The potential of industrial wastewater sludge as an organic soil amendment in soil mixtures
Keywords:
industrial wastewater, cation exchange capacity, organic amendment, biological sludge, soil mixturesSynopsis
The management of biological sludge from industrial wastewater treatment raises the need to identify recovery alternatives that combine agronomic benefits with risk control. This study analyzed the potential of biological sludge generated in the aerobic reactor of a non-alcoholic beverage plant’s treatment facility as an organic amendment in soil mixtures. A partial physicochemical characterization of the sludge and agricultural soil was conducted, and formulations containing 0, 15, 30, and 50 % sludge, supplemented with washed sand, were prepared. The mixtures were evaluated for pH, electrical conductivity, organic matter, moisture retention capacity, cation exchange capacity, and basal respiration; subsequently, a 90-day trial was conducted with Capsicum chinense, in which germination, plant height, stem diameter, and number of leaves were determined. Increasing incorporation of sludge was associated with increases in organic matter, cation exchange capacity, and basal respiration, while moisture retention did not show a consistent improvement. Regarding plant response, germination and stem diameter showed no significant differences; plant height exhibited partial differences; and the number of leaves showed the most consistent favorable pattern. Overall, the results indicated the experimental potential of sludge as a component of soil mixtures; however, they did not demonstrate safety in terms of public health or the environment, nor did they confirm comprehensive agronomic suitability. Therefore, its application would require further characterization and subsequent validation.
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May 2, 2026
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Copyright (c) 2026 Arnaldo José Armado Matute, Lisboa Garay Harold Daniel (Autor/a)
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978-9907-9552-6-2
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The potential of industrial wastewater sludge as an organic soil amendment in soil mixtures: Vol. V2N2. (2026). Editorial Unión Científica. https://doi.org/10.63804/
