Effects of beer factory sludge on soil properties and growth of sugar beet ( Beta vulgaris saccharifera L.)

• Published in: Bioresource technology Vol. 90; no. 1; pp. 75 - 80
• Main Authors: Kütük, Cihat, Çaycı, Gökhan, Baran, Abdullah, Başkan, Oǧuz, Hartmann, Roger
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01.10.2003; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Agriculture - methods; Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Amendment of soil; Beer; Beer factory sludge; Beta vulgaris; Beta vulgaris - growth & development; Beta vulgaris - metabolism; Biodegradation, Environmental; Biological and medical sciences; Carbohydrates - biosynthesis; Fertilizers - analysis; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General agronomy. Plant production; Industrial Waste - prevention & control; Other nutrients. Amendments. Solid and liquid wastes. Sludges and slurries; Plant Leaves - growth & development; Plant Leaves - metabolism; Plant Roots - growth & development; Plant Roots - metabolism; Sewage - analysis; Sewage - chemistry; Soil - analysis; Soil-plant relationships. Soil fertility. Fertilization. Amendments; Sugar beet; Waste; Asia; Mediterranean Basin; Turkey; Sugar beet; Beer factory sludge; Waste; Amendment of soil; Plant production; Beta vulgaris var. saccharata; Sewage sludge; Sugar plant; Chenopodiaceae; Entisols; Soils; Dicotyledones; Angiospermae; Waste reuse; Brewing industry; Spermatophyta; Organic amendment
• ISSN: 0960-8524; 1873-2976
• DOI: 10.1016/S0960-8524(03)00089-0

The possible use of beer factory sludge (BFS) for an agricultural purpose was investigated with sugar beet ( Beta vulgaris saccharifera L.). BFS was air dried and sieved through a 4 mm mesh before application to a soil (Typic Xerofluvent). Afterwards, the BFS was mixed with soil at a rate 0, 10, 20, 40, 80 and 160 tonnes ha −1. The mixtures were than put into pots and kept in the greenhouse for an incubation of five months. During the incubation, pH, the electrical conductivity, the organic matter content, NH 4 +-N and NO 3 −-N content were regularly measured. At the end of the incubation period, sugar beet seeds were sown into the same pots. After a growing period of six-months the sugar beet plants were harvested, and yield and quality parameters were determined. BFS increased leaf and root yield. However, the effect of BFS on leaf growth was more pronounced than on root growth. The highest sugar content, refined sugar content and refined sugar yield were obtained with the application rate of 10 tonnes BFS per hectare. Ten tonnes of BSF per hectare was the most suitable on the basis of root quality parameters and root yield. However BFS should be applied to the soil six or seven months in advance due to the high level of nitrogen released through mineralization.