ISHS Acta Horticulturae 549: International Symposium on Composting of Organic Matter
HEAVY METAL CONTENT OF EGGPLANT FRUITS GROWN ON DIFFERENT LEVELS OF SEWAGE SLUDGE |
| Authors: | F.A. Bletsos, N.D. Gantidis, J.T. Tsialtas |
| Keywords: | sewage sludge, heavy metals, Solanum melongena, fruits |
| Abstract:
The use of sewage sludge in horticulture could contribute to environmental improvement and substitution of imported organic substrates currently used in vegetable seedlings preparation. This work studied the heavy metal concentration on eggplant fruits, because some of them are hazardous to humans even at low concentrations. For this, the most important Greek eggplant cultivars ‘Emi’, ‘Tsakoniki’ and ‘Skoutari’ were tested in pots, 27 cm in diameter, containing 25, 50, 75 and 100% sewage sludge (the rest was river sand). Pots containing commercial peat as control were used. The split-plot experimental design with three replications was applied. The plants were grown in a non heated glasshouse and one fruit was collected from each plant. Dried fruits were finely ground and the heavy metal (Fe, Zn, Ni, Cu, Mn, Cd, Cr and Pb) concentration was determined. The results have shown that heavy metal concentration increased as the percentage of sewage sludge addition increased, although the concentration in all the tested sewage sludge levels was within the permitted limits. Cd, Cr and Pb were at non detectable levels. Among the tested cultivars the higher concentration of Fe was found in cultivar ‘Emi’, while the concentration of all other heavy metals was nearly the same in all the tested cultivars. In conclusion the sewage sludge could be safely used on eggplant production because the heavy metal concentration in the fruit was below the permitted limits. | |
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