The application of sewage sludge in forestry plantations has been encouraged in several countries for promoting growth of trees. However, because the sludge eventually contains heavy metals, it has been disposed frequently in landfills. This study investigated the biomass and the concentration of nutrients and heavy metals in fine roots (Ø <5 mm) of Eucalyptus grandis trees fertilized with sludges from different wastewater treatment plants (WTPs). The experimental design comprised randomized blocks with four replications and five treatments: (1) control, without fertilization, (2) mineral fertilization NPK and (3, 4 and 5) Fertilization with 15 t ha-1(dry basis) of sewage sludge from Barueri-SP, São Miguel-SP and Parque Novo Mundo-SP wastewater treatment plants. Samples of fine roots were collected at 42 months old of trees, at layer 0-20 cm of soil, using a stainless steel probe. In this stage, the fine root biomass was similar among treatments with sewage sludge and the control. However, the soil fertilization with sewage sludge from Parque Novo Mundo WTP, conditioning with lime, provided higher root biomass than mineral fertilization. In general, the soil fertilization with sewage sludge from different WTPs increased the concentration of P, Ca, Zn and Ni in the fine roots of E. grandis and reduced the Mn concentration, but don't significantly changed the concentration of the Cd, Cr and Pb.
biosolids; Eucalyptus grandis; fine root
