| Title | Agro-industrial wastewater reuse for irrigation of a vegetable crop succession under Mediterranean conditions |
| Abstract | In many countries of the Mediterranean region, characterized by frequent drought periods, agricultural production often occurs under water deficiency or conditions that cause the depletion of the existing water resources. In these areas, the reuse of reclaimed wastewater for crop irrigation could contribute to mitigate/decrease water shortage, support the agriculture sector and protect groundwater resources. In 1.5-year field experiments in Southern Italy (Apulia Region), the effects of irrigation with treated agro-industrial wastewater on soil properties, crops yield and qualitative traits of crop products, including their microbiological safety, were assessed. Groundwater (GW), secondary treated wastewater (SW) and tertiary treated wastewater (TW) from an innovative "on-demand" UV disinfection system were used to irrigate tomato and broccoli, cultivated in succession. The three irrigation water sources and the corresponding irrigated soils, plants and crop products were analyzed for the main physico-chemical characteristics, quali-quantitative parameters and fecal indicators. SW and TW showed higher values of the main physico-chemical parameters than GW. SW irrigated soil resulted in a significant increase of NH4-N, Na+, SAR, EC (below the threshold value beyond which a soil is defined as saline) during the first tomato crop cycle, and of pH during the broccoli growing season. Irrigation with treated wastewater did not significantly affect the marketable yield nor the qualitative traits of tomato and broccoli crops, except for the Na+ and NO3- content (below the threshold levels defined by the European guidelines for vegetables). High levels of E. coli (above the Italian limit for reuse), Fecal coliforms and Fecal enterococci (up to 10 4 CFU 100 ml-1) were observed in the SW and, when chlorination was not done, in the TW. Nevertheless, E. coli was not isolated from any sample of soil, plant and crop product, probably due to its rapid die-off. Moreover, low concentrations of Fecal coliforms and Total heterotrophic count were found in plant and crop product. The drip irrigation system used, which avoided the close contact between water and plant, may have contributed to this. Under the conditions applied in this study, the reuse of treated agro-industrial wastewater for irrigation can be considered an effective way to cope with agricultural water shortage in the Mediterranean area. |
| Source | Agricultural water management (Print) 196, pp. 1–14 |
| Keywords | Agro-industrial wastewaterWastewater reclamationWastewater reuseSoil contaminationCrop yield quality |
| Journal | Agricultural water management (Print) |
| Editor | Elsevier, Amsterdam ;, Paesi Bassi |
| Year | 2018 |
| Type | Articolo in rivista |
| DOI | 10.1016/j.agwat.2017.10.015 |
| Authors | Libutti A.; Gatta G.; Gagliardi A.; Vergine P.; Pollice A.; Beneduce L.; Disciglio G.; Tarantino E. |
| Text | 389818 2018 10.1016/j.agwat.2017.10.015 Scopus 2 s2.0 85031790209 ISI Web of Science WOS WOS 000418987400001 Agro industrial wastewater Wastewater reclamation Wastewater reuse Soil contamination Crop yield quality Agro industrial wastewater reuse for irrigation of a vegetable crop succession under Mediterranean conditions Libutti A.; Gatta G.; Gagliardi A.; Vergine P.; Pollice A.; Beneduce L.; Disciglio G.; Tarantino E. Department of Science of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Foggia, , Italy; IRSA CNR, Viale F. De Blasio, Bari, 75 70132, , Italy In many countries of the Mediterranean region, characterized by frequent drought periods, agricultural production often occurs under water deficiency or conditions that cause the depletion of the existing water resources. In these areas, the reuse of reclaimed wastewater for crop irrigation could contribute to mitigate/decrease water shortage, support the agriculture sector and protect groundwater resources. In 1.5 year field experiments in Southern Italy Apulia Region , the effects of irrigation with treated agro industrial wastewater on soil properties, crops yield and qualitative traits of crop products, including their microbiological safety, were assessed. Groundwater GW , secondary treated wastewater SW and tertiary treated wastewater TW from an innovative on demand UV disinfection system were used to irrigate tomato and broccoli, cultivated in succession. The three irrigation water sources and the corresponding irrigated soils, plants and crop products were analyzed for the main physico chemical characteristics, quali quantitative parameters and fecal indicators. SW and TW showed higher values of the main physico chemical parameters than GW. SW irrigated soil resulted in a significant increase of NH4 N, Na , SAR, EC below the threshold value beyond which a soil is defined as saline during the first tomato crop cycle, and of pH during the broccoli growing season. Irrigation with treated wastewater did not significantly affect the marketable yield nor the qualitative traits of tomato and broccoli crops, except for the Na and NO3 content below the threshold levels defined by the European guidelines for vegetables . High levels of E. coli above the Italian limit for reuse , Fecal coliforms and Fecal enterococci up to 10 4 CFU 100 ml 1 were observed in the SW and, when chlorination was not done, in the TW. Nevertheless, E. coli was not isolated from any sample of soil, plant and crop product, probably due to its rapid die off. Moreover, low concentrations of Fecal coliforms and Total heterotrophic count were found in plant and crop product. The drip irrigation system used, which avoided the close contact between water and plant, may have contributed to this. Under the conditions applied in this study, the reuse of treated agro industrial wastewater for irrigation can be considered an effective way to cope with agricultural water shortage in the Mediterranean area. 196 Published version http //www.scopus.com/record/display.url eid=2 s2.0 85031790209 origin=inward Agro industrial wastewater reuse for irrigation of a vegetable crop succession under Mediterranean conditions 2018 Agr.Wat.Man., 196, 1 14.pdf Articolo in rivista Elsevier 0378 3774 Agricultural water management Print Agricultural water management Print Agric. water manag. Print Agricultural water management. Print alfieri.pollice POLLICE ALFIERI pompilio.vergine VERGINE POMPILIO |
