Abstract:In order to study the effect of the application of phyto-treated sewage sludge on heavy metals in soil and maize (Zea mays) growth, experiments in plots with successive maize crops after applying the phyto-treated sludge were conducted with the monitoring of heavy metals in soil and crop. Results showed that the application of sludge to soil was still beneficial to maize during 2 years and the maize biomass with sludge was better than that of control. The treatment with mono-crop treated sludge resulted in the highest yield. Concerning the concentrations of Zn, Cd, Cu and Pb in maize, all harvests of corn and the stem and leaves of maize could be used as animal feeds during 2 years. But only the corn grains of the third harvest and there-after could be conformed to the food standards. The concentrations of heavy metals in soil declined with time, the annual disappearance rates were 32%~35% for Zn, 28%~33% for Cd, 18%~30% for Cu and 15%~23% for Pb, and the disappearance rates were higher for the sludge treated soils than that of control and the chemical fertilizer treated soils. The total concentrations of Zn and Pb in the up-soil layer treated with sludge did not show significant difference with the control after 2 years.