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Sweet Corn Growth on Incinerated Sewage Sludge-Amended Soil¹

ABSTRACT

Incinerated sewage sludge was applied to Willamette silt loam in a 2-year field study to determine the effect of the waste on the yield and elemental composition of sweet corn (Zea mays L.). The ash had a CaCO₃ equivalence of 13–34%, contained 4.1–5.8% P, and trace metal contents exceeded the average concentrations reported for sewage sludges. Treatments included ash applications at rates from 0 to 106 metric tons/ha with a banded P fertilizer variable.

The pH, extractable P, exchangeable Ca, and DTPA-extractable Zn, Cu, and Pb content of the surface soil (0–15 cm) increased with ash application while exchangeable K and Mg, and extractable Cd were unaffected and extractable Mn decreased. The Zn concentration in the leaves tended to increase with ash application while the Mn concentration decreased. The Cu, Cd, Cr, Mo, Mg, Ca, and Pb concentrations in the corn leaves and kernels were largely unaffected. Yield of mature corn ears and leaf P content increased with ash application the second year suggesting a response to either P or lime in the ash. Banding P fertilizer also increased mature ear yield. Land application of incinerated sewage sludge may provide a feasible waste management option and ash could serve as a source of lime, P, Ca, Zn, and perhaps other micronutrients when used as a soil amendment.

Key Words: trace metal • DTPA-extractable metals • phosphorus • lime • Zea mays L.

¹ Contribution of the Department of Soil Science and North Willamette Agric. Exp. Stn., Oregon Agric. Exp. Stn., Corvallis, OR 97331. Tech. Paper no. 5801.

² Former Graduate Research Assistant, Oregon Agric. Exp. Stn., Corvallis; Assistant Professor, North Willamette Exp. Stn., Aurora, OR 97002; and Professor, Department of Soil Science, Oregon State University, Corvallis.

Received for publication April 16, 1981.