Effect of application of urban sewage sludge as organic amendment on germination and growth of Retama monospermain Oran region of Algeria

Abstract

Appropriate disposal of huge amount of sewage sludge generated in urban areas pose a serious threat to the environment. The urban wastewater treatment sludge has the potential as mineral organic amendment strategy in th fight against wind erosion through planting of Retama monosperma in Algeria. In the present study, the sewage sludge was sampled at the Bousfer –Oran wastewater treatment plant, and amended with different cultivation substrates. Further, its influence on the growth of young R. monosperma, plants, with an aim to replant them at sandy littoral deposits. The preliminary results of our work showed that the replanting of young Retamaplants in the substrate formed by a mixture of mud and limestone showed improved growth compared to the fourteen other substrates tested, from the point of view of structure, texture and fertilizing abilities.The sample of a mixture of clay and mud had a compact structure for the seeds to germinate. However, the growth of young plants transplanted into the latter was found to be improved giving an acceptable result considering the contributions of this organic amendment.