Application of municipal biosolids for production of tomatoes and snap beans

This study examined the use of biosolid materials as a fertilizer in the production of tomatoes and snap beans. Biosolid materials are being produced at an ever increasing rate and land application of these materials is potentially one of the best economic and environmental options. Treatments for tomatoes were established as a control, inorganic fertilizer, liquid-slurry applied at N or P rate and co-compost municipal solid waste applied at N or P rate. Snap bean treatments were a control, inorganic fertilizer, liquid slurry and co-compost applied at P rate. Data was collected on yields of tomato and snap beans. Fruit and leaf tissues and soil samples were collected throughout the study. Leaf nutrient content was determined by drying, ashing, and digesting tissues in 2 M HCl. Microbial analyses were determined in the 0-15 cm soil samples and on the fruits. Three soil sampling depths were analyzed for pH, EC, total C, N, S, fractions of P and Al, B, Ca, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, P, S and Zn. Biosolid materials applied at the P rate with inorganic N addition gave equivalent yields to inorganic fertilizer alone. Nutrient content of plant leaves grown on biosolids were similar to those grown with inorganic fertilizers. Microbial analysis indicated that microbial and indicator organism numbers were no greater on fruits produced with biosolids than those produced with inorganic fertilizers. Results from the soil samples revealed very few differences in nutrient content for soils treated with biosolids in comparison to those treated with inorganic fertilizers. This research has been shown that biosolids applied at the P rate with inorganic N addition can be used effectively as a fertilizer for production of tomatoes and snap beans.