Effect of Industrial Sludge Application on Soil Nitrogen and Wheat Plant Response

Abstract

Wazirpur industrial area of Delhi generates a huge quantity of sludge per day, which is highly acidic in nature (pH 2.7 to 4.4) and contains macronutrients, micronutrients as well as toxic metals. A pot-culture experiment was conducted by taking the two soils (JNU and Chhattarpur) amended with sludge (0%, 10%, 20%, 30%), pretreated with lime (0%, 0.5% and 1%). Two wheat seedlings were planted per pot containing 3 kg sludge amended or control soil and the experiment was carried out till harvesting (four months) in a glass house. Lime treatments enhanced the N content in wheat plant in almost all cases. Sludge and lime treatments enhanced dry weight in wheat plants grown in Chhattarpur soil and dry weight increased with time. Maximum growth was observed in 0.5 lime treated and 20% sludge amended soils. But we have to take an account about any kind of metal toxicity before disposal of this waste to land.