Click on the image above to download a complete copy of this publication in PDF format. Download a free copy of the Adobe Acrobat Reader. EP22 Prepared by William M. Eberle, Extension Specialist, Land Resources Applying municipal sewage sludge to agricultural land has been practiced in the United States for several decades. Most Kansas communities regularly use land application as a sludge disposal method, with benefits for both the wastewater utility and the agricultural producer.
Sewage sludge is the biological residual produced during the treatment of sewage wastewater.
Characteristics of the sludge depend on the wastewater treatment process and sludge treatment. Sludge contains organic matter and plant nutrients that make it a beneficial soil amendment for crop production. Due to its organic matter content, sludge can be a good soil conditioner, helping promote desirable soil physical properties for microbial activity, water intake, and plant growth. Sludges may also contain metals and some other constituents that can be harmful to humans if total accumulated application is not managed properly. At the very least, sludge application can create a nuisance Sludge land application regulations Sludge is disposed of in many different ways, including landfilling, composting, or even drying and bagging for organic material marketing.