Urban wastewater use in plant biomass production

Abstract

Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus L.) is comparatively new and is not being widely grown as a crop in Australia. There is very little known of the crop’s adaptability to grow and produce under diverse climatic and growing conditions. At present in Australia, as elsewhere, there has been considerable interest in land disposal of wastewater/effluent instead of the traditional ways of discharging into waterways of rivers and ocean streams. Crops, pastures and trees are being experimented on with irrigation using wastewater/effluent. This research project explored the potential for growing artichoke hybrids under wastewater irrigation with the temperate climatic conditions at Werribee, south western region of Victoria, Australia. Several artichoke cultivars were grown on a 1.5-ha site at the Melbourne Water-Treatment Complex farm at Werribee, during summer. Measurements of yield and carbohydrate content of tops and tubers were made on composite plant samples taken at frequent intervals during the growing season. The study found that artichoke can be grown successfully in cooler climatic regions like Werribee. The plant suffered little or no ill effects due to wastewater irrigation. The biomass yields (tops and tubers) recorded in this experiment are equal to and in many cases higher than those obtained for crops grown elsewhere under more favourable conditions. The study identifies the desirability of land disposal of wastewater by irrigating crops. Substantial savings/profits can be made in wastewater management by growing crops like artichoke which has the potential for commercial production of value added products.