Effects of Dried Sewage Slude on Barley Grain Production

Abstract

A four-year experiment was conducted at the Mesa Agricultural Center to study the use of dried sewage sludge from the City of Phoenix as a source of plant nutrients in the commercial production of barley grain. The objective was to compare the effects of sewage sludge and commercial fertilizer on barley growth, grain yield, and quality. Three fertilizer treatments were used: (1) suggested rates of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) in Arizona, (2) dried sewage sludge to supply plant-available N in amounts equal to the suggested rate, and (3) N, P, and K from inorganic fertilizers in amounts equal to those in sewage sludge. Characteristics of barley growth, grain yield, and quality were similar for the three fertilizer treatments. Barley can utilize the fertilizer nutrients in dried sewage sludge in the production of grain as effectively as it can utilize the fertilizer nutrients in inorganic fertilizer.