Premium
Irrigation of Turfgrass with Secondary Sewage Effluent: I. Soil and Leachate Water Quality
Author(s) -
Hayes A. R.,
Mancino C. F.,
Pepper I. L.
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
agronomy journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.752
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1435-0645
pISSN - 0002-1962
DOI - 10.2134/agronj1990.00021962008200050020x
Subject(s) - effluent , irrigation , leachate , environmental science , leaching (pedology) , agronomy , sewage , water quality , environmental engineering , soil water , chemistry , environmental chemistry , soil science , ecology , biology
In arid climates water is a limited resource, and turfgrass is often irrigated with municipal effluent. However, the effects of continuous turfgrass irrigation with sewage effluent on soil and leachate water quality needs to be evaluated. The objective of this field experiment was to evaluate the effect of secondary treated municipal effluent irrigation on soil and leachate properties under a turf groundcover during the first 16 mo of irrigation. Research plots were irrigated identically with either effluent or potable water using a leaching fraction of approximately 20%. Effluent irrigation resulted in significant changes in soil properties after a relatively short period of time. After 16 mo of use, when compared with potable irrigation, effluent was found to increase electrical conductivity (EC) by 0.5 dS m −1 , NO 3 –N by 7.8 mg kg −1 , P by 31.7 mg kg −1 , K by 134 mg kg − , Na by 6.0 mmol L −1 and the exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP) by 6.8. Soil Ca + Mg concentrations were greater under effluent irrigation by 0.5 mmol L −1 but decreased during the study period. Soil pH was not significantly different from potable irrigation. Leachates collected at 0.61‐m depth indicated that effluent soil leachates were higher than potable leachates primarily in EC by 0.2 dS m −1 and Na content by 0.8 mmol L −1 . The increase did not exceed current recommended limits for drinking water quality.