Fertilizer potential and social perception of the agricultural reuse of sewage sludge and treated wastewater
Sludge and treated wastewater contain nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, which can enrich agricultural soils and promote crop growth. Utilizing these by-products as fertilizers allows for reduced reliance on chemical fertilizers, valorization of waste, and preservation of natural...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2025-04-01
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| Series: | Desalination and Water Treatment |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1944398625002024 |
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| author | Salah Karef Mohamed Azlaoui Khadidja Boussaid Fatima Zohra Batana Maria Concetta Bruzzoniti Mokhtar Fodili Ahmed Kettab |
| author_facet | Salah Karef Mohamed Azlaoui Khadidja Boussaid Fatima Zohra Batana Maria Concetta Bruzzoniti Mokhtar Fodili Ahmed Kettab |
| author_sort | Salah Karef |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Sludge and treated wastewater contain nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, which can enrich agricultural soils and promote crop growth. Utilizing these by-products as fertilizers allows for reduced reliance on chemical fertilizers, valorization of waste, and preservation of natural resources. However, this practice faces challenges associated with negative social perceptions, potential risks to human and environmental health, religious beliefs, and cultural factors.Our research aims, firstly, to quantify the water and fertilizer gains from the by-products of the Medea Wastewater Treatment Plant (Algeria), and secondly, to assess the social acceptability of this practice through a field survey.The results revealed a water gain sufficient to provide drinking water for a population of 91,130 inhabitants and irrigate 665 ha of arboriculture. The quantities of fertilizers contained in these by-products can fulfill the needs of the arboriculture. Regarding the social survey, inconsistencies observed in the responses of our study sample are attributed to a lack of understanding of wastewater treatment technology. Nonetheless, the majority of respondents support preserving water for future generations and are willing to participate in awareness campaigns aimed at clarifying the ambiguity surrounding this technology. These campaigns aim to maximize the benefits of agricultural reuse while mitigating risks. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-6a85b0f8e11d4ec8a47307fd61d036e2 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1944-3986 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Desalination and Water Treatment |
| spelling | doaj-art-6a85b0f8e11d4ec8a47307fd61d036e22025-08-20T03:24:32ZengElsevierDesalination and Water Treatment1944-39862025-04-0132210118610.1016/j.dwt.2025.101186Fertilizer potential and social perception of the agricultural reuse of sewage sludge and treated wastewaterSalah Karef0Mohamed Azlaoui1Khadidja Boussaid2Fatima Zohra Batana3Maria Concetta Bruzzoniti4Mokhtar Fodili5Ahmed Kettab6Department of Hydraulics, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, University of Djelfa, PO Box: 3117, Djelfa 17000, Algeria; Corresponding author.Department of Hydraulics, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, University of Djelfa, PO Box: 3117, Djelfa 17000, AlgeriaAgropastoralism Research Center, Djelfa, Algeria, PO Box: 3117, Djelfa 17000, AlgeriaPhysico-chemistry Laboratory, Faculty of Technology, University of Laghouat, 37G Ghardaia Road – 03000, Laghouat, AlgeriaDepartment of Chemistry, University of Torino, Via P. Giuria, Torino 5-10125, ItalyOrganic Chemistry and Natural Substances Laboratory, Faculty of Exact Sciences and Computers, University of Djelfa, PO Box: 3117, Djelfa 17000, AlgeriaNational Polytechnic School of Algiers, 10 Oudek Brothers Street, El-Harrach, Algiers 16200, AlgeriaSludge and treated wastewater contain nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, which can enrich agricultural soils and promote crop growth. Utilizing these by-products as fertilizers allows for reduced reliance on chemical fertilizers, valorization of waste, and preservation of natural resources. However, this practice faces challenges associated with negative social perceptions, potential risks to human and environmental health, religious beliefs, and cultural factors.Our research aims, firstly, to quantify the water and fertilizer gains from the by-products of the Medea Wastewater Treatment Plant (Algeria), and secondly, to assess the social acceptability of this practice through a field survey.The results revealed a water gain sufficient to provide drinking water for a population of 91,130 inhabitants and irrigate 665 ha of arboriculture. The quantities of fertilizers contained in these by-products can fulfill the needs of the arboriculture. Regarding the social survey, inconsistencies observed in the responses of our study sample are attributed to a lack of understanding of wastewater treatment technology. Nonetheless, the majority of respondents support preserving water for future generations and are willing to participate in awareness campaigns aimed at clarifying the ambiguity surrounding this technology. These campaigns aim to maximize the benefits of agricultural reuse while mitigating risks.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1944398625002024Sewage sludgeTreated waterFertilizersAgricultureSocial surveySocial acceptance |
| spellingShingle | Salah Karef Mohamed Azlaoui Khadidja Boussaid Fatima Zohra Batana Maria Concetta Bruzzoniti Mokhtar Fodili Ahmed Kettab Fertilizer potential and social perception of the agricultural reuse of sewage sludge and treated wastewater Desalination and Water Treatment Sewage sludge Treated water Fertilizers Agriculture Social survey Social acceptance |
| title | Fertilizer potential and social perception of the agricultural reuse of sewage sludge and treated wastewater |
| title_full | Fertilizer potential and social perception of the agricultural reuse of sewage sludge and treated wastewater |
| title_fullStr | Fertilizer potential and social perception of the agricultural reuse of sewage sludge and treated wastewater |
| title_full_unstemmed | Fertilizer potential and social perception of the agricultural reuse of sewage sludge and treated wastewater |
| title_short | Fertilizer potential and social perception of the agricultural reuse of sewage sludge and treated wastewater |
| title_sort | fertilizer potential and social perception of the agricultural reuse of sewage sludge and treated wastewater |
| topic | Sewage sludge Treated water Fertilizers Agriculture Social survey Social acceptance |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1944398625002024 |
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