Composted sewage sludge with sugarcane bagasse as a commercial substrate for Eucalyptus urograndis seedling production

• Published in: Journal of cleaner production 2020-10, Vol.269, p.122145, Article 122145
• Main Authors: Manca, Angelo, da Silva, Magali Ribeiro, Guerrini, Iraê Amaral, Fernandes, Dirceu Maximino, Villas Bôas, Roberto Lyra, da Silva, Laura Cleto, da Fonseca, Aline Cássia, Ruggiu, Maria Chiara, Cruz, Caio Vilela, Lozano Sivisaca, Deicy Carolina, de Moura D’Andréa Mateus, Caroline, Murgia, Ilenia, Grilli, Eleonora, Ganga, Antonio, Capra, Gian Franco
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Boron; Forest nursery; Potassium; Seedlings quality; Urban and agricultural residues; Waste reuses
• ISSN: 0959-6526; 1879-1786
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.122145

Sewage sludge can be used as a source of organic matter and nutrients, whereas sugarcane bagasse can be used as a decompaction material; by composting a mixture of the two, a low-cost substrate for forest nurseries can be obtained. This research investigated the use of composted sewage sludge with sugarcane bagasse (CSB) as a commercial substrate in nurseries to grow seedlings of the hybrid clone Eucalyptus urograndis. Several CSB treatments were evaluated in comparison with a control (no P addition) and a commercial substrate (CS). Before composting, CSB was conditioned with P to increase its final concentration: CSB+1.5, 3.0, and 4.5% triple superphosphate (TP) or reactive phosphate (RP). After 120 d, the Eucalyptus response to all eight substrates was assessed by: i) plant morphological traits (H, height; D, diameter; SB, shoot biomass; RB, root biomass; TB, total dry biomass; GCI, green color intensity; and root system quality) and ii) chemical parameters of shoots and roots. Significant differences among treatments were ascertained using an ANOVA, and variability was interpreted using principal factor analysis (PFA). The treatment with CSB+3% TP (TP3.0) exhibited statistically (p