Waste Water Treatment Sludge as a Potting Media Component with Coir Dust for the cultivation of Ornamental Plant Tagetes patula (Antigua Yellow) and Leafy Vegetable Ipomoea acquatica (L)

Abstract

The investigation was conducted to study the potential utilization of wastewater treatment sludge (WTS) in combination with coir dust as a growing medium for leafy vegetable Ipomoea aquatica(L) and ornamental plant Tagetes patula (Antigua Yellow). Wastewater treatment sludge was obtained from wastewater treatment plant situated in Moratuwa, Soyzapura, Sri Lanka. Five different potting media were prepared by mixing WTS and coconut coir dust (CCD) at ratios of 10%WTS+90%CCD, 25%WTS+75%CCD, 50%WTS+50%CCD, 75%WTS+25%CCD and 100%WTS. A mixture of top soil, compost and river sand ratio of 1:1:1 was used as the control. Then bulk density, true density, porosity, mean weight diameter, pH, organic matter, nitrogen, C:N ratio, electrical conductivity, phosphorous and potassium content of developed media were analyzed. Formulated 10%WTS+90%CCD potting medium gave the best growth and yield performance for Ipomoea aquatic and Tagetes patula which were not significantly differed compared to commercial potting medium (control). The highest plant height, shoot fresh weight and shoot dry weight of the Ipomoea aquatica were 116.5cm, 91.89g and 29.99g, respectively while the same parameters were recorded as 45.6cm, 69.84gand 16.46g, respectively for Tagetespatula. Therefore, formulated 10% WTS + 90%CCD potting medium can be recommended as an alternative substrate for the extensively used control.