ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Monitoring the Changes in the Microbial Dynamics
of Calcareous Soil with the Amendment
of Stabilized and Dried Sewage Sludge
in Mediterranean Region of Turkey
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1
Department of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Gazipaşa M. Rahmi Büyükballı Vocational School,
Alanya Alaaddin Keykubat University, Antalya, Turkey
2
Department of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition, Faculty of Agriculture, Akdeniz University, Antalya, Turkey
Submission date: 2021-02-06
Final revision date: 2021-03-26
Acceptance date: 2021-04-08
Online publication date: 2021-09-10
Publication date: 2021-10-01
Corresponding author
Sule Orman
Department of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition, Akdeniz University, Turkey
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2021;30(6):5263-5271
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ABSTRACT
Since sewage sludge contains plant nutrients and organic matter, it has a potential to act as a soil
conditioner for maintainig soil fertility in crop production. In this experiment, different quantities
of stabilized and dried sewage sludge (SS) were applied to a calcareous soil. Treatments used for
this study were 0 t ha-1 (SS0/control), 20 t ha-1 (SS2), 40 t ha-1 (SS4), 60 t ha-1 (SS6), 80 t ha-1 (SS8)
respectively. This study was aimed to investigate the changes in soil microbial dynamics by application
of sewage sludge during growing crop conditions. A field experiment was done by using randomized
blocks design and every treatment was replicated four times. Soil samples were collected at three
different periods of plant growth. Number of bacteria (heterotrophic aerobic mesophilic) and changes
in soil enzyme activities (nitrification, nitrate reductase, urease, alkaline phosphatase, β-glycosidase)
were examined. According to the results, it is clear that the sludge applications have stimulating effect
both on soil enzyme activities (excluding nitrate reductase) and the number of bacteria. With the
application of sewage sludge soil microbial dynamics significantly increased (nitrification = 41.72%,
urease = 35.14%, alkaline phosphatase = 43.29%, β-glycosidase = 59.64%, number of bacteria = 91.66%)
as compared to the control.