Alternative Source For Irrigation Research Articles

The possible application of fly ash (FA) to ameliorate acid mine water (AMD) for irrigation of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.)

Some areas in Johannesburg abounds with mine wastes namely, acid mine drainage (AMD) as well as fly ash (FA), which are by-products of gold mining and coal burning, respectively. Studies show that a solution formed through mixing these wastes neutralises the acidity of AMD and is an alternative source of irrigation. While studies show improved growth and yield of plants irrigated with fly ash-amended AMD, there are rarely sufficient studies conducted in South Africa showing evidence of altered pH of AMD and that food crops irrigated with fly ash-amended AMD exhibit improved concentration of essential nutrient elements. In this study, AMD was sourced from a gold mine in Johannesburg and fly ash collected from a coal-burning power station in the Mpumalanga Province, mixed at 1:0, 1:1, and 3:1 (w/v) of fly ash to AMD and used to irrigate potatoes. The objective was to assess whether the solutions of FA-amended AMD alter the pH of the AMD and to evaluate if irrigating potatoes with the aforementioned improve the concentration of essential nutrient elements and heavy metals in the tubers. Results show that the pH of AMD was increased in the 1:0 and 1:1 solutions but decreased in the 3:1 solution. The concentrations of Pb and Co were decreased in tubers irrigated with the 50 % AMD and 75 % AMD while that of Ni and Cd were markedly increased in tubers irrigated with solutions of fly ash-amended AMD. In the main, the potato tubers exhibited significantly higher concentrations of Al, Mo, Cu, Ca, Mg, and Zn when irrigated with fly-ash-amended AMD. The pH range levels from FA-AMD treated samples were within the acceptable pH range (5.5–6.5) which is acceptable for water that could be used for irrigation of crops. Also, the decreased Co and Pb and improved concentration of essential nutrient elements indicate that the constituents absorbed large quantities of the heavy metals while releasing the nutrients. In conclusion, the selected fly ash has proven as an alternative low-cost readily-available, affordable, and accessible adsorbent that neutralize the acidity of AMD, decrease the concentration of heavy metals, and increase the concentration of essential nutrient elements. Importantly, the liming potential among other traits of the fly ash improved the quality of the AMD such that the wastes were proven in this study suitable to irrigate potatoes.

Improving irrigated maize (Zea mays L.) production with saline agricultural drainage water using drip irrigation system and organic mulches: Field study and simulation modelling

Due to the scarcity of fresh water in dry areas, including Egypt, emphasis has been placed on the importance of studying non-traditional water sources as an alternative source of irrigation. Therefore, this research aimed at investigating the impact of saline agricultural drainage water, drip irrigation and organic mulching using rice straw on maize water productivity under Egypt’s arid condition. The field experiment included sixteen treatments during two seasons, 2022 and 2023. Irrigation systems were [Furrow irrigation system (FIS) and drip irrigation system (DIS)] while saline agricultural drainage water strategies were [FW (0.55 dS/m), SW1 (1.35 dS/m), SW2 (3 dS/m) and SW3 (5 dS/m)] represented as sub main plot and organic mulching using rice straw (OMRS) was also investigated. The highest MY values were achieved with DIS with FW and also with irrigation with salty agricultural drainage water, with the necessity of using organic mulches of rice straw. The highest MY values were achieved as a result of achieving the best water-salt balance within the root propagation zone. The highest values were 10.89 t/ha with FW and there were no significant differences between them and the values of 10.83 t/ha when irrigated with saline agricultural drainage water for 2022 and the similar results were achieved during the 2023 season. Based on the above, SW1 can be used directly without mixing with FW1 if the ability of the grown plant to tolerate the level of salinity concentration, with the necessity of using organic mulches. The SALTMED model simulated reasonably well the soil moisture and soil salinity as well as maize yield and for all treatments, with R2 of 0.87, 0.98 and 0.96, respectively.

Possibilities of Using Nonconventional Sources of Water for Irrigation When Scary Water Resources (Using the Example of the Main Mil-Garabakh Collector)

The article presents the results of an expedition to identify the quality of water in the Main Mil-Garabakh Collector with the aim of using it as an alternative source for irrigation. The collected samples were analyzed and systematized in office conditions. The total mass of water in water samples was analyzed, their mineralization, the amount of dry residue and ion content were studied. Based on the results obtained, the quality of water was assessed using existing methods and recommendations were given for its use in irrigation.

