Effects of scrubber by-product-stabilized dairy lagoon sludge on growth and physiological responses of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.).
Brick manufacturing industries are challenged to comply with clean air mandates. Dry air scrubbers have been used to remove acid gases from the exhaust air from brick manufacturing plants. The use of dry air scrubbers results in the production of large quantities of an alkaline powder by-product. A greenhouse experiment was conducted to evaluate the potential of using dairy lagoon sludge stabilized with the scrubber by-product as a soil amendment. Lagoon sludge was stabilized with scrubber by-product at an application rate of 20 gl(-1). The sludge-scrubber by-product mixture was applied to a sandy loam soil to provide amendments ranging between 28 and 168 kg of plant available nitrogen (PAN)/ha for the growth of Helianthus annuus (sunflower). Use of the sludge-scrubber by-product mixture as a nitrogen fertilizer did not adversely affect sunflower seedling emergence; however, significantly higher (p<0.05) plant volume indices, leaf area, dry shoot and root masses, and seed yields were obtained for mature plants grown in sludge-treated soil relative to the control or fertilizer treatment. The sludge amendment did not severely impact gas exchange or chlorophyll a fluorescence of the plants and nutrient content of the sunflower tissues was generally within a sufficient range. The increased growth and yield of sunflower plants indicated the potential of the sludge-scrubber by-product mixture as a soil amendment in agricultural crop production.
Thomas
Carla N
CN
Institute of Environmental Toxicology, Clemson University, 509 Westinghouse Rd., Pendleton, SC 29670, USA.
Bauerle
William L
WL
Chastain
John P
JP
Owino
Tom O
TO
Moore
Kathy P
KP
Klaine
Stephen J
SJ
D000397:Air Pollution / Q000517:prevention & control; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000378:metabolism; D002734:Chlorophyll / Q000378:metabolism; D000077194:Chlorophyll A; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D003252:Construction Materials; D003612:Dairying; D005308:Fertilizers; D035264:Flowers / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D006368:Helianthus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism*; D007220:Industrial Waste; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000494:pharmacology; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D036226:Seedlings / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D012722:Sewage
D005308:Fertilizers; D007220:Industrial Waste; D012722:Sewage; D002734:Chlorophyll; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D009584:Nitrogen; D000077194:Chlorophyll A