IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/agiwat/v245y2021ics0378377420321375.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

The use of treated brewery effluent for salt tolerant crop irrigation

Author

Listed:
  • Mabasa, Nyiko C.
  • Jones, Clifford L.W.
  • Laing, Mark

Abstract

Brewery effluent (BE) can be used as a water and nutrient source for crop irrigation. It contains high levels of nitrogen and phosphorus, which are essential plant nutrients. However, the effluent at Ibhayi Brewery (SAB Ltd) has a high concentration of sodium, which is a constraint for its reuse in agriculture. The objectives here were to determine the salt removal efficiency, crop growth and health and changes in soil structure when four salt-tolerant test crops were irrigated with BE and subjected to crop rotation or soil amendments. These crops included Swiss chard (Beta vulgaris), saltbush (Atriplex nummularia), Salicornia meyeriana and sorghum (Sorghum bicolor), and all grew efficiently in BE irrigated soils but did not stop sodium accumulation in the growth medium. Nitrogen was successfully exploited, while phosphorus availability was limited by an unfavourable pH. Swiss chard had the best growth with a wet biomass production of 8173 g m-2, due to the plant’s ability to tolerate saline conditions and continuous cropping. Crop rotation, aiming to limit the effects of nutrient depletion in soil, had no significant effect on plant growth, suggesting that the soils were provided enough micro-nutrients in the short term. Prolonged irrigation with BE can lead to sodium accumulation in the soil, which was successfully ameliorated through addition of soil amendments (gypsum and Trichoderma). These amendments reduced soil sodium from a potentially yield limiting level of 1398 mg L-1 to the acceptable levels of 240 mg L-1 and 353 mg L-1, respectively, mainly through leaching. However, only the addition of Trichoderma improved Swiss chard production to 11,238 g m-2, while reducing soil surface crusting and improving infiltration rates. Soil amended with Trichoderma appears to be a potential solution for BE reuse as a water and nutrient source in agriculture.