Opinions on Irrigation Water Management Tools and Alternative Irrigation Sources by Farmers from the Delta Region of Mississippi

AbstractWater withdrawals for irrigation at an unsustainable rate resulted in a decline in the groundwater levels in the Mississippi River Valley Alluvial Aquifer (MRVAA) in the central southern USA. This drawdown of groundwater threatens agricultural production in the Mississippi Delta, an important agricultural region in the state of Mississippi, USA. Effective and efficient use of available resources is important to sustain and enhance agricultural productivity in this area. This study assessed the opinions of farmers on water conservation management practices and technologies that improve irrigation management and save water in the Mississippi Delta region based on data collected in an irrigation survey conducted in 2012. Most landowners believed that water conservation practices were effective in reducing irrigation water use without reducing maximum crop yields and have a positive return on investment. Land forming, tailwater recovery system, on‐farm storage, instream weirs to pond surface water, computerized hole selection for furrow irrigation, short irrigation runs, and irrigation scheduling were considered efficient water conservation technologies by landowners. Perceptions about use of different practices also depend upon the crops produced by the respondents. About 20 to 24% and 14.9 to 86% of survey respondents thought that on‐farm storage and center pivot, respectively, were inefficient water conservation practices for irrigating crops in the Mississippi Delta. The adoption of these practices may be increased if the landowners know the economic returns of implementing them.

Analisis Potensi Debit Air Tanah Melalui Pumping Test Metode Step Draw Down pada Sumur Bor Irigasi di Desa Bonto Rannu, Kecamatan Kajang, Kabupaten Bulukumba, Sulawesi Selatan

The rice fields in Bonto Rannu Village, Kajang District, Bulukumba Regency are dominated by rainfed rice fields. This species has limitations in the dry season because irrigation/agricultural irrigation completely depends on rainwater. Therefore, it is necessary to identify alternative irrigation sources to sustain farmers' farming activities in Bonto Rannu Village. This study aims to analyze the number of groundwater wells by testing in the form of a pump test (pumping test) with the step draw-down method. The optimum discharge (Qopt) of well 1 is 0.01876 m3/s or 67.53 m3/hour with an optimum Sw of 2.891 m. This shows that groundwater in well one can be pumped at 67.53 m3/hour with a decreased water level of 2.891 m, with the pump condition still technically safe. As for well 2, the optimum discharge (Qopt) is 0.00318 m3/s or 11.45 m3/hour with an optimum Sw of 2.100 m. These data indicate that there are limited groundwater reserves.

Nutrients Uptake and Accumulation in Plant Parts of Fragrant Rosa Species Irrigated with Treated and Untreated Wastewater.

Water scarcity has critically augmented the need for the exploration of alternative irrigation sources mainly in water-scarce regions. This water scarcity has put tremendous pressure on the agri-based economy of countries such as Pakistan. The reuse of sewage wastewater has been appearing as the only alternative water source, which can lessen our dependence upon freshwater (FW). The current study aimed to scrutinize the influence of treated wastewater (TWW) and untreated wastewater (UTWW) irrigation on the nutrient (N, P, K, Ca, and Na) concentration in different plant parts, i.e., roots, stems, leaves, and flowers, of four scented Rosa species (R. bourboniana, R. centifolia, R. Gruss-an-telpitz, and R. damascena) during the first week of 2018 to the last week of 2019. The experiment was arranged according to the two-factor factorial arrangement i.e., factor I was the irrigation source, while factor II was the Rosa species. The experimental water analysis showed that mineral and chemical concentrations in FW and TWW were within permissible limits of national environmental quality standards (NEQSs) for wastewater. The UTWW of this study possessed a higher electrical conductivity (EC), chemical oxygen demand (COD), biological oxygen demand (BOD), total nitrogen (TN), and metals (Cd, Co, and Pb) than recommended levels. The results revealed that P, K, Ca, and Na contents significantly increased in all studied plant parts of Rosa species as the duration of irrigation with TWW and UTWW increased and vice versa in the case of N contents, while the ratio of N content elevation by applying TWW and UTWW were also not increased compared to other studied nutrients. The nutrients (except Ca) were found as maximum in all plant parts with UTWW compared to FW and TWW irrigation in roses. These stimulations were accredited to the presence of higher essential nutrients and some metals in UTWW. This experiment confirmed the disparities in nutrient contents of scented Rosa species due to the different absorbability of each element in every plant part. Regarding the nutrient accumulation in rose plant tissues, the results of the present study confirm that untreated wastewater must be treated to some extent to grow scented roses where water is scarce.

