Impact of Brewery Waste Sludge on Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) Productivity and Soil Fertility in Harari Regional State, Eastern Ethiopia

Authors

  • Nano Alemu Daba School of Plant Sciences, College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Haramaya University, P.O.Box 138, Dire Dawa
  • Abduletif Ahmed School of Plant Sciences, College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Haramaya University, P.O.Box 138, Dire Dawa
  • Muktar Mohammed School of Natural Resource Management and Environmental Science College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Haramaya University, P.O.Box 138, Dire Dawa

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.24925/turjaf.v5i4.366-372.1058

Keywords:

Brewery sludge, Heavy metals, NP fertilizers, Sorghum

Abstract

The study was conducted on farmers' field in sofi district of Harari Regional State during 2013/2014 main cropping season, eastern Ethiopia, to investigate the impact of brewery sludge on sorghum production and soil fertility. The treatments comprised seven levels of brewery sludges (0, 2.5, 5.0, 7.5, 10.0, 12.5 and 15.0 t ha-1) and NP inorganic fertilizer at recommended rate, arranged in randomized complete block design with four replications. Application of brewery sludge at 15 t ha-1 significantly increased the yield and biomass yield of sorghum by 79 and 85% over control and by 57 and 67% over NP application, respectively. There was no effect of brewery sludge application on heavy metals concentrations in soil after crop harvest, compared to international standard tolerable level. Co and Se levels were high in the control as well as in the soils treated with brewery sludge indicating the already high concentration of these heavy metals in the soils of the area. Plots, which received higher brewery sludge application, resulted in decreased or less percentage of grain nitrogen content showing the independence of grain protein content on lower brewery sludge level. The nitrogen uptake by sorghum grain, straw and the total was maximum (52.68, 44.25 and 79.03 kg ha-1, respectively) with the application of brewery waste sludge at 10 and 15 t ha-1 which were significantly higher than the other brewery sludge and NP mineral fertilizer applications.

Author Biography

Nano Alemu Daba, School of Plant Sciences, College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Haramaya University, P.O.Box 138, Dire Dawa

Lecturer and Researcher, School of Plant Sciences

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Published

07.04.2017

How to Cite

Daba, N. A., Ahmed, A., & Mohammed, M. (2017). Impact of Brewery Waste Sludge on Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) Productivity and Soil Fertility in Harari Regional State, Eastern Ethiopia. Turkish Journal of Agriculture - Food Science and Technology, 5(4), 366–372. https://doi.org/10.24925/turjaf.v5i4.366-372.1058

Issue

Section

Crop Production