Abstract

The sewage sludge (SS) represents a source of organic matter although its increasing accumulation need a suitable environmental treatment. Our study analyzed the effect of the interaction between sewage sludge (doses 0, 2, 4, 6 and 8 g per 100 g of soil) and Eucalyptus globulus nursery seedlings inoculated with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi as a fertilizers alternative and evaluate its effect on some soil enzyme activities. The seedlings were inoculated with Glomus claroideum, Glomus viscosum, Glomus intraradices and Glomus constrictum, establishing a uninoculated control. The sewage sludge application increased the shoot dry weight and the inoculation with G. viscosum was more effective at 6 g of SS in 100 g soil. The root colonization and succinate dehydrogenase activity was decreased by all doses of SS used. The Fluorescein diacetate activity was increased by the AM inoculation but not by sewage sludge. The ß-glucosidase activity was increased in presence of SS at 6 g 100 g-1. The N and P uptake by the E. globulus plants was higher in presence of sewage sludge and more effective with G. viscosum plant inoculation. In conclusion the application of these amounts of SS promoted the plant growth and can be regarded as a successful biotechnological tool for the greenhouse plant production.