The impact of sewage sludge and compost on winter triticale

Abstract

There is an increasing interest in the agricultural application of organic waste such as soil amendment, due to the possibility of recycling valuable components, organic matter, and nutrient elements necessary for plant growth. The present study was carried out to evaluate the effects of sewage sludge, and green waste compost application, on a forage crop, triticale "X Triticosecale Wittmack" compared to unfertilized control. The experimental design was installed in the glasshouse conditions at the Regional Field Crop Research Center in Beja, Tunisia. Sewage sludge and green waste compost were added by four rates (0, 5, 10, and 20 t/ha) in soil, 15 days before triticale sowing. The main results showed that plant response differs depending on the type of adding fertilizer. Indeed, compost inputs decreased shoot length and production of triticale, among all sewage sludge rates, by average values of 26 and 60% respectively at final harvest, as compared to unamended soil. However, amendment with different rates of sewage sludge significantly (p < 0.05) increased different plant growth and yield attributes.