Application of Sewage Sludge and Its Impact on Soil Characteristics, Including Morphological and Biochemical Properties of Vigna radiata Plant

Abstract

This experiment was conducted in pots to study the effects of sewage sludge application on some morphological, physiological and accumulation characters of Vigna radiata. The experiment contained the following treatments: control (C) 0 gm sludge/30 kg soil, (T1) 300 gm sludge/30 kg soil, (T2) 600 gm sludge/30 kg soil and (T3) 900 gm sludge/30 kg soil. All sludge treatments showed a significant increase in all morphological, physiological and accumulation characters compared with control. (T2 ) treatment gave a significant increase as compared to other treatments in all morphological characters (height of the plant, leaf area, and total dry weight for shoots and roots). It increased by 34.1 cm, 33.1 cm2, 29.8 gm and 3.3 gm, respectively, compared with the control. T2 treatment also gave significant values in all physiological characters (chlorophyll and protein content) as compared to other treatments and the control treatment, (2.60 μg/gm and 17.7%) respectively compared with the control. T3 treatment showed a higher accumulation of Cd and Pb in all plant parts, the root system showed greater susceptibility to bioaccumulation than the shoot system for both the heavy metals.