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Treated municipal wastewater reuse in vegetable production

Author

Listed:
  • Cirelli, G.L.
  • Consoli, S.
  • Licciardello, F.
  • Aiello, R.
  • Giuffrida, F.
  • Leonardi, C.

Abstract

Treated municipal wastewater (TWW) can be recycled and reused in Mediterranean countries and other arid and semi-arid regions that are confronting increasing water shortages. The evaluation of the long-term effects of treated wastewater reuse on crops intended for human consumption is of particular interest. This study presents the results of a reuse scenario where tertiary-treated municipal wastewater was supplied for vegetable crop irrigation (i.e., eggplant and tomato crops) in Eastern Sicily (Italy). The levels of faecal contamination of eggplants and tomatoes irrigated by surface and subsurface drip irrigation with urban TWW were analysed and compared in 2008 and 2009 at the experiment site. Irrigation water and fruit samples were collected during the two cropping seasons and evaluated for faecal bacteria (Escherichia coli, faecal coliform and faecal streptococci), Salmonella and helminth eggs. Soil samples were collected and evaluated for a hydraulic behaviour analysis. The study found elevated levels of E. Coli (E. coli) in the irrigation water, which were frequently above the stringent Italian mandatory limits of 50CFU100mL−1 for secondary urban effluents treated at constructed wetlands. Salmonella and helminth eggs were never detected in TWW or on fruit samples. Only two eggplant samples, irrigated by surface drip irrigation, contained 102 CFU/100g of faecal coliform and faecal streptococci. Maximum tomato contamination (on the order of 102CFU/100g for E. coli and 103CFU/100g for faecal coliform and faecal streptococci) was found on samples in contact with soil or plastic mulch, due to a significant increase of microbial biomass activity in these substrates. In the TWW irrigation scenario, maximum fruit yields of 38.5 and 89.7tha−1 were recorded during the two-year trial for the eggplant and tomato crops, respectively. Based on the production and quality components, the tomato crops were successfully grown on TWW-supplied plots, with higher yields (approximately 20%) than on plots supplied with fresh water. In particular, the use of subsurface drip irrigation resulted in a significant increase of the marketable yield (MY) for tomato crops, increasing the number of marketable fruits (MN) and decreasing the number of unmarketable fruits (UMN). The eggplants were sensitive to water-stress conditions resulting from partial clogging of the surface drip emitters, particularly those supplied by fresh water. During both the monitoring years, an induced water shortage caused high dry matter percentages for the eggplants.

Suggested Citation

  • Cirelli, G.L. & Consoli, S. & Licciardello, F. & Aiello, R. & Giuffrida, F. & Leonardi, C., 2012. "Treated municipal wastewater reuse in vegetable production," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 104(C), pages 163-170.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:agiwat:v:104:y:2012:i:c:p:163-170
    DOI: 10.1016/j.agwat.2011.12.011
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Pedrero, Francisco & Kalavrouziotis, Ioannis & Alarcón, Juan José & Koukoulakis, Prodromos & Asano, Takashi, 2010. "Use of treated municipal wastewater in irrigated agriculture--Review of some practices in Spain and Greece," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 97(9), pages 1233-1241, September.
    2. 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.
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