Irrigation of Castor Bean (Ricinus communis L.) and Sunflower (Helianthus annus L.) Plant Species with Municipal Wastewater Effluent: Impacts on Soil Properties and Seed Yield

Abstract

Abstract:The effects of plant species (castor bean (Ricinus communis L.) versus sunflower (Helianthus annus L.)) and irrigation regime (freshwater versus secondary treated municipal wastewater) on soil properties and on seed and biodiesel yield were studied in a three year pot trial. Plant species were irrigated at rates according to their water requirements with either freshwater or wastewater effluent. Pots irrigated with freshwater received commercial fertilizer, containing N, P, and K, applied at the beginning of each irrigation period. The results obtained in this study showed that irrigation with effluent did not result in significant changes in soil pH, soil organic matter (SOM), total kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN), and dehydrogenase activity, whereas soil available P was found to increase in the upper soil layer. Soil salinity varied slightly throughout the experiment in effluent irrigated pots but no change was detected at the end of the experiment compared to the initial value, suggesting sufficient salt leaching. Pots irrigated with effluent had higher soil salinity, P, and dehydrogenase activity but lower SOM and TKN than freshwater irrigated pots. Sunflower showed greater SOM and TKN values than castor bean suggesting differences between plant species in the microorganisms carrying out C and N mineralization in the soil. Plant species irrigated with freshwater achieved higher seed yield compared to those irrigated with effluent probably reflecting the lower level of soil OPEN ACCESSWater 2011, 3 1113 salinity in freshwater irrigated pots. Castor bean achieved greater seed yield than sunflower. Biodiesel production followed the pattern of seed yield. The findings of this study suggest that wastewater effluent can constitute an important source of irrigation water and nutrients for bioenergy crop cultivations with minor adverse impacts on soil properties and seed yield. Plant species play an important role with regard to the changes in soil properties and to the related factors of seed and biodiesel yields.

Risks and benefits of pasture irrigation using treated municipal effluent : a lysimeter case study, Canterbury, New Zealand

“…Boron and trace elements are occasionally a concern for the reuse of TME (Angin et al 2005;Pedrero et al 2010). On some occasions, crop yield has been decreased by the application of TME due to toxicity of one or various elements, as reviewed by Pedrero et al (2010) and reported by Chatzakis et al (2011). In this experiment, the concentrations of B, Al, Years of TMW applicaƟon ( Pallic 5 mg P / L Pallic 10 mg P / L Pallic 15 mg P / L Recent 5 mg P / L Recent 10 mg P / L Recent 15 mg P / L Fig.…”

Effects of Waste Water Irrigation on Physical and Biochemical Characteristics of Soil and Metal Partitioning in Beta vulgaris L.

“…Madejon et al [25] have also reported that the addition of organic materials through municipal solid waste at doses of 50,000 kg ha -1 did not negatively affect the dehydrogenase and urease activities of the soil even at higher availability of heavy metals. Chatzakis et al [11] have shown that activities of dehydrogenase enzyme were enhanced by irrigating the soil with secondary treated waste water effluent as compared to the fresh water irrigated one.…”

Assessment of the Hydrological and Environmental Problems of Waste Water Disposal Sites in Aswan of Egypt Using Remote Sensing and GIS

“…Overall, the obtained data from these multiple sources were integrated into GIS to estimate the surface areas of water bodies and the annual evapotranspiration amounts using the estimates from neighboring Lake Nasser and Tushka. The annual water consumption depth of 1900 mm 19 for the castor oil is used to estimate the annual water budget that can be used when the additional cultivations are added in the bare soil areas. The annual surplus amounts of water can then be estimated.…”