Review: Use of recycled wastewater for irrigating grapevines

Abstract

Municipal and winery wastewater can provide a valuable irrigation source in regions where water accessibility is problematic or sustainable disposal of waste is essential. It is imperative, however, that when used for irrigation, water conservation benefits are not compromised by a decline in soil and plant health. To date, published literature investigating the use of wastewaters for grapevine production is restricted to a limited set of studies. Globally, wastewater usage within the horticultural sector, including winegrape production, is increasing. It is necessary, therefore, to better understand the short-and long-term implications of such practice. Although wastewaters may contain a range of organic and inorganic pollutants, this review focuses primarily on specific issues associated with high salt loading that is typical under wastewater irrigation. Managing salt, in particular sodium (Na + ) and potassium (K + ), in wastewater will be necessary in order to maintain the soil physical, chemical and biological health in the long term. Soil structural degradation resulting from a high concentration of exchangeable monovalent cations is of major concern where wastewater is being used for irrigation. This review will address (i) the effect of wastewater irrigation on vine performance and grape quality; (ii) chemical and physical changes in soils irrigated with municipal and winery wastewater; and (iii) management practices that may assist in ameliorating vineyard soils abundant in monovalent cations as a result of wastewater irrigation. AbbreviationsCEC cation exchange capacity; EPP exchangeable potassium percentage; ESP exchangeable sodium percentage; PAR potassium adsorption ratio; SAR Sodium adsorption ratio. Laurenson et al. Use of recycled wastewater

The effect of mineral-ion interactions on soil hydraulic conductivity

“…Typically, WW has a salt composition dominated by Na + , but the adoption of potassium (K + )-based cleaners is shifting the composition of these waste streams. The impacts of Na + -rich water on soil physical and chemical properties and plant health have been studied and debated extensively (Arienzo et al, 2012;Benitez et al, 1999;Chen et al, 1983;Frenkel et al, 1978;Frenkel, 1985;Hamilton et al, 2007;Hermon et al, 2008;Jayawardane et al, 2011;Laurenson et al, 2012;Nightingale, 1959;Quirk and Schofield, 1955). However, K + is less well understood (Arienzo et al, 2012).…”

“…In California there are examples of wineries reusing treated WW for landscaping and frost protection (Hamilton et al, 2007), and several case studies of wastewater characterization and treatment for reuse have been published, including research conducted in Australia (Christen et al, 2010;Laurenson et al, 2012), Spain (Bustamante et al, 2005), South Africa (Mulidzi, 2007), and Mexico (Mendoza-Espinosa et al, 2008). A recent study compared the effects of solutions, ranging in SAR and PAR from 5 to 40, on a predominantly montmorillonite Australian vineyard soil (Arienzo et al, 2012).…”

“…While the salt concentration of wastewater is typically moderate (∼1.5 dS m −1 ) and can be applied to land, applications of sodium (Na + )-rich water increase the risk of sodic conditions occurring in the soil profile, degrade soil quality, and limit productivity (Laurenson et al, 2012). The total salinity of irrigation water (measured as electrical conductivity in dS m −1 or electrolyte concentration in mEq L −1 ) can also influence the permeability of a soil and its hydraulic conductivity (HC) (Abusharar et al, 1987;Keren and Singer, 1989).…”

Global Experiences on Wastewater Irrigation: Challenges and Prospects

“…In the other research in China, Li et al ( 2012 ) successfully applied two types of widely used wastewaters treated with fl uidisedbed reactor (FBR) and biological aerated fi lter (BAF) processes. Laurenson et al ( 2012 ) predicted in New Zealand that managing salt, in particular sodium and potassium, in wastewater would be necessary in order to maintain the soil physical, chemical and biological health in the long term. In Nigeria Egwu and Agbenin ( 2013 ) found that reports of excess Pb concentrations in leafy vegetables raised in soils were consistent with high free Pb 2+ activities maintained in the soil solution by these predominantly sandy-textured soils.…”

Effect of Irrigation with Diluted Winery Wastewater on Phosphorus in Four Differently Textured Soils

“…A shortage of good-quality water leads to an increasing demand to irrigate with poor-quality water such as saline groundwater, drainage water and treated wastewater (Jalali et al, 2008). The negative effects of re-using untreated municipal and other industrial wastewater for agricultural irrigation are well documented (Bond, 1998;Papini, 2000;Mulidzi, 2001;Arienzo et al, 2009;Christen et al, 2010;Laurenson et al, 2012;Laurenson & Houlbrooke, 2011;Mosse et al, 2011;Arienzo et al, 2012). The impact of irrigation with treated wastewater on the environment has not been investigated widely, although the demand for the use of sewage effluent due to water shortages is increasing (Walker & Lin, 2008).…”