Abstract
A field trial was carried out in a newly reclaimed soil to investigate the environmental effects of using dried domestic waste as an organic fertilizer and hydrogel material as a soil conditioner. The growth and mineral content, especially heavy metals, of apple seedlings have been investigated. The plant height after 2 months from planting showed no significant differences as a result of applying sludge and gel. At the end of the first year, incorporation of sludge and hydrogel significantly increased plant growth. The highest plant growth was obtained by using perforated bags filled with soil mixed with 75 kg sludge and 200 g gel per plant pit. Further increase of hydrogel above this rate had an adverse effect on plant growth and mineral content.
Iron and zinc contents in apple leaves and fruits gradually increased with sludge and polymer application in some treatments while copper was the least affected nutrient. Pb and Ni in plant leaves and fruits were slightly increased but not to the toxic level, while Cd and Hg were relatively unaffected.
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Awad, F., Kahl, L., Kluge, R. (1995). Environmental aspects of sewage sludge and evaluation of super absorbent hydrogel under Egyptian conditions. In: AbadÃa, J. (eds) Iron Nutrition in Soils and Plants. Developments in Plant and Soil Sciences, vol 59. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-0503-3_13
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-0503-3_13
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