Production of organic fertilizer based on sewage sludge cultivated with grass under an aeration system1

Abstract

The cultivation of grasses in sewage sludge (SS) with aeration has the potential for stabilization of sludge organic matter in the production of organic fertilizer. Thus, the objective of this work was to evaluate the cultivation of Urochloa brizantha and Pennisetum purpureum under aerated system on the chemical and biological attributes of SS to obtain a matured organic fertilizer. The study was conducted in a randomized block design in a 2x2+2 factorial scheme with four replications. Factors consisted of cultivation of P. purpureum or U. brizantha in SS, with or without intermittent aeration. Control treatments were SS without cultivation, with or without aeration. Sewage sludge was collected in layers and the chemical and microbial attributes were evaluated. There was no significant difference between treatments for grass dry matter. The C/N ratio was not matched with organic fertilizer stabilization due to similar losses of C and N (~7%). However, microbial activity was reduced in the presence of plant cultivation demonstrating improvement in the properties of the organic fertilizer produced. Through uni- and multivariate analysis, organic fertilizer produced from SS aerated and cultivated with P. purpureum showed matured organic matter.