Evaluation the impact of using treated wastewater for irrigation on soil chemical properties and crop productivity in Gaza Strip

Abstract EN

The aim of study is to investigate the impact of using treated wastewater for irrigation on soil chemical properties and plant productivity.

An reuse pilot study was carried out in Al-Zaitoun agricultural farm in the Gaza Strip from May to September 2011.

A comparison was carried out between the soil properties in two experimental plots; one was irrigated with the effluent from Gaza Wastewater Treatment Plant over a period of four months, and the other was irrigated with fresh water from agricultural well in the same period.

The crop used was sorghum.

Samples of fresh water and treated wastewater were obtained and analyzed for pH, TDS, EC, Na, Cl, TKN, TP, K, BOD, NO3, TSS, FC, Fe, Mn, Zn.

Composite soil samples were taken from depth of 0-30 cm in both plots and analyzed for the main chemical parameters.

The results indicated that the level of TDS, Na, Cl, TSS, Zn and Fe were higher in the effluent than the fresh water; it was above the recommended Palestinian standard for dry fodder irrigated by treated wastewater.

Also, irrigation with wastewater lead to significant increase in O.M%, CEC, K, TP, Ca, Mg, Na, and Cl in soil than irrigation with fresh water.

In addition, the increases of Zn, Fe, Mn, and Pb in soil and sorghum plant irrigated with treated wastewater were significant in comparison with the plants irrigated with fresh water.

Further, treated wastewater increased the plants height, and grain weight of sorghum.