Nutritional status of different biosolids and their impact on various growth parameters of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Abstract

Biosolids can be effectively recycled and applied as soil amendments for agricultural crops because they contain several important micro and macronutrients including nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, manganese. In the current study, we evaluated the effectiveness of seven biosoilds on different growth parameters of wheat crop. The biosolids used were lime stabilized, composted, liquid mesophilic anaerobically digested (liquid MAD), thermally dried mesophilic anaerobically digested (thermally dried MAD), thermally hydrolyzed mesophilic anaerobically digested (thermally hydrolysed MAD), dewatered mesophilic anaerobically digested (dewatered MAD) and thermally dried raw biosolids. We also analysed biosolids for their nutrient contents before application. The results revealed that different types of biosolids differed in nitrogen and phosphorous contents with highest contents observed in dewatered (5.70% nitrogen, 2.32% phosphorous) and liquid biosolids (2.35% phosphorous). The plant height, plant diameter and dry weight yield of wheat was increased with the increase in concentrations of biosolids. Liquid MAD resulted in maximum plant height of 120.35 ± 3.23, 133.2 ± 3.67 and 147.25 ± 3.11 at 3.33, 6.66 and 9.99 tons/ha concentration. The highest plant diameter was recorded (1.05–1.45 cm) where mineral nitrogen was applied. The study will be helpful in replacing the synthetic fertilizer with biosolids to fulfil the nutritional requirements of agricultural crops.

Effect of biosolids on the nitrogen and phosphorus contents of soil used for sugarcane cultivation

“… Dad et al. (2019) used seven types of biosolids and suggested that these biosolids have value as fertilizers and can easily replace synthetic fertilizer for agricultural use.…”

“…The chemical characteristics of the biosolids used here are similar to those of biosolids reported in other studies—e.g., organic matter content between 242 and 910 g kg −1 , TKN content between 15,000 and 68,000 mg kg −1 , and P content between 1,000 and 36,000 mg kg −1 ( Vieira et al., 2005 ; Boeira and Maximiliano, 2009 ; Rigby et al., 2016 ; Kumar et al., 2017 ; Dad et al., 2019 ; Collivignarelli et al., 2019 ). Notably, thermal drying of biosolids does not affect their chemical characteristics ( Smith and Durham, 2002 ; Ramírez et al., 2008 ; Tarrasón et al., 2008 ).…”

“…Biosolids can be used as soil amendments in agriculture and have the potential to replace synthetic fertilizers ( Dad et al., 2019 ; da Mota et al., 2019 ). Moreover, they can help restore the fertility of agricultural soils deemed infertile owing to the prolonged and indiscriminate use of synthetic inorganic fertilizers ( Sharma et al., 2017 ) and improve infertile and degraded soils at mining sites ( Wijesekara et al., 2016 ).…”

“…Biosolids are used in agriculture, silviculture, land reclamation, and revegetation because they contain organic matter and essential nutrients for plants (nitrogen and phosphorus) as well as other inorganic elements, such as K, Ca, S, and Mg ( Wijesekara et al., 2017 ; Kumar et al., 2017 ). The organic and nutrient contents and fertilizer value are influenced by the processes used to stabilize the sewage sludge ( Rigby et al., 2016 ; Dad et al., 2019 ).…”

“…Therefore, it is important to quantify the nutrient release properties of biosolids or any other organic product aimed at replacing a mineral fertilizer. Low nutrient application may result in nutritional deficiencies in crops with subsequent economic loss, whereas its overapplication may negatively affect the environment owing to the lixiviation of nutrients accumulated by surface runoff or erosion and accumulation of heavy metals ( Rigby et al., 2016 ; Dad et al., 2019 ).…”