Use of biosolids from a wastewater treatment plant for sunflower cultivation

Jackson Porto Cardoso; Cristina Moll Hüther; Bruno Cesar Silva Rocha; Jéssica de Medeiros Soares; Bruno Maieiro Benites; Katharine Gabriel de Oliveira

doi:10.18011/bioeng.2026.v20.1289

Authors

Jackson Porto Cardoso Department of Agricultural and Environmental Engineering, Universidade Federal Fluminense (UFF), Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil https://orcid.org/0009-0009-8448-7103
Cristina Moll Hüther Department of Agricultural and Environmental Engineering, Universidade Federal Fluminense (UFF), Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0655-5966
Bruno Cesar Silva Rocha Department of Geochemistry, Universidade Federal Fluminense (UFF), Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7226-2486
Jéssica de Medeiros Soares Department of Agricultural and Environmental Engineering, Universidade Federal Fluminense (UFF), Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3019-2491
Bruno Maieiro Benites Department of Agricultural and Environmental Engineering, Universidade Federal Fluminense (UFF), Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Katharine Gabriel de Oliveira Department of Agricultural and Environmental Engineering, Universidade Federal Fluminense (UFF), Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil https://orcid.org/0009-0007-4857-1469

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18011/bioeng.2026.v20.1289

Keywords:

Composting, Sludge, Waste, Sustainability

Abstract

The increase in solid waste and effluent generation due to urban and industrial activities represents a global challenge, especially in the management of sludge from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). Biosolids, a byproduct of this process, have high potential as a fertilizer, promoting nutrient recycling and improving the physicochemical properties of the soil. This study evaluated the use of different proportions of WWTP biosolids on the germination and growth of sunflowers (Helianthus annuus). The experiment was conducted under field conditions in the state of Rio de Janeiro. Five treatments were established in experimental design. After scarifying the experimental area, different volume ratios of biosolids and soil were applied to each treatment to a depth of 30 cm: 0:1 (soil only, control); 1:1; 2:1; 3:1; 1:0 (biosolids only). A total of 1,260 kg of biosolids was used. Germination and growth parameters were monitored weekly. The growth data obtained were subjected to statistical analysis using the Kruskal-Wallis and Dunn tests. The results showed that biosolid application accelerated seed germination and promoted greater plant growth. In the 1:0 treatment, the maximum germination rate was 77%, whereas in the pure soil, only 40% of the seeds germinated. Analysis of the growth parameters revealed that treatments with a higher proportion of biosolids (1:0 and 3:1) had significantly higher means, highlighting the positive impact of the nutrients present in the biosolids.

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