article · Plants
Using sewage sludge in agriculture offers an option for wastewater recycling and soil fertilisation, but risks heavy metal contamination. An evaluation of pea plants grown in soil amended with sewage sludge at varying rates showed that plant growth, biomass, pod length, and pod numbers improved at application rates of 10 and 20 grammes per kilogramme, but declined at higher doses. Sewage sludge contributed greater salinity and organic matter than soil alone, alongside higher postharvest concentrations of most heavy metals. Significant heavy metal accumulation occurred across different plant tissues depending on the application rate, with molybdenum and lead showing high bioaccumulation factors. Based on the findings, sewage sludge can serve as an agricultural fertiliser for peas only when applied below 20 grammes per kilogramme to prevent environmental and health hazards.
Recycling sewage sludge as fertiliser could cut waste and enhance soil nutrients, but it poses risks to food safety. Understanding exact thresholds for plant growth and heavy metal uptake helps determine safe dosing limits, protecting consumer health and preventing soil contamination in agricultural systems.
This research provides applied guidance for agricultural soil amendment and municipal waste management. It is relevant to wastewater treatment operators and agricultural producers seeking alternative fertilisers. The work represents tested, applied research establishing safe usage thresholds, though operational adoption requires standardisation and regulatory compliance testing to manage toxicity risks.
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The application of sewage sludge (SS) in agriculture is an alternative disposal method for wastewater recycling and soil fertilization. This study evaluated heavy metal bioaccumulation, growth, and yield of <i>Pisum sativum</i> (pea) grown in agricultural soil amended with SS at rates of 0, 10, 20, 30, and 40 g/kg. The results show that root, shoot, pod length, biomass, and number of leaves and pods increased with SS amendments of 10 and 20 g/kg, while rates declined at 30 and 40 g/kg. SS had greater salinity and organic content than the soil. Heavy metals in the postharvest soil samples increased for all SS application rates except Fe and Mo. The significant increase in Cd content started at the lowest amendment rate 10 g/kg; for Co, Mn, and Pb, the significant increase was detected at the highest amendment rate (40 g/kg). Generally, all heavy metals increased significantly in portions of <i>P. sativum</i> except Cd in the shoot. At an amendment rate of 10 g/kg, Co in the shoot and root, Cr in the fruit, Cu in the root, Fe in the fruit, Mn in the shoot and fruit, Mo in the fruit, Pb in the shoot, and Zn in the fruit were elevated significantly. In contrast, the concentrations of Cd in the fruit, Cr in the root, Cu in the shoot, Fe in the shoot and root, Ni in the fruit and root, Pb in the fruit and root, and Zn in the root significantly increased only at the highest rate of 40 g/kg. The highest regression <i>R</i><sup>2</sup> was 0.927 for Mn in pods and the lowest was 0.154 for Cd in shoots. Bioaccumulation and translocation factors were > 1 for Mo and the bioaccumulation of Pb was >1. SS could be used for pea fertilization but only at rates below 20 g/kg to avoid environmental and health hazards.
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DOI: 10.3390/plants9101300
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