Sewage sludge effects on soybean growth and nitrogen fixation

The effect of sewage sludge application, as a source of phosphorus, on dinitrogen symbiotic fixation in soybean was evaluated. The experiment was carried out in a greenhouse and included eight different treatments: (1) no fertilization, (2) complete fertilization, (3) inoculation with rhizobia plus phosphate fertilization (IS+P), (4) inoculation with rhizobia without phosphate fertilization (IS-P), (5) inoculation plus dose 1 of sewage sludge (IS+SS1), (6) inoculation plus dose 2 of sewage sludge (IS+SS2), (7) without inoculation plus dose 1 of sewage sludge, and (8) without inoculation plus dose 2 of sewage sludge. The two rates of sewage amendment corresponded to 11.2 t ha-1 and 22.4 t ha-1 and were calculated on the basis of the sewage phosphorus content and the amount of phosphorus recommended for soybean fertilization. Results were evaluated 49 and 63 days after plant emergence. Nodule number and weight decreased as follows: IS+P>IS+SS1, IS+SS2>IS-P. No nodules were formed without inoculation. The acetylene reduction activity was highest for the IS+P treatment 49 days after plant emergence. At the 63-day harvest that parameter was similar among IS+P, IS+SS1 and IS+SS2 treatments. The total amounts of nitrogen in shoots were similar for IS+P, IS+SS1 and IS+SS2 treatments at the first harvest but by 63 days after plant emergence, total amounts of nitrogen in above-ground parts (shoot and pods) were higher in IS+P and IS+SS2. This was due to higher pod dry weights. This study demonstrated that soybean growth can be improved by sewage sludge at a low application rate without the necessity of additional phosphorus fertilization.