Suggested Citation

  • Mabasa, Nyiko C. & Jones, Clifford L.W. & Laing, Mark, 2021. "The use of treated brewery effluent for salt tolerant crop irrigation," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 245(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:agiwat:v:245:y:2021:i:c:s0378377420321375
    DOI: 10.1016/j.agwat.2020.106590
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378377420321375
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.agwat.2020.106590?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Paranychianakis, N.V. & Nikolantonakis, M. & Spanakis, Y. & Angelakis, A.N., 2006. "The effect of recycled water on the nutrient status of Soultanina grapevines grafted on different rootstocks," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 81(1-2), pages 185-198, March.
    2. Taylor, Richard P. & Jones, Clifford L.W. & Laing, Mark, 2019. "The influence of pH on the sodium removal rates of three crops grown in a brewery effluent treatment system," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 226(C).
    3. Al-Nakshabandi, G. A. & Saqqar, M. M. & Shatanawi, M. R. & Fayyad, M. & Al-Horani, H., 1997. "Some environmental problems associated with the use of treated wastewater for irrigation in Jordan," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 34(1), pages 81-94, July.
    4. Murtaza, G. & Ghafoor, A. & Qadir, M., 2006. "Irrigation and soil management strategies for using saline-sodic water in a cotton-wheat rotation," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 81(1-2), pages 98-114, March.
    5. Gloaguen, Thomas V. & Forti, M.-Cristina & Lucas, Yves & Montes, Celia R. & Goncalves, Roberta A.B. & Herpin, Uwe & Melfi, Adolpho J., 2007. "Soil solution chemistry of a Brazilian Oxisol irrigated with treated sewage effluent," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 88(1-3), pages 119-131, March.
    6. Muyen, Zahida & Moore, Graham A. & Wrigley, Roger J., 2011. "Soil salinity and sodicity effects of wastewater irrigation in South East Australia," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 99(1), pages 33-41.
    7. Hussain, I. & Raschid, L. & Hanjra, M. A. & Marikar, F. & van der Hoek, W., 2002. "Wastewater use in agriculture: Review of impacts and methodological issues in valuing impacts," IWMI Working Papers H030078, International Water Management Institute.
    8. Libutti, Angela & Gatta, Giuseppe & Gagliardi, Anna & Vergine, Pompilio & Pollice, Alfieri & Beneduce, Luciano & Disciglio, Grazia & Tarantino, Emanuele, 2018. "Agro-industrial wastewater reuse for irrigation of a vegetable crop succession under Mediterranean conditions," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 196(C), pages 1-14.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Zhenjie Du & Shuang Zhao & Yingjun She & Yan Zhang & Jingjing Yuan & Shafeeq Ur Rahman & Xuebin Qi & Yue Xu & Ping Li, 2022. "Effects of Different Wastewater Irrigation on Soil Properties and Vegetable Productivity in the North China Plain," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 12(8), pages 1-13, July.
    2. Elgallal, M. & Fletcher, L. & Evans, B., 2016. "Assessment of potential risks associated with chemicals in wastewater used for irrigation in arid and semiarid zones: A review," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 177(C), pages 419-431.
    3. Maestre-Valero, J.F. & Gonzalez-Ortega, M.J. & Martinez-Alvarez, V. & Gallego-Elvira, B. & Conesa-Jodar, F.J. & Martin-Gorriz, B., 2019. "Revaluing the nutrition potential of reclaimed water for irrigation in southeastern Spain," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 218(C), pages 174-181.
    4. Feder, Frédéric, 2021. "Irrigation with treated wastewater in humid regions: Effects on Nitisols, sugarcane yield and quality," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 247(C).
    5. Zema, Demetrio Antonio & Bombino, Giuseppe & Andiloro, Serafina & Zimbone, Santo Marcello, 2012. "Irrigation of energy crops with urban wastewater: Effects on biomass yields, soils and heating values," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 115(C), pages 55-65.
    6. Aiello, Rosa & Cirelli, Giuseppe Luigi & Consoli, Simona, 2007. "Effects of reclaimed wastewater irrigation on soil and tomato fruits: A case study in Sicily (Italy)," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 93(1-2), pages 65-72, October.
    7. Oliver Maaß & Philipp Grundmann, 2018. "Governing Transactions and Interdependences between Linked Value Chains in a Circular Economy: The Case of Wastewater Reuse in Braunschweig (Germany)," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(4), pages 1-29, April.
    8. Nicoleta Ungureanu & Valentin Vlăduț & Gheorghe Voicu, 2020. "Water Scarcity and Wastewater Reuse in Crop Irrigation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(21), pages 1-18, October.
    9. Li, Jianshe & Gao, Yanming & Zhang, Xueyan & Tian, Ping & Li, Juan & Tian, Yongqiang, 2019. "Comprehensive comparison of different saline water irrigation strategies for tomato production: Soil properties, plant growth, fruit yield and fruit quality," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 213(C), pages 521-533.
    10. Libutti, Angela & Gatta, Giuseppe & Gagliardi, Anna & Vergine, Pompilio & Pollice, Alfieri & Beneduce, Luciano & Disciglio, Grazia & Tarantino, Emanuele, 2018. "Agro-industrial wastewater reuse for irrigation of a vegetable crop succession under Mediterranean conditions," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 196(C), pages 1-14.
    11. Gao, Yang & Shao, Guangcheng & Wu, Shiqing & Xiaojun, Wang & Lu, Jia & Cui, Jintao, 2021. "Changes in soil salinity under treated wastewater irrigation: A meta-analysis," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 255(C).
    12. Maaß, Oliver & Grundmann, Philipp, 2016. "Added-value from linking the value chains of wastewater treatment, crop production and bioenergy production: A case study on reusing wastewater and sludge in crop production in Braunschweig (Germany)," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 107(C), pages 195-211.
    13. Chojnacka, K. & Witek-Krowiak, A. & Moustakas, K. & Skrzypczak, D. & Mikula, K. & Loizidou, M., 2020. "A transition from conventional irrigation to fertigation with reclaimed wastewater: Prospects and challenges," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 130(C).
    14. Menegaki, Angeliki N. & Hanley, Nick & Tsagarakis, Konstantinos P., 2007. "The social acceptability and valuation of recycled water in Crete: A study of consumers' and farmers' attitudes," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 62(1), pages 7-18, April.
    15. Zalacáin, David & Martínez-Pérez, Silvia & Bienes, Ramón & García-Díaz, Andrés & Sastre-Merlín, Antonio, 2019. "Salt accumulation in soils and plants under reclaimed water irrigation in urban parks of Madrid (Spain)," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 213(C), pages 468-476.
    16. Al-Absi, K.M. & Al-Nasir, F.M. & Mahadeen, A.Y., 2009. "Mineral content of three olive cultivars irrigated with treated industrial wastewater," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 96(4), pages 616-626, April.
    17. Pedrero, Francisco & Grattan, S.R. & Ben-Gal, Alon & Vivaldi, Gaetano Alessandro, 2020. "Opportunities for expanding the use of wastewaters for irrigation of olives," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 241(C).
    18. van der Hoek, Wim, 2002. "The use of untreated wastewater in agriculture: strategies for health risk management," Conference Papers h034278, International Water Management Institute.
    19. Vasileios A. Tzanakakis & Andrea G. Capodaglio & Andreas N. Angelakis, 2023. "Insights into Global Water Reuse Opportunities," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(17), pages 1-30, August.
    20. Andreas N. Angelakis & Mohammad Valipour & Abdelkader T. Ahmed & Vasileios Tzanakakis & Nikolaos V. Paranychianakis & Jens Krasilnikoff & Renato Drusiani & Larry Mays & Fatma El Gohary & Demetris Kout, 2021. "Water Conflicts: From Ancient to Modern Times and in the Future," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(8), pages 1-31, April.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:agiwat:v:245:y:2021:i:c:s0378377420321375. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/agwat .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.