title: Effect of municipal solid waste compost and sewage sludge use on wheat (Triticum durum): growth, heavy metal accumulation, and antioxidant activity.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Inappropriate utilisation of biosolids may adversely impact agrosystem productivity. Here, we address the response of wheat (Triticum durum) to different doses (0, 40, 100, 200 and 300 t ha(-1)) of either municipal solid waste (MSW) compost or sewage sludge in a greenhouse pot experiment. Plant growth, heavy metal uptake, and antioxidant activity were considered.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Biomass production of treated plants was significantly enhanced at 40 t ha(-1) and 100 t ha(-1) of MSW compost (+48% and +78% relative to the control, respectively). At the same doses of sewage sludge, the increase was only 18%. Higher doses of both biosolids restricted significantly the plant growth, in concomitance with the significant accumulation of heavy metals (Ni2+, Pb2+, Cu2+ and Zn2+), especially in leaves. Leaf activities of antioxidant enzymes (ascorbate peroxidase, glutathione reductase, catalase and superoxide dismutase) were unchanged at 40 t ha(-1) MSW compost or sewage sludge, but were significantly stimulated at higher doses (200-300 t ha(-1)), together with higher leaf concentration of reduced glutathione.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This preliminary study suggests that a MSW supply at moderate doses (100 t ha(-1)) could be highly beneficial for wheat productivity.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire d'Adaptation des Plantes aux Stress Abiotiques, Centre de Biotechnologies, Technopole Borj Cedria, BP 901, Hammam Lif 2050, Tunisia. abdelbassetlak@yahoo.fr
authors.forename: Abdelbasset
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lakhdar
authors.forename: Maria Adelaide
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Iannelli
authors.forename: Ahmed
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Debez
authors.forename: Angelo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Massacci
authors.forename: Naceur
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Jedidi
authors.forename: Chedly
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Abdelly
mesh_terms: D000383:Agriculture / Q000379:methods*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism*; D018533:Biomass; D009111:Local Government; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000378:metabolism*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000378:metabolism; D012037:Refuse Disposal; D012722:Sewage; D012987:Soil; D014908:Triticum / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D019216:Metals, Heavy; D012722:Sewage; D012987:Soil