The Effects of Wastewater Application on the Growth and Chemical Composition of Forages,

Abstract

The contribution of a forage mixture in the renovation of wastewater by a prototype slow infiltration land treatment system was studied from June 1974 to June 1975. The forage was grown in six outdoor cells, three containing a Windsor sandy loam soil and three a Charlton silt loam. Three cells received primary and three received secondary wastewater at various application rates. Crop yields, soils and tissue analyses, plant removal efficiency and total uptake of applied nutrients were related to the rate of wastewater applied. Dry matter production, plant heavy metal concentrations, and plant removal of nitrogen and phosphorus all increased as the rate of applied wastewater increased from 5 to 15 cm/week (2 to 6 in./wk). Total dry matter production ranged from 9.63 to 12.99 metric tons/ha (4.33 to 5.81 tons/acre), and total uptake of nitrogen and phosphorus ranged from 309 to 453 kg/ha (278 to 408 lb/acre) and 32 to 42 kg/ha (29 to 38 lb/acre), respectively.

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Oct 01, 1976
Accession Number
ADA032774

Entities

People

  • Antonio J. Palazzo

Organizations

  • Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Chemical Composition
  • Efficiency
  • Elements
  • Heavy Metals
  • Metals
  • Nitrogen
  • Phosphorus
  • Production
  • Prototypes

Fields of Study

  • Agricultural and Food sciences

Readers

  • Agricultural Chemistry/Soil Science
  • Aquatic Ecology