Growth and elemental composition of sorghum sudangrass grown on flyash/organic waste-amended soils

Journal Article · Thu Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1996 · Journal of Environmental Science and Health, Part A: Environmental Science and Engineering

OSTI ID:380834

Sajwan, K S ^[1]; Ornes, W H; Youngblood, T V ^[2]

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1. Savannah State College, GA (United States)
2. Univ. of South Carolina, Aiken, SC (United States)

A greenhouse study was conducted to evaluate the potential benefitsof using fly ash/organic waste mixtures amended to soils for growth andcomposition of mineral elements by `sorgrass` (Sorghum vulgaris var.sudanense Hitchc.) a shorghum-sudangrass hybrid plant. This experimentwas conducted using a 1:1 ratio of fly ash to either sewage sludge,poultry manure, or dairy manure at six application rates. Our threeorganic wastes when mixed with fly ash at varied rates of applicationresulted in elevated concentrations of NO{sub 3}, P, K, Ca, Mg, Mn, Fe, B,Cu and Zn in both soil and plants. The data of this study indicated thatthe availability of elements to plants varied according to the organicsource mixed with fly ash and the rate of application. The elements Band Zn were observed to be significantly greater in plant tissuesexposed to fly ash/poultry manure or fly ash/dairy manure mixtures.Soils amended with fly ash/sewage sludge or poultry manure generallyimproved plant growth and enhanced yield when applied at rates of 25tons/acre, and decreased thereafter. However, soils amended with flyash/dairy manure improved plant growth and enhanced yield when appliedat rates upto 50 tons/acre and decreased thereafter. The decreases inyield beyond these application rates were probably due to theaccumulation of high levels of B and Zn which are phytotoxic and/orelevated levels of inorganic dissolved salts. 22 refs., 4 tabs.

• DOE Contract Number: AC09-76SR00819
• OSTI ID: 380834
• Journal Information: Journal of Environmental Science and Health, Part A: Environmental Science and Engineering, Journal Name: Journal of Environmental Science and Health, Part A: Environmental Science and Engineering Journal Issue: 7 Vol. 31; ISSN 0360-1226; ISSN JESEDU
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
55 BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
BASIC STUDIES
BIOMASS
BORON
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
ELEMENTS
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
FLY ASH
GRAMINEAE
GROWTH
INDUSTRIAL WASTES
LAND POLLUTION CONTROL
MANURES
SEWAGE SLUDGE
SOILS
SORGHUM
WASTE DISPOSAL
ZINC