Heavy metal contents in soil and in sunflower fertilized with sewage sludge

The aim of this study was to evaluate the contents of heavy metals in soil and in sunflower plants fertilized with sewage sludge. The experiment was conducted in Cambisol, during the period of April to September 2011. The treatments, distributed in a randomized block design with four replicates, corresponding to a treatment with chemical fertilization and five doses of sewage sludge, based on the N content in residue and N requirement of sunflower (0, 4.84; 9.68; 19.36 and 29.04 t ha(-1), on dry weight basis). Zn levels in soil and plant were higher under the application of sewage sludge compared to treatment of chemical fertilizer. The application of sewage sludge increases levels of Cu, Ni and Pb in soil and has no influence on the levels of Zn, Fe, Mn, B, Cd and Crin this substrate. On the other hand, at the plant, with increased of sewage sludge dose, it was observed an increase in the levels of Zn, Cu, and Mn and reduction on Pb content.