Reuse of wastewater for irrigation in Saudi Arabia and its effect on soil and plant

摘要

This paper addresses the reuse of treated municipal wastewater and its effect on soil and plants. The research study showed that reuse of treated municipal waste water in irrigation provided plants with sufficient levels of nutrients, such as Nitrogen(N), Phosphorus (P) and Potassium (K), and other micro-nutrients. Research results indicated that using treated municipal waste water in crop irrigation saved 45% and 94% in the cost of the fertilization programs for wheat and alfalfa, respectively. Additionally, wheat yield increased by 11% and alfalfa production improved by 23%. Overall profit for wheat and alfalfa were 14% and 28%, respectively, higher than the control. The concentration of heavy metals such as Copper (Cu), Lead (Pb) and Cobalt (Co)in plant tissue was low compared to established standards; these heavy metal concentrations are well below hazardous levels. This study showed that treated municipal waste water can be used safely for irrigation of a selected group of crops. It enrichedthe soil in minerals, increased plant nutrient uptake, promoted crop yield, and improved the overall profit