Effect of sewage biosolids compost on biomass yield of amaranthus and heavy metal availability

A green house pot experiment was conducted with different sources of sewage biosolid composts applied at various levels to study the effect on the yield and DTPA extractable metal status of the soils. Sewage biosolid compost application enhanced the green biomass yield of amaranthus and the highest yield was observed with compost of sewage biosolid plus coirpith (BS+CP). Increasing levels of sewage biosolid addition increased the yield of amaranthus besides increasing the extractability of DTPA trace metals and their uptake. Comparing the sources, the BS + CP increased the yield and recovery of Zn, Cu, Ni and Fe with DTPA, whereas the extractability of Pb, Cd, Cr and Mn was found to be high with BS + GLM compost.