INDUSTRIAL SLUDGE AS A FERTILIZER SUBSTITUTE

Abstract

The present study is aimed to characterize the sludge generated from paper, Sugar and Agro Oil industries to assess its agro potential to consider as fertilizer substitute. The parameters analyzed are pH, Electrical Conductivity (EC). Na, K, Ca, Mg, Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Percent Sodium, Sodium Absorption Ratio (SAR). Percent Sodium and SAR found to be with in the permissible limits indicating their suitability for irrigation purposes. NPK ratios are measured to estimate the manure potential. The levels of heavy metals Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd and Pb are with in the permissible limits compared to CPCB standards. Further studies have been carried out on germination and seedling growth of four vegetable crops Abelmoschus esclentus, Cyanmopsis tetragonoloba, Lycopersicon esclentum and Solanum melongea to assess the Agro potential of the sludge as composite with black soil.