Sustainable domestic effluent reuse via subsurface drip irrigation (SDI): alfalfa as a perennial model crop

Abstract

Scarcity of fresh high-quality water has heightened the importance of wastewater reuse primarily in dry regions together with improving its efficient use by implementing the Subsurface Drip Irrigation (SDI) method. Sustainable effluent reuse combines soil and plant aspects, along with the maintainability of the application system. In this study, field experiments were conducted for two years on the commercial farm of Revivim and Mashabay-Sade farm (RMF) southeast of the City of Beer-Sheva, Israel. The purpose was to examine the response of alfalfa (Medicago sativa) as a perennial model crop to secondary domestic effluent application by means of a SDI system as compared with conventional overhead sprinkler irrigation. Emitters were installed at different depths and spacing. Similar amounts of effluent were applied to all plots during the experimental period. The results indicated that in all SDI treatments, the alfalfa yields were 11% to 25% higher than the ones obtained under sprinkler irrigated plots, besides the one in which the drip laterals were 200 cm apart. The average Water Use Efficiency (WUE) was better in all SDI treatments in comparison with the sprinkler irrigated plots. An economic assessment reveals the dependence of the net profit on the emitters' installation geometry, combined with the return for alfalfa in the market.

Producción de alfalfa (Medicago Sativa L.) cultivada con riego sub-superficial y diferentes niveles de fósforo

“…Se ha establecido que la satisfacción de la demanda diaria de agua del cultivo induce una mayor producción de MS, debido a que existe una relación lineal entre la producción de biomasa y la utilización del agua (Shafer et al, 1988). El riego sub-superficial (RGS) ha sido probado con efectividad en la producción de cultivos como alfalfa (Bui y Osgood, 1995;Colaizzi et al, 2004;Kazumba et al, 2010). Este sistema de riego se utilizó en la producción de alfalfa y se obtuvieron rendimientos de 24.3 y 23.1 t ha -1…”

“…It has been established to the satisfaction of the crop, water increases production of DM, because there is a linear relationship between biomass production and water use (Shafer et al, 1988). The sub-surface irrigation (SDI) has been proven effective in the production of crops such as alfalfa (Bui and Osgood, 1995;Colaizzi et al, 2004;Kazumba et al, 2010). This irrigation system was used in the production of alfalfa and obtained yields of 24.3 and 23.1 t ha -1 year -1 in two consecutive years (Kazumba et al, 2010).…”

“…The sub-surface irrigation (SDI) has been proven effective in the production of crops such as alfalfa (Bui and Osgood, 1995;Colaizzi et al, 2004;Kazumba et al, 2010). This irrigation system was used in the production of alfalfa and obtained yields of 24.3 and 23.1 t ha -1 year -1 in two consecutive years (Kazumba et al, 2010). The alfalfa forage production is related to the amount of nutrients available for growth of this legume.…”

“…The alfalfa forage production is related to the amount of nutrients available for growth of this legume. It has been shown that alfalfa extracts large amounts of soil nutrients, that must be replaced to prevent its deficiency año -1 en dos años consecutivos (Kazumba et al, 2010). La producción de forraje en alfalfa está relacionado con la cantidad de nutrientes disponibles durante el crecimiento de esta leguminosa.…”

The Short Pipe Path – Safe Water, Energy & Nutrient Recovery

“…Australia was one of the first countries to develop an urban water sustainability framework (Lundie et al 2008), and has also pioneered water-sensitive urban design (largely around stormwater management) (Brown et al 2009) -both based on a systems-based view of options. Israel, realizing irrigation water for food production is a premium (as well as one of the largest sectors using freshwater globally, Figure 2) is leading in drip irrigation of treated wastewater in agriculture (Kazumba et al 2010). …”