THE USE OF COMPOST OBTAINED FROM SEWAGE SLUDGE, AS FERTILIZER IN A PEACH ORCHARD

Abstract

The study was carried out in a peach orchard, `Cardinal` variety, on a sandy soil, within the Dăbuleni Research - Development Station for Plant Cultivation on Sandy Soil. The experimental plot was fertilized with different doses of compost, obtained from sludge resulting from the processing of domestic wastewater. Following fertilization, the soil analyzes showed an increase in nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium content, with higher values for fertilized variants with doses of 60 and 80 t/ha compost, compared to the control variant. Also, in the leaves the macroelements registered the highest values in the variant fertilized with 60t / ha sludge compost (3.53% nitrogen, 0.32% phosphorus, 1.69% potassium). The soil heavy metals content recorded higher values on the variants fertilized with sludge compost, but the recorded values did not exceed the maximum allowed limits by the layer. The rate of the photosynthesis, the perspiration, the stomatal conductance and the chlorophyll content index, as well as the biochemical properties of the fruits, respectively total dry matter, soluble dry matter, amount of carbohydrates and vitamin C, recorded significantly higher values on the variants fertilized with sewage sludge compost.