Date: 2011-03-22

Abstract:

Sewage sludge is a thick sludge of solid materials which settle out from wastewater during the treatment process, whether the wastewater is being moved through a home septic system or a commercial sewage treatment plant. The sewage sludge tends to concentrate heavy metals and poorly biodegradable trace organic compounds as well as potentially pathogenic organisms. In this study, the use of sewage sludge obtained from Adana West Wastewater Treatment Plant as component of growth media for ornamentals, Aptenia cordifolia, Carpobrotus edulis and Bryophyllum tubiflorum was investigated. The study includes three treatments, sewage sludge + diatomite, sewage sludge + basaltic tuff and natural soil. The experimental period was sustained 90 days, and plants were irrigated by C1S1 class water in laboratory conditions. Plant growth, fresh and dry biomass production and heavy metal accumulation of plants were determined. The results of the study imply that the addition of sewage sludge to tuff enhanced plant growth. There was no difference between treatments for Aptenia cordifolia and Bryophyllum tubiflorum leaf, stem and root characteristics, but Carpobrotus edulis turned to brown in the end of the tenth week and they died in the natural soil and sewage sludge + diatomite treatments. The addition of sewage sludge to diatomite on the other hand increased the heavy metal uptake of plants. All of the plant roots accumulate significantly greater concentration of metals than stems. Every three ornamental plant species are an effective plant for possible remediation treatment in some contaminated and spoilt landscapes can be recovered.

Keywords:

Ornamental plants, growth media, sewage sludge, heavy metal accumulation, Aptenia cordifolia, Bryophyllum tubiflorum, Carpobrotus edulis

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Journal: Journal of Food, Agriculture and Environment
Year: 2011
Volume: 9
Issue: 2
Category: Environment
Pages: 632-635

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