Development of sewage sludge-based synthetic aggregates for containerized ornamentals.

Potential utilization of synthetic aggregates (SAs) developed from sewage sludge (SS) as a component of containerized media for French marigold (Tagetes patula) cultivation as a peat substitution was investigated in this study. The six different containerized media utilized were: peat only, SA 20%: peat 80%, SA 40%: peat 60%, SA 60%: peat 40%, SA 80%: peat 20% and SA only. The physical and chemical characteristics of all media were determined. SA-based media showed higher pH, electrical conductivity (EC), bulk density, particle density and nutrient contents (N, P, Ca and Mg) compared to peat media. The highest plant length, number of flowers per plant, shoot fresh weight, shoot dry weight, root length, root fresh weight and root dry weight obtained from the medium having SA 40%: peat 60% increased by 13.69%, 23.53%, 41.46%, 58.95%, 2.43%, 39.09% and 21.68%, respectively, compared to the peat control. The addition of 60% and 100% of SAs to the growth media gave the lowest growth and yield parameters compared to the peat control due to their high EC and pH. Plant tissues obtained from media with added SAs showed increased N, P, Ca and Mg contents compared to plant tissues obtained from peat media. Media with added SAs did not significantly increase concentrations of Cu, Cd, Cr and Pb in plant tissues but the Zn concentration was significantly increased. SA addition to media did not pose any phytotoxicity risks in French marigold plants. SAs can be suggested as viable potting media components to substitute for the widely used and more expensive peat utilized in horticulture.