Yield and Metal Concentration in Garden Burnet (Sanguisorba Minor Scop. Bunyan 80) From Application of Sewage Sludge and Chemical Fertilizer

Abstract

The objective of this study, was to evaluate the effects of sewage sludge applications on herbage yield, grain yield, nutrients and heavy metal accumulations on Garden burnet (Sangiusorba minor Scop. Bunyan 80). The study was conducted in 2004 and 2007 years at the fields of Agricultural Faculty in Yuzuncu Yil University. The experiment was a randomized complete block design, with 4 replications for 4 years. Three levels of sewage sludge were applied at rates 0.7, 1.4 and 2.1 ton day(-1); 3 levels of nitrogen were also applied at rates of 5, 10 and 15 kg day(-1) with control. The research demonstrated that sewage sludge produced higher herbage yield than the chemical fertilizer, however equivalent to the chemical fertilizer in grain yields of the garden bumet. Plant tissue N, P, K, Mg, Fe, Cu, Zn and Pb contents varied with treatments. The highest plant-N was obtained from chemical fertilized plots. Results showed that sewage sludge applications increased extractable metal concentrations of Fe, Zn and Cr of the soil. None of the amendments produced excessive levels of the nutrients and heavy metals; rather the amendments improved the feed quality of the forage.