Irrigation Water Management Tools and Alternative Irrigation Sources Trends and Perceptions by Farmers from the Delta Regions of the Lower Mississippi River Basin in South Central USA

This article describes the opinions and perceptions of farmers on water management tools that conserve groundwater and on alternative sources of water for irrigation. The analysis is based on a survey of producers (N=466) across the Lower Mississippi River Basin (LMRB) areas of Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Missouri. Summary statistics of practice usage across the region and for each state are presented. A Poisson count model is applied to the data to identify factors that influence the number of groundwater-conserving practices employed. The number of irrigated acres, years of farming, annual income level, perception of groundwater problems, and participation in conservation programs have statistically significant association with the number of practices employed. Years of farming experience is the only factor negatively associated with the number of practices employed, while participation in conservation programs has the largest magnitude effect on that number. These results provide evidence that sponsored conservation programs increase the number of conservation practices adopted by farmers. This insight is useful for producer collectives, policy makers, and program managers to design and target of conservation programs across the LMRB.

Comparing the effect of different irrigation water scenarios on arid region pecan orchard using a system dynamics approach

Water scarcity and soil salinization in arid regions have made desalination a competitive alternative source for irrigation. Perceptions of a higher cost and other misconceptions about desalinated water have limited its broader usage in agriculture. In this study, we have focused on understanding the suitability of using desalinated water as a substitute for saline water in the pecan (Carya illinoinensis) orchards of southwest Texas. Pecan is a perennial high-value nut crop that cannot be easily replaced. Therefore, it represents a perfect case study for the application of desalinated water. A recently developed system dynamic model, SMITUV (System Dynamic Modeling of Infiltration, Solute Transport, and Root Water Uptake in Vadose Zone), was modified to assess the effects of irrigation with desalinated water when soil-water salt content increased above pecan tolerance levels. This model simulated five irrigation scenarios with different fractions of river water and saline groundwater. As expected, to sustain the same level of pecan production, a higher amount of desalinated water was needed with increasing amounts of groundwater in the irrigation mix. Soil texture had a significant influence on the amount of desalinated water required. For sandy and silty soils, the 100% river water scenario required no additional desalinated water. Clayey soils could not sustain high production even in a 100% river water scenario. An economic analysis showed that pecan operations might be viable in non-clayey regions for some irrigation mixture even after factoring in the cost of using desalinated water. However, current desalination techniques and associated costs were economically unviable for sustaining pecan in regions with saline groundwater and clayey soils. This study also demonstrated the application of SMITUV and system dynamic modeling as a decision-making tool to assist growers in understanding the farm-scale applicability of desalinated water.

Biomagnification of potentially toxic elements in animals consuming fodder irrigated with sewage water.

Globally, sewage water is considered a cheap and effective alternative source of irrigation and nutrient supplement. For example, in Faisalabad, Pakistan untreated sewage water loaded with potentially toxic elements (PTEs) is being routinely used to grow fodder crops in the peri-urban areas, where PTEs accumulate at different trophic levels and contaminate the food chain. Trophic transfer, bioaccumulation, and biomagnification of hazardous metals in food chains had toxic implications for human health. Currently, the major concern is associated with the consumption of PTEs contaminated fodder by animals and the subsequent translocation into humans via consumption of milk and meat from these animals. This study thus analyzed the concentration of Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn in sewage water, sewage irrigated soil, fodder is grown on such soils and the milk of cows and buffalos to calculate the transfer through water and fodder to animal milk. Overall, concentrations and bioaccumulation factors of Cd and Cu in buffalo milk were higher than the cow milk, whereas it was inverse for the concentration of Zn. Non-significant difference in the bioaccumulation factor for Pb in both buffalo and cow milk was observed. Calculation of the estimated daily intake indicated that there was no health risk associated with the consumption of tested milk samples. However, given the widespread exposure of infants to milk, continuous monitoring of milk quality is recommended to preclude a child's exposure to elevated levels of PTEs.

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

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.

