25 © 2020 Adama Science & Technology University. All rights reserved Ethiopian Journal of Science and Sustainable Development e-ISSN 2663-3205 Volume 8 (1), 2021 Journal Home Page: www.ejssd.astu.edu.et ASTU Research Paper The Application of Brewery Sludge for Maize Production Bulti Merga 1, , Muktar Mohammed 2 , Abdulatif Ahmed 1 , Mulatu Wakgari 1 1 School of Plant Sciences, Haramaya Univesity; P. O. Box 138, Dire Dawa, Ethiopia 2 College of Natural Resources and Environmental Science, Oda Bultum University; P.O. Box 226, Chiro, Ethiopia Article Info Abstract Article History: Received 27 July 2020 Received in revised form 29 September 2020 Accepted 10 October 2020 In this study, brewery sludge was evaluated in comparison with the recommended NP mineral fertilizer rate to elucidate a potential source of nutrients for maize crop. Randomized complete block design (RCBD) was laid out in three blocks at the experimental site. Physicochemical properties of the experimental soil and brewery sludge (BS) were evaluated in the soil laboratory. The N content of the grain and straw samples were determined using the wet digestion method. Heavy metals (Fe, Cu, Zn, Mn, Cr, Mo, Co, Pb, Se, and Cd) were extracted by DTPA extraction method and measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The application of a 15 t ha -1 sludge rate showed the highest grain yield that exceeds the value recorded from NP-treated and control plots by 3.15 t ha -1 and 4.42 t ha -1 , respectively. Similarly, the application of 12.5 t ha -1 sludge rate significantly increased the total nitrogen uptake of the crop (grain and straw) by 146.13% and 223.16% over the NP and control plots, respectively. There was 93.23%, 57.14%, and 76.78% higher significant difference of total nitrogen, organic carbon, and available phosphorus (mg kg -1 ) in BS than the composition found in experimental soil before the application of treatments, respectively. The application of sludge maintained most of the heavy metal concentrations to the level of safety for health following the recommended ranges by World Health Organizations (WHO). In conclusion, future long-term study is required to elucidate the effect of the sludge on soil biology, the chemical property of soil (pH and salinity), and pathogen contaminations on soil and crop production. Keywords: Heavy metals Maize yield Brewery sludge reuse Mineral fertilizer Eastern Ethiopia 1. Introduction The brewing industry is one of the largest agricultural-based industries that produce a vast amount of residues every year. Industrial waste is defined as an unwanted byproduct of industrial processes that includes mining and manufacturing activities. Currently, a world concern is to find alternative options for disposal of untreated agro-industrial wastes rather than disposing of them through burning, unplanned landfilling, or releasing to a water body (Okonko et al., 2009; Sadh et al., 2018). In the majority of developing countries like Ethiopia, agro-industry releases a tremendous amount of wastewater which is untreated,  Corresponding author, e-mail: bultimerga@gmail.com https://doi.org/10.20372/ejssdastu:v8.i1.2021.229 and its effluents are mostly released into water bodies and soils (Ermias Alayu and Seyoum Leta, 2020; Temesgen Oljira et al., 2017). Disposal of industrial waste through landfilling is the primary causal agent for methane production which comes from the decomposition of organic matters in the anaerobic process (Bailey, 2019). In addition to this, methane is considered as very short-lived gas but can cause long-lasting climate impact than CO2 in thousand folds for more than two decades period. There is no question that sustainable brewery sludge management has a significant potential to mitigate climate change.