Database research record2021·Sub-Saharan Africa
Waste to resource: use of water treatment residual for increased maize productivity and micronutrient content
Tariro Gwandu, Lynsay I. Blake, Hatirarami Nezomba, Jairos Rurinda, Stephen Chivasa, Florence Mtambanengwe, Karen L. Johnson
Environmental Geochemistry and Health
Urban Farm DB summary
An eight-week greenhouse experiment in Sub-Saharan Africa evaluated the short-term benefits of applying aluminum-based water treatment residual (Al-WTR) with compost and inorganic phosphorus fertilizer on maize productivity. A co-amendment of 10% Al-WTR and 10% compost significantly increased maize shoot biomass (3.92 ± 0.16 g) compared to the control (1.33 ± 0.17 g). Adding phosphorus fertilizer to this co-amendment further doubled the yield and increased maize uptake of zinc, copper, and manganese.