Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 2009-12-09

Effects of a municipal sewage sludge amendment on triasulfuron soil sorption and wheat growth.

Maria Vittoria Pinna, Francesco Giunta, Serenella Nardi, Alba Pusino

Index: J. Agric. Food Chem. 57(23) , 11249-53, (2009)

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Abstract

The influence of municipal sewage sludge (SL) as a soil amendment on the sorption and activity of the herbicide triasulfuron (TRS, [2-(2-chloroethoxy)-N-[[(4-methoxy-6-methyl-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl)amino]carbonyl]benzenesulfonamide]) was studied. Weed control was checked in a greenhouse on a wheat (Triticum turgidum L. subsp. durum) crop. At the highest SL amount allowed by Italian regulation, TRS sorption onto soil increased by 7 times and weed control was unaffected. A vegetative bloom and an early heading phase were noted. To compare inorganic fertilization (N, P, and K) and SL amendment, a greenhouse fertilization experiment was carried out. The SL-amended crop developed larger leaf surfaces, higher biomass, and a forward heading compared to that fertilized with N, P, and K. The SL hormone-like activity was evaluated by measuring auxin- and gibberellin-like activity of sewage sludge.