Effect of Aquaculture Sediment on Soil Properties and Lettuce Growth

The expansion of the aquaculture industry and the regular removal of bottom sediments from cages of fish farms require solutions for their disposal without harming the environment and for the sustainable use of resources. The use of aquaculture sediments in agriculture is considered as one of the methods of their utilization. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of bottom sediments from freshwater lakes of Northern Europe on properties of agricultural soil and Lactuca sativa L. growth. The sediments were added to the soil in the ratio of 0 : 1, 1 : 10, 1 : 7, 1 : 5 (sediment : soil). A pot experiment was used to determine the effect of sediments on plant growth parameters. Sediments under study had low total contents of heavy metals and metalloids and high phosphorous concentration. Sediment application resulted in increased soil phosphorus and vanadium. The reduction of high manganese content in the soil under sediment application led to a decrease in the toxic load of manganese on plants. Sediment application did not affect the accumulation of dry biomass in shoots, but reduced root mass and increased the ratio of leaf area to plant mass. Both plant growth parameters and leaf reflectance spectra did not reveal any stress in lettuce plants. The studied aquaculture sediments had no negative impact on the properties of agricultural soils or L. sativa plants. The use of sediments in agriculture can serve not only as a sediment disposal method but also as a partial replacement for fertilizers.