Irriblend-DSW: A decision support tool for the optimal blending of desalinated and conventional irrigation waters in dry regions

Desalinated sea water (DSW) is increasingly being used as an alternative source of irrigation in dry coastal areas. Owing to its high price and singular composition, it is often blended with other water resources to curb costs. Although this is a common practice, limited resources are available to manage the increased agro-economic complexity required to balance several water sources with heterogeneous quality, price, and availability restrictions. To support the management of fertigation with DSW, in this study, we present an open-source decision support tool (DST), Irriblend-DSW. The DST has been designed to identify potentially profitable fertigation options for different water and fertiliser availability scenarios. To demonstrate the key features of the tool, we applied it to two actual case study scenarios in south-eastern Spain, where severe water scarcity led to massive seawater desalination for agricultural supply. The information provided by the DST enabled the assessment of the viability of different water blending options and the selection of an optimal combination of water and fertilisers. The simulation results showed that the fertigation costs of the studied crops, hydroponic lettuce, and greenhouse tomato substantially increased with the integration of DSW. The DST output showed how water price rises, and how additional types and amounts of fertilisers are required when more DSW is used. However, because the salinity of the blend is also reduced with the use of DSW, the yield outcome improves and, thus, to some extent, compensates for the increased cost. In fact, despite higher costs, the studied crops were found to be very profitable when the optimised solutions computed by the DST were selected. Moreover, the optimum fertigation solutions not only reduced costs but also decreased nutrient leaching in areas of severely polluted aquifers.

Evaluation of Yield and Quality Attributes of Grafted Brinjal under Treated Paperboard Mill Effluent Irrigation and Sludge Application

Field experiment was conducted to assess the impact of paperboard mill sludge compost and treated paperboard mill effluent irrigation on growth and yield of grafted brinjal. Among the different treatment combinations, application of phosphorus enriched ETP sludge compost at 5 t ha-1 along with treated effluent through drip irrigation and recommended level of NPK (200:150:100 kg NPK ha-1) resulted the highest brinjal yield of 42.7 t ha-1. There were no adverse effects on soil properties due to sludge compost application and treated effluent irrigation. Quality attributes of the fruits which include anthocyanin content, total phenol content, ascorbic acid content, titrable acidity and protein content were not affected due to the composted sludge application along with treated effluent irrigation. Thus, the treated effluent and the composted sludge which complies with the state pollution control board norms can be used as a viable alternative source of irrigation and nutrients for grafted brinjal cultivation without adversely affecting on crop quality.

The role of effluent water irrigation in the mineral absorption of aerobic rice varieties (Oryza sativa L.)

Quality and quantity of different irrigation water types from conventional and alternative sources have a significant role on the productive parameters and chemical composition of crop plants. Appropriate alternative water sources and the reutilization of agricultural effluents can reduce the impact of rice production and animal husbandry on the natural water bodies. In the present study, influence of four different types of irrigation water was analyzed on the nutrient uptake (P, K, Ca, Mg, Na) of aerobic rice (Oryza sativa L.) in a complex lysimeter experiment in two consecutive years. Early maturing Hungarian rice varieties (M 488 and Janka) were irrigated with traditional river water (RW) and different alternative irrigation sources to evaluate the feasibility of a sodium containing intensive fish farm effluent with (EWG) or without (EW) gypsum supplementation and with the addition of natural river water (EWGR). Significant effects on the mineral content of the aboveground biomass were measured. P uptake by M 488 and Janka decreased after the irrigation with EW in 2017. In case of EW, EWG and EWGR, the Na content increased significantly (p ≤ 0.05) in both varieties; however, pre-treatment of salt containing effluent waters can moderate the stress level. As a consequence, the ability of both rice varieties to absorb Na suggests that rice production could be conditionally part of bioremediation of salt-affected soils and water bodies.

Economic viability of onion production in the commune of Grand-Popo, Republic of Benin

This study estimated the profitability and the level of technical efficiency of the onion farms. It also identified factors that contribute to technical efficiency in onion production. Data were collected from 180 randomly selected onion farms using a pretested interview schedule. Partial budgeting techniques and the stochastic production frontier were modeled for data analysis. Profitability indices revealed a value of 0.771 and 0.280 for operating ratio and return to capital invested respectively. The mean technical efficiency score for the farms was 88.35%. Quantities of water and onion seedlings, farm size, household size, and farming experience significantly affected the technical efficiency of the farms. The study concluded that onion production was profitable in the study area. The government should look into the possibility of providing an alternative source of irrigation for the farmers to conserve water and lower the cost of irrigation.

