Land application of food-processing effluent waters is a widely practiced treatment and disposal technique that allows for the beneficial reuse of nutrients and water. However, excessive application of these waters can lead to subsurface water degradation and increase in soil salinity. The objective of this research was to assess the spatial distribution of salinity in fields having received winery effluent waters and to evaluate the effectiveness of two forage grasses (Elephant grass and Sudan grass), in removing salts from the soil profile. Salinity mapping of the fields was conducted using the electromagnetic induction (EM) technique and soil sampling. The salinity maps indicated that both grasses were efficient in removing salt from the soils. However, the results suggested that the Elephant grass had a greater uptake capability. The study also showed that the use of the EM technique improved the knowledge of salinity variability across the fields and was a valuable tool for evaluating the beneficial effects of forage grasses in improving subsurface soil and water quality.
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