Irrigation of Zea mays with UASB-treated textile wastewater; effect on early irrigation of Zea mays with UASB-treated textile wastewater; effect on early growth and physiology.

Abstract

In this study, mature seeds of Zea mays (Malka 16) were irrigated with untreated and UASB-treated wastewater with combination of 50% textile and 50% sewage at hydraulic retention times (HRTs) of 0, 5, 10, and 15h. Four other treatments diluted with distilled water (DW) were also evaluated. Eight-week analysis of irrigation revealed very small differences in the results of plant biomass and growth parameters of control and those irrigated with 15h (HRT) treatments. The values of both types of water were observed as chlorophyll a and b contents, 5.9, 3.4, vs 5.5, 3.1mgg-1, total chlorophyll 9.4 vs 8.8mgg-1, carotenoids 9.5 vs 8.7mgg-1, spad values 61.4 vs 56.3, net photosynthetic rate (A) 15.6 vs 14.5μmolm-2S-1, transpiration rate (E) 3.98 vs 3.8μmolm-2S-1, stomatal conductance 5.9 vs 5.8μmolm-2S-1, water use efficiency 10.3 vs 9.7mmolCmm-1 H2O, electrolyte leakage 115 vs 98% and total soluble proteins 385 vs 354 in leaves and 260 vs 231g-1FW in roots. While this stress enhanced H2O2 92 vs 115 and 195 vs 224 Unitsg-1, MDA 6.8 vs 9.1 and 5.9 vs 8.3 Unitsg-1, activities of enzymatic antioxidants SOD 25 vs 63 and 54 vs 63 Unitsg-1, POD 1170 vs 1310 and 570 vs 650 Unitsg-1, CAT 570 vs 820 and 880 vs 1040 Unitsg-1, and APX 235 vs 278 and 134 vs 187 Unitsg-1 in leaves and roots, respectively. Heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, and Zn) in such plants were mostly within or about permissible limits of NEQS. The results obtained were more close to that of control. This practice may lead to clean environment and its reuse shall also reduce the stress on fresh water. Early researches transpire a little work done on the reuse of UASB-treated textile wastewater with co substrate, for irrigation purpose.