Field comparison and crop production modeling of sweet corn and silage maize (Zea mays L.) with treated urban wastewater and freshwater

Abstract

In Australia, interest in wastewater reuse has grown. While wastewater can potentially offer a nutrient advantage over conventional irrigation, crop yield increases may be offset by effects of high salinity. Effects of wastewater irrigation on crop production and soil health were investigated in two ways: a field experiment addressing short-term effects and modeling longer-term impacts. The field experiment was established at the Shepparton Wastewater Treatment Plant in Shepparton, Victoria to compare effects of wastewater irrigation to conventional irrigation. Silage maize and sweet corn (Zea mays L.) were grown over the summer of 2012-2013 under the following flood irrigation treatments: wastewater and fresh water with and without fertilizer. Both harvests produced yields and qualities comparable to commercial farm standards and no significant differences were found between water types. Maize production with long-term wastewater irrigation at various salinities was modeled and no significant yield losses were observed after 50 years of simulated irrigation. Topsoil electroconductivity doubled after the field trial and simulation results predicted significant soil salt accumulation by factor of 2. Mean wastewater sodium absorption ratio of 4.52 and electroconductivity of 1.52 dS/m indicate potential for sodicity-related soil problems for long-term irrigation. Management of soil health may be necessary.

Controlling threshold in soil salinity when planting spring wheat and sequential cropping silage corn in Northern Xinjiang using drip irrigation

“…The results were similar to the previous studies [27,31] . The higher soil salinity also showed negative impact on plant growth.…”

“…3 plants in each pot were selected and their average value was calculated as the final results, and the leaf area of each plant was considered the sum of every single leaf area [27] . After the harvest, the quantity of productive ear, seeds per ear, plant biomass and the thousand kernel weight (TKW) were tested for spring wheat yield evaluation [28] .…”

Gene Action for Various Grain and Fodder Quality Traits in <i>Zea Mays</i>

“…Good grain and fodder quality may be improved for maize germplasm [7,15,31,38]. It was suggested from Table 2 and 2a that a positive significant genotypic and phenotypic correlation was found between fodder crude fiber percentage and cellulose percentage and nutrient detergent fiber while a significant and negative correlation was found for ether extractable fat percentage and nitrogen free extract percentage at both genotypic and phenotypic levels.…”

“…It was revealed that a positive significant genotypic and phenotypic correlation was found between nutrient detergent fiber and grain protein percentage, acid detergent fiber, fodder crude fiber percentage, cellulose percentage and fodder dry matter percentage while a significant and negative correlation was found for embryo percentage, grain starch percentage and nitrogen free extract percentage at both genotypic and phenotypic levels (Table 2 and 2a). Positive and significant correlations suggested that grain and fodder quality may be improved by selecting genotypes on the basis of grain protein and starch maize germplasm [37,38]. It was suggested that a positive significant genotypic and phenotypic correlation was found between cellulose percentage and nutrient detergent fiber, grain protein percentage, fodder crude fiber percentage and fodder dry matter percentage while a significant and negative correlation was found for embryo percentage, grain starch percentage and fodder moisture percentage at both genotypic and phenotypic levels ( Table 2 and 2a).…”

“…It was indicated from results that a positive significant genotypic and phenotypic correlation was found between fodder moisture percentage and grain crude fiber percentage, embryo percentage and acid detergent fiber while a significant and negative correlation was found for grain starch percentage, cellulose percentage and fodder ash percentage at both genotypic and phenotypic levels (Table 2 and 2a). Significant correlations higher grain and fodder quality maize germplasm may be developed [18,24,28,38,39].…”