Author Copy • Author Copy • Author Copy • Author Copy • Author Copy • Author Copy • Author Copy • Author Copy • Author Copy Introduction Preservation of the natural environment is increasingly important nowadays. This is possible if the waste causing environmental pollution is disposed of in an environmentally friendly manner. Wastewater sludge is called solid, semi-solid or liquid residues, resulting from the physical, chemical and biological processes of domestic and industrial wastewater [1]. Land application of wastewater sludge is an economically attractive waste management strategy, largely promoted by scientists. Furthermore, it has been a socially accepted practice for decades in many parts of the World [2-4]. The land application of wastewater sludge in developed countries is highly controlled in order to prevent risks to public health and the environment. Sewage sludge must be treated and ‘stabilized’ to reduce odor, pathogen content and vector attraction, and is usually also mechanically dewatered or airdried to reduce bulk, to generate a product acceptable for benefcial use [5]. Sludge treatment may be through Pol. J. Environ. Stud. Vol. 29, No. 4 (2020), 1-14 Original Research Effects of Food Industry Wastewater Treatment Sludge on Corn Plant Development and Soil Properties Mustafa Bıyıklı 1 , Saliha Dorak 1 , Barış Bülent Aşık 2 * 1 Bursa Uludag University Graduate School of Natural and Applied Science, Bursa, Turkey 2 Bursa Uludag University Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition, Bursa, Turkey Received: 26 August 2019 Accepted: 8 October 2019 Abstract In this study, agricultural usage of food industry wastewater treatment plant sludge was researched. Within the scope of our work the study was carried out in feld conditions. Before sowing the maize, increasing levels of sludge (0-30-60 and 90 ton ha -1 ) were mixed with the soil. Three times plants were sampled during that period of development and crop harvest. Changes in soil properties caused by sludge application before planting and after harvest and the effect on corn plant growth and mineral content were determined. According to the analysis results, the zinc contents of sludge used in this study were identifed in terms of the value exceeding the limit specifed in the regulations. Increasing amounts of sludge applied to soil increased the plant nutrient content, with positive effects on plant growth. Sludge reduced the pH and increased the EC of the soil before planting and after harvest. Together with the application of sludge, mainly to organic matter content, total N, NH 4 -N, NO 3 -N and available P, K some microelement (Zn) and heavy metal content of the soil increased. Keywords: sludge, lime stabilization, agricultural use, soil properties, plant *e-mail: bbasik@uludag.edu.tr DOI: 10.15244/pjoes/112897 ONLINE PUBLICATION DATE: