The effects of food industry sludge on soil properties and growing of maize (Zea mays L.)

Abstract

This research was carried out to determine the effects of treatment with sludge produced from pop corn factory in Kocaeli on plant production and soil properties. Increasing levels of factory treatment sludge (0, 20, 40, 80 and 160 t ha(-1)) have been applied to soil samples and left to incubation period of 30, 60 and 90 days. When concentrations of sludge increased, the pH value of the soil decreased and EC, organic matter and macro and micro plant nutrients contents of the soil increased. Mineralization, which depends on time, indicated that some important plant nutrients were higher after 90 days incubation than after 30 and 60 days. Additional four-time reiterated testing was established in greenhouse to determine the effects of sludge on plants, and also the mineral contents of maize plant were determined. Accordingly, some plant nutrients like N, P, Ca, Fe and Zn increased with additional doses.