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Effect of low‐cost irrigation methods on microbial contamination of lettuce irrigated with untreated wastewater
Author(s) -
Keraita Bernard,
Konradsen Flemming,
Drechsel Pay,
Abaidoo Robert C.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
tropical medicine and international health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.056
H-Index - 114
eISSN - 1365-3156
pISSN - 1360-2276
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-3156.2007.01937.x
Subject(s) - irrigation , environmental science , crop , contamination , agriculture , drip irrigation , fecal coliform , surface irrigation , toxicology , agronomy , biology , water quality , ecology
Summary Objective To assess the effectiveness of simple irrigation methods such as drip irrigation kits, furrow irrigation and use of watering cans in reducing contamination of lettuce irrigated with polluted water in urban farming in Ghana. Methods Trials on drip kits, furrow irrigation and watering cans were conducted with urban vegetable farmers. Trials were arranged in a completely randomised block design with each plot having all three irrigation methods tested. This was conducted in both dry and wet seasons. Three hundred and ninety‐six lettuce, 72 soil, 15 poultry manure and 32 water samples were analysed for thermotolerant coliforms and helminth eggs. Results Lettuce irrigated with drip kits had the lowest levels of contamination, with, on average, 4 log units per 100 g, fewer thermotolerant coliforms than that irrigated with watering cans. However, drip kits often got clogged, required lower crop densities and restricted other routine farm activities. Watering cans were the most popular method. Using watering cans with caps on outlets from a height <0.5 m reduced thermotolerant coliforms by 2.5 log units and helminthes by 2.3 eggs per 100 g of lettuce compared with using watering cans without caps from a height >1 m. Conclusion Simple, cheap and easily adoptable irrigation methods have great potential to reduce crop contamination in low‐income areas. When used in combination with other on‐farm and post‐harvest risk reduction measures, these will help to comprehensively reduce public health risks from using polluted water in vegetable farming.