Yield and nutrient status of wheat plant (T. aestivum) influenced by municipal wastewater irrigation

The aim of this study was to test if wastewater irrigation can increase fertilizer use efficiency and improve soil fertility without affecting the quality of soils and plants. A greenhouse experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of irrigation municipal wastewater (MWW) on macro and micro nutrient content of soil, yield and mineral contents of wheat (Triticum aestivum). The studies were done using Ustorthents soil sampled to a depth of 0-15 cm from agricultural fields in Erzurum province (39 degrees 55'N, 41 degrees 61'E) in Turkey. Pot experiment was designed based on the randomized complete block with five MWW ratio of 100, 75, 50, 25 and 0% (diluted with irrigation water) and five replicates. Plants were harvested 90 d after planting. Municipal wastewater irrigation affected significantly soil chemical properties especially in rhizosphere soil and plant nutrient contents after one growing season. Application of MWW increased soil salinity, organic matter, exchangeable Na, K, Ca, Mg, plant available phosphorus and micro elements, and decreased soil pH. Wastewater irrigation treatments also increased the yield as well as N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Na, Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, Pb, Ni and Cd contents of plants. Undesirable side effects such as heavy metal contamination in soil and plant and salinity were not observed with the application of MWW. It can be concluded that MWW can be used confidently in the short term in agricultural land both as fertilizer source and to increase fertilizer use efficiency for economical aspect