Reuse of Sewage Sludge with Regards to Sustainability in Taurus Snowdrop Culture

Abstract

This study was aimed to determine the possibility of reusing sewage sludge in the cultivation of Taurus snowdrop (Galanthus elwesii Hook. f.). Taurus snowdrop bulbs with a circumference of 4 cm were used as plant material in the experiment. Bulbs were planted in five different growing media, 100% soil, 25% sewage sludge+75% soil, 50% sewage sludge+50% soil, 75% sewage sludge+25% soil, and 100% sewage sludge. The bulb diameter ranged between 16.8 and 18.5 mm, and bulb weight varied between 2.74 g and 6.33 g. The greatest bulblet weight (2.17 g) and leaf thickness (0.90 mm) obtained was in 75% sewage sludge+25% soil mixture. The number of bulblets ranged from 1.0 to 1.33 piece/bulb. Leaf length was between 7.30 and 9.25 cm, and leaf width was 9.7 to 11.6 mm. The effects of growing media on pedicle length, pedicle diameter, and fruit diameter were not found to be significant. Pedicle lengths were between 4.39 and 6.38 cm, pedicle diameters ranged from 1.59 to 1.80 mm, and fruit diameters were between 4.40 and 7.40 mm. It was concluded based on the present findings that 75% sewage sludge+25% soil mixture could reliably be used as a growing media for Taurus snowdrop culture.