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Assessment of Reclaimed Municipal Wastewater Application on Rice Cultivation

Environmental Management volume 43, pages 135–143 (2009)Cite this article

Abstract

Field research was carried out to assess the effects of the application of reclaimed municipal wastewater on rice cultivation in Thessaloniki, Greece during a 2-year period (1999–2000). Effects on production cost, soil composition, and health risk were examined. A randomized complete block design was used for the paddy field with three treatments and four replicates. The treatments were (1) river irrigation water with N–P fertilization, (2) reclaimed wastewater irrigation with surface N fertilization, and (3) reclaimed wastewater irrigation without fertilization. The results showed that the total production cost decreased 8.8% and 11.9% by applying the second and third treatments, respectively, compared to the first treatment, without significant differences in the agronomic and rice quality traits. Soil composition showed discrepancies between the 2 years and the three treatments, whereas the pathogens of the reclaimed wastewater and rice tissues posed a low human risk when taking the needed precautions.

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Acknowledgments

We are grateful to the Thessaloniki Water Supply and Sewerage Company (E.Y.A.TH.) for the technical and financial support of the project.

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Affiliations

  1. N.AG.RE.F., Soil Science Institute of Thessaloniki, 57001, Thermi, Greece

    Frantzis Papadopoulos, Aristotelis Papadopoulos, Chara Prochaska & Irene Metaxa

  2. N.AG.RE.F., Institute of Agricultural Machinery & Constructions, 13561, Athens, Greece

    George Parissopoulos

  3. N.AG.RE.F., Veterinary Research Institute of Thessaloniki, 57001, Thermi, Greece

    Αntonios Ζdragas

  4. N.AG.RE.F., Cereal Institute Thessaloniki, 57001, Thermi, Greece

    Dimitrios Ntanos

Authors
  1. Frantzis Papadopoulos
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  2. George Parissopoulos
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  3. Aristotelis Papadopoulos
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  4. Αntonios Ζdragas
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  5. Dimitrios Ntanos
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  6. Chara Prochaska
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  7. Irene Metaxa
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Correspondence to Frantzis Papadopoulos.

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Papadopoulos, F., Parissopoulos, G., Papadopoulos, A. et al. Assessment of Reclaimed Municipal Wastewater Application on Rice Cultivation. Environmental Management 43, 135–143 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-008-9221-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-008-9221-4

Keywords

  • Greece
  • Reclaimed wastewater
  • Rice
  • Nutrient value
  • Production cost