Evaluating of Wastewater Irrigation in Lysimeter Experiment Through Energy Willow Yields and Soil Sodicity

Abstract

In Hungary, alternative water resources utilization should take priority over the conventional irrigation water resources (surface and subsurface waters) in the future, similarly to the global trends because of the global warming and water scarcity. To preserve our most important renewable natural resource (soil), farmers and researchers are responsible for development of soil management practices and irrigation principles. Adaptation by farmers of this new, sustainable technologies soil degradation can be avoided, and the natural soil processes can be improved. Usage of different quality irrigation water was evaluated in our experiment measuring the variation of the soil exchangeable cations after one season of irrigations using wastewater in an energy willow plantation. The thermal water based wastewater, originated from an intensive catfish farm, was applied for micro-sprinkler irrigation in the Lysimeter Station of National Agricultural Research and Innovation Centre (NAIK), Research Department of Irrigation and Water Management (OVKI) in Szarvas, Hungary. According to our results the exchangeable sodium percentage (Na S%) increased significantly in all wastewater treatments with +1.16-4.4% after one year, and the sodium decreased significantly in the treatment with Körös River water irrigation with-0.26-1.1%. There were no significant changes in the NaS% when a diluted and improved (gypsum-added) wastewater was applied, and the soil's sodium content did not increase above 200 mg/kg. In addition, the willow yields depended on the available irrigation water amount and there was no significant impact of the irrigation water quality on it. The highest biomass yields (4480.8±435.8 g/m 2) were achieved in treatments with 60 mm water per two weeks. The accumulated sodium in the willow stem was less than 1% of the irrigation water sodium content, making the removal of this harmful element by willow harvest unsuitable. The results suggest that further wastewater irrigation usage might be sustainable with the diluted and improved quality water.

The effect of application of effluent water on sage (Salvia officinalis L.) yield and quality in lysimeters

“…In case of long-term irrigation using water with a high sodium content, it is recommended to dilute the water, if possible, and add Ca-containing materials (Simmons et al, 2009). In the experiments of Kun et al (2018a), the addition of gypsum to diluted saline effluent water resulted in its improvement, to an extent that characterised it with a resemblance to good-quality river water; and it was classified into a better irrigation water category than the original effluent water according to the Hungarian classification, and the FAO and USDA classification systems as well (Kun et al, 2018a).…”

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

“…The greatest role in this effect can be associated with the presence of Na in the effluent water from intensive fish farm. For the reduction of harmful effects of the EW on soil and plant development, in EWG and EWGR gypsum were also applied as it was developed by Kun et al (2018). As a consequence of EW irrigation, the average Na content increased after the first irrigation season (2017), while the average P content reduced in the above ground biomass of M 488.…”

“…The source of RW was a local oxbow lake of Körös River (46°51′38.6″ N 20°31′28.0″ E, Szarvas, Hungary). Considering this, gypsum was addedto the EW according to the method proposed by Kun et al (2018) in the EWG and EWGR irrigation. Thus, gypsum was applied in the EWG and EWGR to reduce the potential harmful effects of EW on the soil and plant development.…”

“…There are traditional and improved methods for quality treatment that significantly determine the reutilization possibilities of output nutrients (Edwards 2015;Ribeiro and Naval 2019). However, aquaculture effluents that can be characterized by high sodium content need special pretreatments before conditionally reuse them in agricultural irrigation (Kun et al 2018).…”

Electromagnetic Stimulation of Microbial Activity in Wastewater Treatment: Experimental Equipment

“…Experimental studies have shown that the use of wastewater with high salt content (especially sodium) in the irrigation of energy willow plantations can be effective only by adding 30 % -70 % freshwater [28].…”