Assessment of Non-Conventional Irrigation Water in Greenhouse Cucumber (Cucumis sativus) Production

Abstract

Climate change, urbanization and subsequent environmental changes are depleting freshwater resources around the globe. The reuse of domestic, industrial and agricultural wastewater is an alternative approach to freshwater that can be used for irrigation purposes. However, these wastewaters may contain hazardous and toxic elements, such as heavy metals that are hazardous for human health and the environment. Therefore, an experiment was conducted to evaluate the concentration of macro, micro and heavy metals in cucumber irrigated with different resources (tap water, greywater, dairy water and wastewater). The results showed that the use of different irrigation resources has increased the level of macro (sodium (Na), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg)), microelements (zinc (Zn), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn)), and heavy metals (copper (Cu), barium (Ba), lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd)) in cucumber leaves and fruits. However, their levels were in the range that is safe for human health and the environment was as recommended by FAO maximum values of trace elements (Zn, 2.0; Fe 1.0; Mn, 0.2; Cu, 0.2; Pb, 5.0, and Cd, 0.01 mgL−1). Based on observations, it was also revealed that among different irrigation resources, the use of dairy water in cucumber improved its agronomic attributes and maximum plant yield (1191.02 g), while the different irrigation resources showed a non-significant impact on fruit diameter. However, total soluble solid contents (TSS) were more significant in cucumber fruits treated with wastewater (2.26 °brix) followed by dairy water (2.06 °brix), while the least TSS contents (1.57 °brix) were observed in cucumber plants treated with tap water. The significance of non-conventional irrigation water use in agriculture, particularly greenhouse cucumber (Cucumis sativus) production, is discussed.

The critical role of nitrogen in plants facing the salinity stress: Review and future prospective

“…Nitrogen application augments proline, GB and synthesis of soluble sugars, which in turn ensure the essential nutrients (P, K, Zn, Fe, B and Mn etc) uptake under saline conditions (Perveen et al, 2016;Hossain et al, 2020). The adequate nitrogen supply in saline soil regulates plasma membrane activity and maintain membrane stability indices confer the reduced negative effect of salinity and continues intake of nutrient from saline stressed soil (Khan et al, 2013;Singh et al, 2014;Parihar et al, 2015;Hossain et al, 2020;Kumar et al, 2021;Kumari et al, 2022).…”

Role of enzymes in glyoxylate cycle in transgenic 'KDML 105' rice Oryza sativa L. overexpressing OsCam1-1 under salt stress

“…Another important physiological parameter is water potential because it is used for determining the water status of the plants [46]. Khan and coworker did the experiments in Cucumis sativa, the result showed that the water potential decreased linearly with increasing salinity levels [47]. In another experiment, Romero and coworker demonstrated water uptake and water relationships under saline growing conditions in the tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) cultivars.…”