Effect of Sewage Sludge from Ubonratana Hospital on Maize (Zea mays L.)

Abstract

Utilzation of sewage sludge experiments were conducted both in pots and field to evaluate the impact of hospital sludge on the growth of sweet maize var. Dokkoon in Khon Kaen province, in 2000-2002. Both experiments, Yasothorn soil (file-loamy, siliceous, isohyperthermic oxic paleustults) were used. Pots experiment was laid out in CRD with 6 treatments and 3 replications. Dry samples of sludge from Ubonratana hospital, were used as fertilizer at the rate of 100 200 500 and 1,000 kg/rai respectively in pot experiments. The second experiment was from pots trial and was further tested in the field which was comprised of 4 treatments with 3 replications. The treatments were the hospital sludge at 500 and 1,000 kg/rai compared to chemical fertilizer and untreated check. It was found that the application of hospital sludge at the rates of 500 and 1,000 kg/rai in pots had better impact on the growth of maize than in the control and this was similar to the uses of fertilizer 50 kg/rai of at 15 – 15 -15 (N-P₂ O₅–K₂ O) + 10 kg/rai urea chemical fertilizer. In the field condition, the results showed that the yield obtained from application of hospital sludge at 500 kg/rai and 50 kg/rai of 15 – 15 -15 (N-P₂ O₅ –K₂ O) + 10 kg/rai of urea chemical fertilizer were the same. The growth obtained from 1,000 kg/rai was the maximum but this was not significantly different from the treatment in the chemical fertilizer was applied.