Stabilized Sludge Fertilizer from Sludge Drying Reed Bed for Sandy Soil Amendment

In economic and environmental point, sludge drying reed beds (SDRBs) are regarded as a sustainable technology for sludge stabilization. In this study, we determine the effects of the final product from SDRBs used as sandy soil conditioner Sludge fertilizer application caused beneficial effects on soil nutrients, which significantly increased total phosphorous (TP), plant-available phosphorous (AP), alkali hydrolyzable nitrogen (AHN), and organic matter per kilogram soil as the increasing of the sludge fertilizer and soil ratios. Bacteria values of E. coli of amended soil showed a clear decreasing trend, and met the Standard of Pollutants Discharge in Urban Sewage Treatment Plant in China (GB18918-2002). The application of sludge fertilizer did not bring substantial influence on fungi type and quantity in soil. The height of plant grown on sludge amended soil was taller in total than the controls. The yields of soybean were improved by compared to the unamended soil. Crude protein and crude fat contents of soybean were slightly higher in amended soil than those in the controls except the lowest dose. The study demonstrates good efficiency of sludge fertilizer from SDRB in sandy soil amendment and its potential application in agricultural land in the future.