Influence of irrigation with wastewater of a leaven factory on grain yield and yield components of corn

<p>In recent decades, water deficit and environmental hazards of wastewater have promoted the development of<br>wastewater reuse in irrigation of agricultural lands in many arid and semi-arid regions. An experiment was<br>conducted out at the experimental farm of a leaven factory (Iran Mayeh Co.), where the effect of treated<br>wastewater was evaluated on yield and yield components of corn (Zea mays) during the growing season of 2012.<br>Three, irrigation levels (I1: irrigation with wastewater once in whole experimental period, I2: irrigation with<br>wastewater twice in whole experimental period, I3: irrigation with wastewater in whole experimental period) and<br>six wastewater percentage levels (C1: 15% wastewater, C2: 30% wastewater, C3: 45% wastewater, C4: 60%<br>wastewater, A: pure water and P: pure wastewater) were studied in a factorial experiment on the bases of<br>randomized complete block design with three replications. Results illustrated that number of irrigations with<br>wastewater did not have significant effect on number of grain per ear, whereas it had significant effect on grain<br>weight per ear, 1000-seeds weight, ear weight and grain yield. Also results showed that wastewater percentage<br>did not have significant effect on mentioned traits. The maximum increase of grain yield was observed in<br>irrigation with wastewater whole over growing season. Results also illustrated that irrigation with wastewater<br>whole over the growth period had the most significant effect on yield components. Therefore, it seems that after<br>assessing the effects of wastewater on soil and environment, the wastewater of this leaven factory can be used in<br>corn irrigation.