Treated wastewater outperformed freshwater for barley irrigation in arid lands

The high demand of barley for animal feed and the scarcity of fresh water increase the need for the reuse of treated wastewater as an alternative source for irrigation. Therefore, two-field experiments were conducted to study physiological processes, plant growth, grain yield and yield components of four-barley cultivars grown under four-irrigation treatments using treated wastewater or fresh water. Plants of four-barley cultivars (ACSAD176, Rum, Athroh, Yarmouk) were exposed to four-irrigation treatments: 1) Full-irrigation using treated wastewater (FWW); 2) Supplementary-irrigation using treated wastewater (SWW); 3) Supplementary-irrigation using fresh water (SFW); 4) Non-irrigation treatment (Rainfed). Full- or supplementary-irrigation using treated wastewater reduced stomatal resistance and increased plant photosynthetic rate, plant height, grain yield and yield components as estimated by grain number plant-1 and 1000-grain weight compared with rainfed conditions. Plants grown under supplementary-irrigation using treated wastewater produced higher grain yield than those grown under supplementary-irrigation using fresh water. Rum cultivar had the highest grain yield among cultivars grown under irrigation. Under rainfed conditions, Rum and ACSAD176 had the highest grain yield. In conclusion, supplementary-irrigation using treated wastewater improved grain yield of barley and can be a better choice to conserve water and reduce the risk of plant lodging at the end of the growing season. Irrigation barley using treated wastewater did not change heavy metal (Zn, Cd, and Pb) concentrations in soil or harvested grains.

Ecological risk assessment of heavy metals in vegetables irrigated with groundwater and wastewater: The particular case of Sahiwal district in Pakistan

The use of wastewater for irrigation is a common practice in the developing world. It is a major route of heavy metal contamination in vegetables. The groundwater, an alternative source for irrigation, is under threat of heavy metal contamination due to long-term use of wastewater. The present study investigated heavy metals contamination from irrigation with wastewater compared to groundwater in District Sahiwal situated in the vicinity of Lahore, Pakistan. Irrigated water, soil and vegetables were analyzed for Iron, Nickel, Lead, copper, Cadmium, Manganese and Zinc; Metal transfer factor (MTF); daily intake of metals (DIM) and health risk index (HRI) were calculated. Manganese (Mn) and Cd in wastewater irrigated soil, Pb, Cd, Mn and Fe in wastewater-irrigated vegetables and Pb, Mn and Fe in groundwater-irrigated vegetables exceeded the permissible limits (WHO, 1996), particularly in Mustard and Spinach. Generally, MTF was higher in wastewater than groundwater-irrigated vegetables, particularly with Fe followed by Ni. HRI was higher for wastewater-irrigated than groundwater-irrigated vegetables. Wastewater-irrigated Mustard and Spinach showed a HRI > 1 only for Mn. Quality control mechanisms need to be applied for long-term use of groundwater. Also, treatment of wastewater prior to application to plants must be considered to save crops from contamination.

Effects of irrigation with secondary treated wastewater on physicochemical and microbial properties of soil and produce safety in a semi-arid area

Water scarcity is becoming one of the largest problems worldwide. Agricultural reuse of wastewater has been considered a valuable and reliable alternative, alleviating the pressure on freshwater resources in arid and semi-arid regions such as the Middle East. Inadequate microbial quality of treated wastewater is a challenge for developing countries, which limits agricultural reuse of wastewater. This study assessed the impact of irrigation with secondary treated wastewater (STWW) on soil properties as well as the safety of various types of crops as compared with tap water (TW) irrigation through a furrow system. Total and fecal coliforms and Escherichia coli were monitored as indicator bacteria in STWW, irrigated soil and harvested crops. The presence of pathogenic E. coli O157, Salmonella and Shigella was also monitored in all samples using a combination of culture and molecular methods. The microbial quality of wastewater in terms of E. coli concentration (4.18 Log MPN/100 ml) failed to meet the world health organization (WHO) recommendation for irrigation of root and leafy crops (≤103 and ≤ 104E. coli per 100 ml for root and leafy crops, respectively). No significant effects on physicochemical properties of the soil irrigated with STWW was found in comparison with control plots, except for electrical conductivity (EC) and sodium adsorption ratio (SAR), which were slightly higher in STWW soil samples. Although the microbial quality of soil was affected by STWW irrigation, a relatively low concentration of E. coli was detected in soil. No microbial contamination in terms of E. coli was found on harvested maize and onion. E. coli contamination of lettuce and spring onion was found for both irrigation schemes. No STWW, soil or crop samples were found positive for pathogenic bacteria. According to the analyzed parameters, STWW could be safely used as an alternative source for irrigation of root and leafy crops.

