Rashid Md M, Kattou'a Mary G, Al-Khatib Issam A, Sato Chikashi
Purdue University Fort Wayne, 2101 E. Coliseum Blvd, Fort Wayne, IN, 46805, USA.
Faculty of Graduate Studies, Birzeit University, Birzeit, Palestine.
Environ Monit Assess. 2017 Jul;189(7):353. doi: 10.1007/s10661-017-6074-4. Epub 2017 Jun 24.
An application of treated sewage sludge on agricultural land has been widely accepted, as this method is simple and economical for disposal of wastewater residues. When applied properly on an agricultural land, sludge can replenish organic matter and nutrients in soil. Although sewage sludge has been used in agriculture in many parts of the world, its acceptability varies with different cultures and beliefs among farmers. Farmers' concerns on sludge use are primarily due to its anthropogenic origin, pollutants that it carries, a general perception of sewage being dirty, and its offensive odor. This paper aims to investigate farmers' perceptions on land application of treated sewage sludge on their farm. This study targeted two farming communities, namely, Anza and Beit Dajan villages, located in Jenin and Nablus districts in the West Bank, Palestine. In this study, a sample of 106 farmers were randomly selected and surveyed through a mixture of structured and open-ended questions. Results indicated that, overall, farmers have positive perceptions on land application of sludge. A majority of the farmers are in favor of the concept of sludge use when a planned wastewater treatment plant is constructed and it becomes operational. Results also indicate that a majority of the farmers are in favor of using sludge for fertilizing fruit trees, rather than growing vegetables and other plants in a greenhouse, and that many of them have knowledge of sludge properties and advantages and disadvantages of sludge use in agriculture. Despite the positive perceptions by the majority of farmers, a small fraction of the farmers are in disfavor of the use of sludge for the following reasons: psychological and social concerns, potential health risks, and their religious beliefs. Results further suggest that the land application of treated sewage sludge can be accepted by more farmers if the consumers are willing to buy agricultural products fertilized by sludge, sludge meets the public health requirements, and sludge is available at low costs. To improve farmers' perceptions on the land application of sludge, several measures are recommended.
在农业土地上施用经处理的污水污泥已被广泛接受，因为这种方法处理废水残余物既简单又经济。如果在农业土地上合理施用，污泥可以补充土壤中的有机质和养分。尽管世界许多地区都已将污水污泥用于农业，但农民对其接受程度因不同的文化和信仰而异。农民对污泥使用的担忧主要源于其人为来源、所含污染物、对污水普遍肮脏的认知以及其难闻的气味。本文旨在调查农民对在其农场土地上施用经处理的污水污泥的看法。本研究的对象是位于巴勒斯坦约旦河西岸杰宁和纳布卢斯地区的两个农业社区，即安扎村和拜特达扬村。在本研究中，随机抽取了106名农民作为样本，并通过结构化和开放式问题相结合的方式进行了调查。结果表明，总体而言，农民对污泥土地施用持积极看法。大多数农民支持在规划中的污水处理厂建成并投入运营后使用污泥的概念。结果还表明，大多数农民支持用污泥给果树施肥，而不是用于温室蔬菜和其他作物种植，并且他们中的许多人了解污泥的特性以及污泥用于农业的优缺点。尽管大多数农民持积极看法，但仍有一小部分农民出于以下原因不赞成使用污泥：心理和社会方面的担忧、潜在的健康风险以及他们的宗教信仰。结果进一步表明，如果消费者愿意购买用污泥施肥的农产品、污泥符合公共卫生要求且成本低廉，那么更多农民会接受经处理的污水污泥的土地施用。为了改善农民对污泥土地施用的看法，建议采取若干措施。
