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<small{|style="float: left;"|{{Language-title />box|english_link=Application_of_Sludge|french_link=Epandage_de_boues|spanish_link=Aplicación_de_Lodos_al_Terreno|hindi_link=coming soon|malayalam_link=coming soon|tamil_link=coming soon | korean_link=coming soon | chinese_link=Coming soon | indonesian_link=Coming soon | japanese_link=Coming soon}}<!-- table at top of page with logo, picture, Application level, Management level, and input-output tables -->|}

|[[Image:Land_application_of_sludge.png |right|400px500px]]

Sludge that has been treated (e.g., [[Co-composting|Co-Composted ]] or removed from a [[Planted Drying Beds|Planted Drying Bed]], etc.) can be used in agriculture, home gardening, forestry, sod and turf growing, landscaping, parks, golf courses, mine reclamation, as a dump cover, or for erosion control.Although sludge has lower nutrient levels than commercial fertilizers (for nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, respectively), it can replace an important part of the fertilizer need. Additionally, treated sludge has been found to have properties superior to those of fertilizers, such as bulking and water retention properties, and the slow, steady release of nutrients.

- Can accelerate reforestation. <br> - Can reduce the use of chemical fertilizers and improve the water retention -holding capacity of soils. soil <br>- Can accelerate reforestation <br> - Can reduce erosion. <br> - Low cost. costs | con=- May pose public health risk, depending on the quality and application. <br> - Odours are normally may be noticeable (, depending on prior treatment). <br> - May require special spreading equipment. <br> - May pose public health risks, depending on its quality and application <br>- Micropollutants may accumulate in the soil and contaminate groundwater.<br>- Social acceptance may be low in some areas

Although sludge is sometimes criticized for containing potentially high levels of metals or contaminants, commercial fertilizers are also contaminated to varying degrees, most likely with cadmium or other heavy metals. Faecal sludge from pit latrines should not have any chemical inputs and is, therefore, not a high risk source of heavy metal contamination. Sludge that originates at large-scale wastewater treatment plants is more likely to be contaminated since it receives industrial and domestic chemicals, as well as surface water run-offrunoff,

*Strande, L., Ronteltap, M. and Brdjanovic, D. (Eds.) (2014). [https://www.susana.org/en/knowledge-hub/resources-and-publications/library/details/3591 Faecal Sludge Management. Systems Approach for Implementation and Operation]. IWA Publishing, London, UK. (Detailed book compiling the current state of knowledge on all aspects related to FSM):Available at: * U.S. EPA (1999). [httphttps://www.sandecepa.ch sandecgov/biosolids/biosolids-generation-use-and-disposal-united-states Biosolids Generation, Use, and Disposal in the United States]. EPA-530/R-99-009. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., US.ch]

* U.S. EPA (19991994). [https://www.epa.gov/biosolids/plain-english-guide-epa-part-503-biosolids-rule A Plain English Guide to the EPA Part 503 Biosolids Generation, Use, and Disposal in the United StatesRule]. EPAEPA832-530/R-9993-009003. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., US.:Available at: [http://www.epa.gov epa.gov]

* U.S. EPA WHO (19942006). A Plain English Guide to the EPA Part 503 Biosolids Rule. EPA832-R-93-003. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., US.:Available at: [httphttps://www.epawho.gov epaint/water_sanitation_health/publications/gsuweg4/en/ Guidelines for the Safe Use of Wastewater, Excreta and Greywater.govVolume 4: Excreta and Greywater Use in Agriculture]. World Health Organization, Geneva, CH.

* WHO (2006). Guidelines for the Safe Use of Wastewater, Excreta and Greywater. Volume 4: Excreta and Greywater Use in Agriculture. World Health Organization, Geneva, CH.:Available at: [http://www.who.int who.int/water_sanitation_health/publications/guidelines-on-sanitation-and-health/en/ WHO: Guidelines on sanitation and health - 2018]