Monitoring and assessment of treated river, rain, gully pot and grey waters for irrigation of Capsicum annuum

  • Rawaa H. K. Al-Isawi
  • Suhad A. A. A. N. Almuktar
  • Miklas Scholz
Article
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Abstract

This study examines the benefits and risks associated with various types of wastewater recycled for vegetable garden irrigation and proposes the best water source in terms of its water quality impact on crop yields. The aim was to evaluate the usability of river, rain, gully pot, real grey and artificial grey waters to water crops. The objectives were to evaluate variables and boundary conditions influencing the growth of chillies (De Cayenne; Capsicum annuum (Linnaeus) Longum Group 'De Cayenne') both in the laboratory and in the greenhouse. A few irrigated chilli plants suffered from excess of some nutrients, which led to a relatively poor harvest. High levels of trace minerals and heavy metals were detected in river water, gully pot effluent and greywater. However, no significant differences in plant yields were observed, if compared with standards and other yields worldwide. The highest yields were associated with river water both in the laboratory and in the greenhouse. Plant productivity was unaffected by water quality due to the high manganese, potassium, cadmium and copper levels of the greywater. These results indicate the potential of river water and gully pot effluent as viable alternatives to potable water for irrigation in agriculture.

Keywords

Agricultural water supply Chilli Environmental evaluation Pollution control Water reclamation Wastewater management 
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Notes

Acknowledgments

Rawaa Hussein Kadhim Al-Isawi and Suhad Almuktar obtained each a PhD Studentship funded by the Iraqi Ministry of Higher Education. Ruqayah Kadhim Mohammed, Maxence Grassart, Eyraut Gaël, Blanca de la Cruz, Abdulkadir Sani, Sai Aung, Usman Ahmed, Marjorie Melac Audrey Bouvier and Pauline Morereau and Masoud Rajabi supported the data collection. Laurie Cunliffe provided technical and scientific advice. Laura Barbour supported Miklas Scholz while writing the paper.

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Copyright information

© Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2016

Authors and Affiliations

  • Rawaa H. K. Al-Isawi
    • 1
  • Suhad A. A. A. N. Almuktar
    • 1
  • Miklas Scholz
    • 1
  1. 1.Civil Engineering Research Group, School of Computing, Science and EngineeringThe University of SalfordSalfordUK

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