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How Can Sewage Sludge Use in Sustainable Tunisian Agriculture Be Increased?

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  • Nidhal Marzougui

    (LR Valorisation des Eaux Non Conventionnelles (LR16INRGREF02), Institut National de Recherches en Génie Rural, Eaux et Forêts, Université de Carthage, Ariana 2080, Tunisia
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Nadia Ounalli

    (Laboratoire D’économie Rurale, Institut National des Recherches Agronomiques de Tunis, Université de Carthage, Ariana 2049, Tunisia
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Sonia Sabbahi

    (LR Valorisation des Eaux Non Conventionnelles (LR16INRGREF02), Institut National de Recherches en Génie Rural, Eaux et Forêts, Université de Carthage, Ariana 2080, Tunisia)

  • Tarek Fezzani

    (Laboratoire de Gestion et de Valorisation des Ressources Forestières (LR16INRGREF01), Institut National de Recherches en Génie Rural, Eaux et Forêts, Université de Carthage, Ariana 2080, Tunisia)

  • Farah Abidi

    (LR Valorisation des Eaux Non Conventionnelles (LR16INRGREF02), Institut National de Recherches en Génie Rural, Eaux et Forêts, Université de Carthage, Ariana 2080, Tunisia)

  • Sihem Jebari

    (Laboratoire de Gestion et de Valorisation des Ressources Forestières (LR16INRGREF01), Institut National de Recherches en Génie Rural, Eaux et Forêts, Université de Carthage, Ariana 2080, Tunisia)

  • Sourour Melki

    (LR Valorisation des Eaux Non Conventionnelles (LR16INRGREF02), Institut National de Recherches en Génie Rural, Eaux et Forêts, Université de Carthage, Ariana 2080, Tunisia)

  • Ronny Berndtsson

    (Centre for Advanced Middle Eastern Studies & Division of Water Resources Engineering, Lund University, SE-22100 Lund, Sweden)

  • Walid Oueslati

    (Laboratoire Ressources, Matériaux et Ecosystèmes (LR19ES20), Faculty of Sciences of Bizerte, Université de Carthage, Jarzouna, Bizerte 7021, Tunisia)

Abstract

In recent years, farmers in Beja, an agricultural governorate in northwestern Tunisia, have expressed their willingness to use urban sewage sludge as agricultural fertilizer, especially with the unavailability of chemical fertilizers and the soil type of the region that is poor in organic matter. However, there is an imbalance between the important farmers’ demand versus the limited quantity of sludge produced by the Beja wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). In the face of this, this study aims to identify the problems related to the agricultural reuse of sludge in Beja and propose solutions to solve them. The quality of the sludge produced by the five Beja WWTPs was assessed based on physicochemical and microbiological parameters. The data were collected using the Delphi method, with 15 experts representing different positions on the issue treated. The SWOT-AHP methodology was used to define the strategies promoting the sustainable use and management of urban sewage sludge for sustainable agricultural development in Beja. Results showed that there were no problems with compliance with the Tunisian standards NT 106.20 for the sludge produced. A set of twelve practical conclusions was identified, constituting the strategies of Strengths–Opportunities, Strengths–Threats, Weaknesses–Opportunities, and Weaknesses–Threats deduced from the SWOT-AHP.

Suggested Citation

  • Nidhal Marzougui & Nadia Ounalli & Sonia Sabbahi & Tarek Fezzani & Farah Abidi & Sihem Jebari & Sourour Melki & Ronny Berndtsson & Walid Oueslati, 2022. "How Can Sewage Sludge Use in Sustainable Tunisian Agriculture Be Increased?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(21), pages 1-22, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:21:p:13722-:d:950878
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Nuno Nunes & Carla Ragonezi & Carla S.S. Gouveia & Miguel Â.A. Pinheiro de Carvalho, 2021. "Review of Sewage Sludge as a Soil Amendment in Relation to Current International Guidelines: A Heavy Metal Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-20, February.
    2. Sonia Sabbahi & Layla Ben Ayed & Monia Trad & Ronny Berndtsson & Panagiotis Karanis, 2022. "Parasitological Assessment of Sewage Sludge Samples for Potential Agricultural Reuse in Tunisia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(3), pages 1-18, January.
    3. Sina Shaddel & Hamidreza Bakhtiary-Davijany & Christian Kabbe & Farbod Dadgar & Stein W. Østerhus, 2019. "Sustainable Sewage Sludge Management: From Current Practices to Emerging Nutrient Recovery Technologies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(12), pages 1-12, June.
    4. Nadhem Brahim & Hatem Ibrahim & Rawan Mlih & Abdelhakim Bouajila & Nissaf Karbout & Roland Bol, 2022. "Soil OC and N Stocks in the Saline Soil of Tunisian Gataaya Oasis Eight Years after Application of Manure and Compost," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(3), pages 1-16, March.
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