Iranian Journal of Forest

Iranian Journal of Forest

Effects of sewage sludge fertilization on soil properties and growth responses of three-year-old Populus alba trees

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors
1 Assistant Prof., Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Tehran, Iran
2 Research Expert, Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Tehran, Iran
10.22034/ijf.2025.493216.2024
Abstract
Introduction: In tree plantations, like other agricultural activities, the use of chemical and organic fertilizers can lead to an increase in wood production. Sewage sludge, as an important by-product resulting from wastewater treatment processes, is a type of organic waste that can increase the organic matter and the concentration of the macro and micro nutrients in the soil, and play a significant role in improving plant growth and performance. Considering safe and sustainable disposal of sewage sludge is one of the important environmental concerns, and as well as improving the physico-chemical properties of soil, the present study aims to investigate the effect of application of the sewage sludge from South Wastewater Treatment Plant of Tehran on soil properties and performance of three-year poplar trees (Populus alba L. "20/45").
Material and Methods: The present study was carried out in a completely randomized block design, with three treatments of sewage sludge (0, 10, and 20 kg m-2) and three plots 16 m2 (9 trees in each plot with planting spacing: 2×2 m) in each block, in the Alborz Research Center of Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands, Tehran, Iran. At the end of each growing season, the growth and increment variables (height and diameter at breast height) of all trees were measured and wood production was calculated. In the middle of the third growing season, tree (root, stem and leaf) and soil samples were taken from each treatment in three replicates. In the laboratory, the physico-chemical properties of soil and nutrients and concentration of heavy metals in tree organs were determined.
Results: Fertilization with sewage sludge had a significant positive effect on the organic matter and the concentration of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), sulfur (S), zinc (Zn) (P ≤ 0.01) and copper (Cu) (P ≤ 0.05) in the soil. So that in the treatment of 20 kg m-2of sewage sludge, soil organic carbon showed an increase of 381.8% compared to the control soil. Likewise, the treatment of 20 kg m-2of sewage sludge led to a significant increase in the concentrations of some heavy metals such as nickel (Ni), chromium (Cr) (P ≤ 0.05) and lead (Pb) (P ≤ 0.01) in the soil. The results showed that sewage sludge application had a positive significant impact on growth performance of poplar trees. So that the treatment of 20 kg m-2of sewage sludge led to an increase of 19, 20 and 63.5% in diameter, height, and volume per hectare of poplar trees, respectively, compared to the control treatment. The analysis of plant samples showed that sewage sludge application significantly increased the concentration of N, P and Zn (P ≤ 0.01) in root, stem and leaf and Cu and Ni (P ≤ 0.05) in root and leaf of poplar trees.
Conclusion: Considering an increasing growth performance of three-year-old poplar trees in the soil fertilized with sewage sludge and no significant differences between the applied levels of sewage sludge, and increasing level of some heavy metals in the treatment of 20 kg m-2of sewage sludge, this study suggests that a reasonable rate (10 kg m-2) of sludge application can provide soil amendment and additional nutrients for fast-growing trees without any threat to the food chain and pollution of soil by heavy metals. Of course, considering a rotation of six to eight years for poplar plantations, it is necessary to investigate the effect of sewage sludge application at least until the end of the sixth year on soil characteristics and growth performance of poplar trees.
 
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Volume 17, Issue 2 - Serial Number 2
Summer 2025
Pages 211-224

  • Receive Date 23 December 2024
  • Revise Date 03 January 2025
  • Accept Date 13 January 2025