Effect of sewage sludge in a Ultisol and on growth and nutrition of maize

Abstract

The aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of sewage sludge on chemical properties of a Red-Yellow Pozolic soil (Ultisol), and on nutrient accumulation and dry matter yield of maize plants. The experiment was carried out in a greenhouse, in a completely randomized design and treatments were arranged in a 6x2x2 factorial. Soil (3 kg) inside pots were treated with 0, 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 Mg ha^-1 (dry-basis) of sludge. Thirty days after incubation, soil samples were taken for analysis, complementation with P (0 and 100 Mg ha^-1) and K (0 and 100 Mg ha^-1) was done and a five maize plants were grown in each pot for 50 days. The application of sewage sludge increased the organic matter, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, Al and H+Al and reduced the pH. The accumulation of nutrients and dry matter yield were higher with sewage sludge application and increased with the application of K, but not with the application of phosphorus.