Applying Sewage Sludge to Eucalyptus grandis Plantations: Effects on Biomass Production and Nutrient Cycling through Litterfall
In most Brazilian cities sewage sludge is dumped into sanitary landfills, even though its use in forest plantations as a fertilizer and soil conditioner might be an interesting option. Sewage sludge applications might reduce the amounts of mineral fertilizers needed to sustain the productivity on in...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2011-01-01
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| Series: | Applied and Environmental Soil Science |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2011/710614 |
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| author | Paulo Henrique Müller da Silva Fabio Poggiani Jean Paul Laclau |
| author_facet | Paulo Henrique Müller da Silva Fabio Poggiani Jean Paul Laclau |
| author_sort | Paulo Henrique Müller da Silva |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In most Brazilian cities sewage sludge is dumped into sanitary landfills, even though its use in forest plantations as a fertilizer and soil conditioner might be an interesting option. Sewage sludge applications might reduce the amounts of mineral fertilizers needed to sustain the productivity on infertile tropical soils. However, sewage sludge must be applied with care to crops to avoid soil and water pollution. The aim of our study was to assess the effects of dry and wet sewage sludges on the growth and nutrient cycling of Eucalyptus grandis plantations established on the most common soil type for Brazilian eucalypt plantations. Biomass production and nutrient cycling were studied over a 36-month period in a complete randomized block design. Four experimental treatments were compared: wet sewage sludge, dry sludge, mineral fertilizer, and no fertilizer applications. The two types of sludges as well as mineral fertilizer increased significantly the biomass of Eucalyptus trees. Wood biomass productions 36 months after planting were similar in the sewage sludge and mineral fertilization treatments (about 80 tons ha−1) and 86% higher than in the control treatment. Sewage sludge application also affected positively leaf litter production and significantly increased nutrient transfer among the components of the ecosystem. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-91bf5326ab5f49cb8388b44f430cc967 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1687-7667 1687-7675 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2011-01-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
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| series | Applied and Environmental Soil Science |
| spelling | doaj-art-91bf5326ab5f49cb8388b44f430cc9672025-02-03T01:30:27ZengWileyApplied and Environmental Soil Science1687-76671687-76752011-01-01201110.1155/2011/710614710614Applying Sewage Sludge to Eucalyptus grandis Plantations: Effects on Biomass Production and Nutrient Cycling through LitterfallPaulo Henrique Müller da Silva0Fabio Poggiani1Jean Paul Laclau2Instituto de Pesquisas e Estudos Florestais, Avenida Pádua Dias, 11, Caixa Postal 530, 13400-970 Piracicaba, SP, BrazilESALQ/USP, Av. Pádua Dias, no. 11-Agronomia, Caixa Postal 09, Piracicaba, SP, BrazilCIRAD, UMR Eco&Sols Ecologie Fonctionnelle & Biogéochimie des Sols & Agroécosystèmes, 2 place Viala, 34060 Montpellier, FranceIn most Brazilian cities sewage sludge is dumped into sanitary landfills, even though its use in forest plantations as a fertilizer and soil conditioner might be an interesting option. Sewage sludge applications might reduce the amounts of mineral fertilizers needed to sustain the productivity on infertile tropical soils. However, sewage sludge must be applied with care to crops to avoid soil and water pollution. The aim of our study was to assess the effects of dry and wet sewage sludges on the growth and nutrient cycling of Eucalyptus grandis plantations established on the most common soil type for Brazilian eucalypt plantations. Biomass production and nutrient cycling were studied over a 36-month period in a complete randomized block design. Four experimental treatments were compared: wet sewage sludge, dry sludge, mineral fertilizer, and no fertilizer applications. The two types of sludges as well as mineral fertilizer increased significantly the biomass of Eucalyptus trees. Wood biomass productions 36 months after planting were similar in the sewage sludge and mineral fertilization treatments (about 80 tons ha−1) and 86% higher than in the control treatment. Sewage sludge application also affected positively leaf litter production and significantly increased nutrient transfer among the components of the ecosystem.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2011/710614 |
| spellingShingle | Paulo Henrique Müller da Silva Fabio Poggiani Jean Paul Laclau Applying Sewage Sludge to Eucalyptus grandis Plantations: Effects on Biomass Production and Nutrient Cycling through Litterfall Applied and Environmental Soil Science |
| title | Applying Sewage Sludge to Eucalyptus grandis Plantations: Effects on Biomass Production and Nutrient Cycling through Litterfall |
| title_full | Applying Sewage Sludge to Eucalyptus grandis Plantations: Effects on Biomass Production and Nutrient Cycling through Litterfall |
| title_fullStr | Applying Sewage Sludge to Eucalyptus grandis Plantations: Effects on Biomass Production and Nutrient Cycling through Litterfall |
| title_full_unstemmed | Applying Sewage Sludge to Eucalyptus grandis Plantations: Effects on Biomass Production and Nutrient Cycling through Litterfall |
| title_short | Applying Sewage Sludge to Eucalyptus grandis Plantations: Effects on Biomass Production and Nutrient Cycling through Litterfall |
| title_sort | applying sewage sludge to eucalyptus grandis plantations effects on biomass production and nutrient cycling through litterfall |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2011/710614 |
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