Microbial Metabolic Potential Affected by Surplus Wastewater Irrigation in Tropical Soil Cultivated with Tifton 85 Bermuda Grass (Cynodon dactylon Pers. X C. niemfuensis Vanderyst)

Abstract

Agricultural reuse of treated sewage effluent (TSE) is an environmental and economic practice; however, little is known about its effects on the characteristics and microbial function in tropical soils. The effect of surplus irrigation of a pasture with TSE, in a period of 18 months, was investigated, considering the effect of 0% surplus irrigation with TSE as a control. In addition, the experiment consisted of three surplus treatments (25%, 50%, and 100% excess) and a nonirrigated pasture area (SE) to compare the soil microbial community level physiological profiles, using the Biolog method. The TSE application increased the average substrate consumption of the soil microbial community, based on the kinetic parameters of the average well color development curve fitting. There were no significant differences between the levels of surplus irrigation treatments. Surplus TSE pasture irrigation caused minor increases in the physiological status of the soil microbial community but no detectable damage to the pasture or soil.

Soil health: looking for suitable indicators. What should be considered to assess the effects of use and management on soil health?

“…Agric. v.70, n.4, p.274-289, July/August 2013 chemical attributes, monitoring microbial activity can also provide essential information on the soil health under a specific management, especially concerning to nutrient cycling (Paula et al, 2010). Thus, the monitoring of soil functions in sites used for receiving residues is essential to prevent the soil degradation.…”

Global Experiences on Wastewater Irrigation: Challenges and Prospects

“…The irrigation of olive trees and vegetable crops with treated wastewater in Jordan did not show any adverse effect on the chemical properties of fruits and leaves (Al-Hamaiedeh and Bino 2010 ). de Paula et al ( 2010 ) showed that surplus wastewater pasture irrigation in Brazil caused minor increases in the physiological status of the soil microbial community but no detectable damage to the pasture or soil.…”

Water type and irrigation time effects on microbial metabolism of a soil cultivated with Bermuda-grass Tifton 85

“…The use of effluent for crop irrigation is an old practice in many countries around the world (Hamilton et al, 2007). However in Brazil, this practice is recent (Fonseca et al, 2007a, 2007b, de Paula et al, 2009). Long-term effluent irrigation has resulted in modifications on several soil attributes (Filip et al, 1999;Bond, 1998; related with high inputs of dissolved minerals and suspended solids.…”