engleski

Potential of sewage sludge application in Mediterranean agricultural soils: case of Šibenik region, Croatia

The main subject of this thesis is the evaluation of the agricultural land capacity of Šibensko-kninska County for sewage sludge application, with the aim of solving a problem of its excessive accumulation on the wastewater purification plants. The evaluation is based on legislation, which determines procedures and conditions when dealing with sludge, which is going to be applied on agricultural land, and on dynamic disposal possibilities of sewage sludge on agricultural land depending on land pedological and geochemical suitability. Šibensko-kninska County map, pedological characteristics map, agricultural land use map and map of interpolation of potentially toxic elements were produced in order to assess the possibility of sludge application to agricultural land. The agricultural area that could be used for the application of municipal sludge as fertilizer has been determined after the implementation of sludge regulation. Out of the total area of Šibensko-kinska County, agricultural area makes only 10% (25735.8 ha) out of which approximately only one fourth (6064.46 ha) is adequate for application of municipal sludge. The application of sludge is conditioned by the use of agricultural land, soil characteristics, and the environment, therefore it can be limited or completely banned. Furthermore, land resources are very limited for application according to criteria prescribed by regulations.

agricultural land ; sewage sludge ; legislation ; mapping ; soil characteristics

International master study program "Environment, agriculture and resource management" at the University of Zagreb Faculty of Agriculture