Accumulation of trace elements by corn (Zea mays) under irrigation with treated wastewater using different irrigation methods

Treated wastewater reuse for irrigation has gained a greater significance as an alternative resource to meet the growing water demands for agriculture and reduce the pressure on limited existing fresh water. However, this reuse needs adapted management in order to avoid environmental and health risk...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Ecotoxicology and environmental safety 2019-04, Vol.170, p.530-537
Main Authors: Khawla, Khaskhoussy, Besma, Kahlaoui, Enrique, Misle, Mohamed, Hachicha
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Corn
Irrigation methods
Metal uptake
Nutrients
Treated wastewater
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Treated wastewater reuse for irrigation has gained a greater significance as an alternative resource to meet the growing water demands for agriculture and reduce the pressure on limited existing fresh water. However, this reuse needs adapted management in order to avoid environmental and health risks. An experiment was conducted in a greenhouse to evaluate the effect of different irrigation methods on the Metallic Trace elements and metals concentrations of a Tunisian soil (pH = 8.6) and corn when using treated wastewater. Four irrigation methods: surface irrigation, sprinkler irrigation, drip irrigation and subsurface drip irrigation, and two water qualities were used: treated wastewater and fresh water. Samples of soil and corn were analyzed for several Metallic Trace elements. Results for soil showed that treated wastewater increased electrical conductivity, nutrients and metallic trace elements. The highest levels of salinity and Metallic Trace elements were recorded with using surface irrigation and the lowest were noticed by using subsurface drip irrigation. Whereas the highest levels of nutrients elements were recorded by using subsurface drip irrigation. Results for corn showed that irrigation with treated wastewater improved corn biomass, increased nutrient elements, nitrate reductase activity and chlorophyll content. The concentrations of Metallic Trace elements in different parts of corn were significantly higher under treated wastewater irrigation than fresh water irrigation and were reduced in case of subsurface drip irrigation. Among studied metals, Nickel concentration exceeded the permissible limits of 10 mg kg−1. Bio-concentration factor values were, in order, Iron > Zinc > Nickel > Copper > lead > Cadmium, whereas, translocation factor values were, in order, Copper > Zinc > Cadmium > iron > lead > Nickel. Because of translocation factor
ISSN:0147-6513
1090-2414
DOI:10.1016/j.ecoenv.2018.12.025