R. ASLANTAS1, I. ANGIN2, H. KARAKURT1 and M. KOSE3
1 Atatürk University, Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Horticulture, 25240, Erzurum, Turkey
2 Atatürk University, Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Agricultural Structures and Irrigation, 25240, Erzurum, Turkey
3 Eastern Anatolia Forestry Research, Erzurum, Turkey
ASLANTAS, R., I. ANGIN, H. KARAKURT and M. KOSE, 2010. Vegetative and pomological changes of sour cherry as affected by sewage sludge application. Bulg. J. Agric. Sci., 16: 740-747
This study was carried out for determining the effects of sewage sludge application on vegetative and pomological changes of sour cherry between the years of 2005 and 2007. Six application rates of sewage sludge (0.0, 2.5, 5.0, 7.5, 10.0 and 12.5 kg per tree (dry weight)) were selected. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replications in 18 homogeneous and 1 year old saplings belonging to the cultivar of ‘Kutahya/ Prunus mahalep L.’. Application of sewage sludge during plantation not only helped to improve vegetative parameters but also fruit chemical characteristics. The highest results of measured parameters were obtained from the application rate of 7.5 kg per tree. This dose improved vegetative growth of sour cherry more than 50%, as compared with the control. Results presented in this study showed that sewage sludge is an effective, low-cost organic input to develop sour cherry plantation. Further studies should be conducted to evaluate the effects of sewage sludge on other plants in different ecological conditions.