Integrative Effects of Treated Wastewater and Synthetic Fertilizers on Productivity, Energy Characteristics, and Elements Uptake of Potential Energy Crops in an Arid Agro-Ecosystem

Ali Alderfasi,Majed Alotaibi,Salah El-Hendawy,Kamel Abdella,Mahmoud F. Seleiman,Nasser Al-Suhaibani

doi:10.3390/agronomy11112250

Ali Alderfasi, Majed Alotaibi

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy11112250

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Abstract

Using wastewater in agriculture is a desirable alternative source of irrigation and is gaining attraction worldwide. Therefore, this study was designed to assess the effect of treated municipal wastewater (TWW) and groundwater (GW), along with half and full doses of the recommended NPK dose on the plant growth, total biomass, gross energy, and macro- and trace element content and uptake of safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.), canola (Brassica napus L.), and triticale (X Triticosecale Wittmack) grown in old and virgin soil as potential bioenergy crops. The results showed that crops planted in old or virgin soil irrigated with TWW had higher values of plant height, leaf area per plant, total chlorophyll content, total biomass, and gross and net energy contents compared to those irrigated with GW grown in virgin soil. Similarly, crops grown in old soil irrigated with TWW showed higher concentrations in dry matter and uptake for both macronutrients (N, P, and K) and trace elements (B, Zn, Mn, Cu, Cd, Pb, and Ni) compared to those planted in virgin soil and irrigated with GW. Furthermore, the application of the recommended half dose of NPK in old and virgin soil irrigated with TWW showed occasionally comparable results to that of a full recommended dose of NPK for most of the measured parameters. Importantly, the recommended half dose applied to old soil irrigated with TWW resulted in a significant improvement in all measured parameters compared to virgin soil irrigated with GW, along with a full recommended dose of NPK. Briefly, TWW can be used to irrigate crops grown for bioenergy purposes, since it did not pose any harmful effect for energy crops. In addition, it provides additional nutrients to soil and thus decreases the required rate of synthetic fertilizer by up to 50% without any significant decreases in the final production of crops.

Highlights

Agriculture represents the main consumer of freshwater sources globally and consumes approximately 70% of freshwater withdrawn from rivers, lakes, and aquifers
Safflower sown in old cultivated soil and irrigated with treated wastewater (TWW) (L1 + TWW) showed a higher plant height—a 21.42% increase in plant height compared to safflower grown in virgin soil and irrigated with GW (L3 + GW)
The application of the half dose of the recommended NPK fertilizer to these tested crops grown in old or virgin soil irrigated with TWW resulted in a remarkable increase in these traits compared to those planted in virgin soil irrigated with GW and fertilized with the full dose of the recommended NPK

Summary

Introduction

Agriculture represents the main consumer of freshwater sources globally and consumes approximately 70% of freshwater withdrawn from rivers, lakes, and aquifers. A search for alternative irrigation sources is believed to be essential to ensure food, feed, and fuel security and to preserve natural water sources [5,6,7,8]. Using treated wastewater (TWW) in the agriculture sector is becoming a desirable alternative source of irrigation [6,8,9], especially in countries confronted with water shortages [5,10,11]. The use of TWW in agriculture benefits the environment, human health, the economy, and it can reduce the pressure on freshwater sources used in agriculture [8,10,12,13]. TWW is a potential source of macro-

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