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EFFLUENT IRRIGATION OF PARA GRASS: WATER, NITROGEN, AND BIOMASS BUDGETS 1
Author(s) -
Handley Linda L.,
Ekern Paul C.
Publication year - 1984
Publication title -
jawra journal of the american water resources association
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.957
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1752-1688
pISSN - 1093-474X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1752-1688.1984.tb04749.x
Subject(s) - effluent , irrigation , environmental science , agronomy , lysimeter , nitrate , nitrogen , biomass (ecology) , fodder , zoology , chemistry , environmental engineering , soil water , biology , organic chemistry , soil science
Para grass, irrigated with secondary domestic sewage effluent, showed excellent response for disposal of large amounts of water, effective nitrogen removal, and high production of excellent fodder. This grass is found throughout the tropics and parts of the subtropics. It endures flooding and forms dense, easily maintained stands. This is the first time its use has been reported for effluent irrigation. Water, nitrogen, and biomass budgets over a 17‐month period were measured in eight percolate style lysimeters. Under irrigation rates as great as 98 mm/day, five days/week, evapo‐transpiration averaged 4.6 mm/day. With nitrogen applications of 130 to 2,600 kg/ha/yr, ≥ 79 percent of applied nitrogen was harvested in the grass; 3 percent percolated; and ≤ 28 percent was denitrified. With the highest effluent irrigation rates, nitrate‐nitrogen levels remained below the 10 mg/L maximum recommended for potable water. Crop productivity for full effluent treatments averaged 110 t/ha/yr, dry weight. Maximum calculated crude protein content was 13 percent. No nitrate‐nitrogen level in the forage exceeded 0.1 percent.