Abstract
Increasing population and subsequent increase in waste necessitate recycling of waste products to minimize the environmental burden. This study was conducted in semi-arid tropics of Punjab to evaluate different rates of sludge application as a supplementary source of nutrients to conventional fertilizers in maize. The grain yield was significantly higher with the application of 5 t ha−1 sludge over control and marginally lower than in 10 t ha−1. Cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), lead (Pb), and nickel (Ni) in grains were below international standards even after maximum dose of sludge treatment and can be declared as safe for consumption. The bioconcentration factor of Cd and Ni increased by 82% and 49% with 10 t ha−1 over control, respectively while it remained same for Cr and Pb. Significant increase in exchangeable Cd, Pb in carbonate, and easily reducible oxide, Ni and Cr in residual fraction with 10 t ha−1 sludge over control were found. Mobility of only Pb and Cd increased with increasing sludge treatment. Conclusively, sludge application can be beneficial in increasing plant biomass, however heavy metal accumulation in plants may limit its use. Long-term effect of sludge applications as nutrient sources must be evaluated to get more in-depth insights.
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Claims 10
Claim · model-written summary
5 t ha−1 sludge significantly increased maize grain yield over control, but yield was marginally below 10 t ha−1.
- Treatment
- 5 t ha−1 sludgee0
- Outcome
- grain yielde0
- Direction
- highere0
- Qualifier
- marginally lower than in 10 t ha−1e0
- Comparator
- controle0
Zea maysOrganisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The grain yield was significantly higher with the application of 5 t ha−1 sludge over control and marginally lower than in 10 t ha−1.”
t0“maize”
Claim · model-written summary
Grain Cd, Cr, Pb, and Ni remained below international standards even at the maximum sludge dose.
- Organ / stage
- grainse0
- Outcome
- Cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), lead (Pb), and nickel (Ni) in grainse0
- Direction
- belowe0
- Qualifier
- maximum dose of sludge treatmente0
- Comparator
- international standardse0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), lead (Pb), and nickel (Ni) in grains were below international standards even after maximum dose of sludge treatment”
t0“maize”
Claim · model-written summary
10 t ha−1 sludge increased the Cd bioconcentration factor by 82% over control.
- Treatment
- 10 t ha−1e0
- Outcome
- bioconcentration factor of Cde0
- Direction
- increasede0
- Value
- 82%e0
- Comparator
- controle0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The bioconcentration factor of Cd and Ni increased by 82% and 49% with 10 t ha−1 over control, respectively”
t0“maize”
Claim · model-written summary
10 t ha−1 sludge increased the Ni bioconcentration factor by 49% over control.
- Treatment
- 10 t ha−1e0
- Outcome
- bioconcentration factor of Cd and Nie0
- Direction
- increasede0
- Value
- 49%e0
- Comparator
- controle0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The bioconcentration factor of Cd and Ni increased by 82% and 49% with 10 t ha−1 over control, respectively”
t0“maize”
Claim · model-written summary
Cr and Pb bioconcentration factors remained the same under 10 t ha−1 sludge relative to control.
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The bioconcentration factor of Cd and Ni increased by 82% and 49% with 10 t ha−1 over control, respectively while it remained same for Cr and Pb.”
t0“maize”
Claim · model-written summary
10 t ha−1 sludge significantly increased exchangeable Cd and Pb in carbonate and easily reducible oxide fractions relative to control.
- Treatment
- 10 t ha−1 sludgee0
- Outcome
- exchangeable Cd, Pb in carbonate, and easily reducible oxidee0
- Direction
- increasee0
- Comparator
- controle0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Significant increase in exchangeable Cd, Pb in carbonate, and easily reducible oxide, Ni and Cr in residual fraction with 10 t ha−1 sludge over control were found.”
t0“maize”
Claim · model-written summary
10 t ha−1 sludge significantly increased Ni and Cr in the residual fraction relative to control.
- Treatment
- 10 t ha−1 sludgee0
- Outcome
- Ni and Cr in residual fractione0
- Direction
- increasee0
- Comparator
- controle0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Significant increase in exchangeable Cd, Pb in carbonate, and easily reducible oxide, Ni and Cr in residual fraction with 10 t ha−1 sludge over control were found.”
t0“maize”
Claim · model-written summary
Increasing sludge treatment increased mobility of Pb and Cd.
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Mobility of only Pb and Cd increased with increasing sludge treatment.”
t0“maize”
Claim · model-written summary
The authors conclude sludge application can increase plant biomass.
- Treatment
- sludge applicatione0
- Outcome
- increasing plant biomasse0
- Qualifier
- heavy metal accumulation in plants may limit its usee0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“sludge application can be beneficial in increasing plant biomass, however heavy metal accumulation in plants may limit its use.”
t0“maize”
Claim · model-written summary
The authors call for evaluation of long-term sludge application as a nutrient source.
- Outcome
- Long-term effect of sludge applications as nutrient sources must be evaluatede0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Long-term effect of sludge applications as nutrient sources must be evaluated”
t0“maize”
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See all 373 papers →Claims are grouped by organism, treatment and what was measured or targeted. A paper counts as positive when any of its claims in the group is positive.