ISHS Acta Horticulturae 573: International Symposium on Techniques to Control Salination for Horticultural Productivity
COMPARATIVE STUDY OF PELARGONIUM SP. GROWN IN SEWAGE SLUDGE AND PEAT MIXTURES |
| Authors: | F. André, C. Guerrero, J. Beltrão, J. Brito |
| Keywords: | Sewage sludge, peat, heavy metals, Pelargonium hybride, pathogens |
| Abstract:
In order to have better understanding of the use of sewage sludge, a study was carried out to evaluate the effects of its use as a substratum in an ornamental crop (Pelargonium sp.) produced in pots. Sewage sludge (SS) and two different peats (fertilised peat - FP, and non-fertilised peat - NFP) were used as horticultural substratum in the mixture, in different ratios of SS/FP and SS/NFP. The number of treatments were nine: 100% FP and NFP; 75% FP and NFP with 25% SS; 50% FP and NFP with 50% SS; 25% FP and NFP with 75% SS; and 100% SS. Parameters such as plant growth, stem diameter, biomass production and number of flowers were determined. Chemical and microbiological analyses of the different mixtures between SS and FP and NFP have been made. From the obtained results, we may conclude that there is no potential danger of chemical or microbiological pollution related to the use of those products. Plants from the 25% FP with 75% SS; 100% SS and 50% NFP with 50% SS treatments showed better plant development, although plants from 100% FP and 75% FP with 25% SS treatments developed flowers more precociously. Plants grown with 100% NFP did not blossom. The data were statistically analysed by ANOVA and comparative analyses of the means were performed by Duncan test using the SPSS Programme. | |
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