Study of Runoff Farming System to Improve Dryland Cropping Index in Indonesia

A barrier to productivity on dryland is limited availability of water during dry season. Heavy rainfall at most in the dryland farming in Indonesia causes high runoff that occurred during precipitations. The huge potential of runoff can certainly be utilized as alternative water sources in the dry season to improve cropping index. The research purposes were to assess the potential of runoff farming system in improving the cropping index on dryland with wet climate. The study was conducted through observation field conditions, rainfall analysis, potential runoff analysis, crop water requirements analysis and water balance analysis in the dryland area. The result of the study indicated that peak of rainfall-runoff started in last decade of December until March. However, entering the second growing season, rainfall occurs until April only. It's implied that during the second growing season has led to a lack of water supply in the peak phase of crop water needs. Rainfall-runoff analysis indicates that surface runoff potential as an alternative source of irrigation in the dryland farming if managed well, one of which uses runoff farming system. With harvest runoff and store it for irrigation in dry season could increase the cropping index. The significant finding of this research was base on supply and demand water analysis shows that to increase cropping index of food crop in dryland with wet climate needed of catchment and cultivation area ratio (CCA ratio) equal to 6.2, to the form of catchment area was arable land with multi-cropping pattern and varies slope.

Recycling of polluted wastewater for agriculture purpose using electrodialysis: Perspective for large scale application

Water deficiency is a critical issue that faces many countries, particularly those located in arid and semi-arid zones. In Egypt, drainage wastewater (DWW) is used as an alternative source of irrigation directly or after it is mixed with Nile River water. Unfortunately, DWW is not suitable for irrigation directly or after being mixed with other water sources. In the present work, DWW was treated to meet the agricultural use requirements via electrodialysis (ED) based on agricultural water validity parameters, including removed Na+, the sodium adsorbed ratio (SAR), and the Na+ ratio. Our results indicate that a steady ED system (there is no flow in ED cell) is more efficient for DWW treatment in both regular ED and ED cation separation systems. For the regular ED steady system, removed Na+ levels exceeded 99% after 100min. The SAR levels were also reduced from a high value of 22 to an allowable limit of 0.34–0.4, and the Na+ ratio decreased from close to 86% to 14.6–16.6%. The best salt removal results were obtained at an electrical potential level of between 65V and 80V over an operation period of 40min. When cations alone were separated from DWW without anions, the applied electrical potential was remarkably decreased. Na+ removal levels reached as high as 99.3% after 100min, and the depletion of Na+ reached 5.1ppm–5.6ppm from initial concentrations of 800ppm. The SAR decreased from 22 to as low as 0.3–0.34, and the Na+ ratio decreased from 86% to 13–19.5%. Finally, perspective for further approaches and large-scale application in Egypt would be introduced, which may be suitable for North Africa, and Middle East countries.

Scientific Rationale for the Use of Wastewater as an Alternative Source of Irrigation under Water Deficit

This article presents the scientific rationale for the application of wastewater as an alternative source of irrigation under water deficit. The purpose is to develop technological solutions for the use of the drainage effluent as an alternative source of water in reclamation systems. This research investigated the process of filtration through the filter element, which is made on the basis of coal production waste and has a cylindrical shape with a cavity inside that is filled with the sorbent based on rice husks, and developed a method for the preparation of the drainage effluent for the agricultural use. Studies of the filtration process were carried out on the models of the radial pressure filter.
 The results of the conducted research on the pressure loss increase in the filter element have shown that when the diameter of the grains of the filter element is increased, there is a reduction in the pressure loss increase with respect to time. At dg=0.18 mm the critical dirt-holding capacity starts at 3 hours of the filtration process, at dg= 0.23 mm – 6 hours, and at dg=0.71 mm –14 hours. The efficiency of purification when using the developed filter element depending on the diameter of the grains and the filtration rate decreases over time, and towards the end of the filtration cycle (15 hours), their content is reduced from 8.2 to 0.2 mg/dm3 at a uniform filtration rate. The method helps to improve the quality of the preparation of the drainage effluent for crop irrigation, to expand the range of the use of drainage water, having a different chemical composition, and to simplify the process of installation of the filter elements through the use of more light weight construction.