Maize Growth and Changes in Soil Fertility After Irrigation with Treated Sewage Effluent. I. Plant Dry Matter Yield and Soil Nitrogen and Phosphorus Availability

Abstract

The objectives of this research were to 1) verify the potential use of the secondary‐treated sewage effluent (STSE) as a source of water and nitrogen for maize and 2) evaluate nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) concentrations in soil, as well as their concentrations and contents in maize plants, treated with STSE. The treatments consisted of mineral fertilization and irrigation with the STSE, during 58 days. After this period, plants were harvested and processed for dry matter yield, and plant and soil analysis were realized. No variation in total carbon and P soil concentration was observed, but total nitrogen increased. Mineral fertilization plus STSE irrigation increased the plant's P content, but without any effect on dry matter yields. The STSE could completely substitute the water from irrigation, but it provided only part of the demanded nitrogen and other nutrients for the maize plants in the treatments with no mineral fertilizer added.

Keywords:

• Zea mays L.
• sewage residues
• sewage effluent
• source of nutrients
• soil disposal

Acknowledgments

A. F. da Fonseca thanks The Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) for Master Science fellowship and financial support for this research (Process 00/01007‐9).