The effect of Moringa-treated wastewater on drip-irrigated sandy loam soil

Abstract

Moringa oleifera seeds possess coagulating and antimicrobial properties for wastewater treatment. This paper reports the chemical and biological analyses of wastewater samples from the university hostel (W1), the main abattoir (W2) and the Nigerian Bottling Company, NBC (W3) in Maiduguri, Nigeria; treated with Moringa seed solution concentration (MOSC) at 0 (Control), 10, 20, 30 and 40% levels. The treated wastewater was used for irrigating Amaranthus hybridus under drip irrigation on sandy loam soil on the Agricultural and Environmental Resources Engineering Departmental Research Farm, University of Maiduguri. Initial coliform counts (CC) were measured as 1405, 1571 and 1314 cells/100 mL; the electrical conductivity (EC) values were 0.78, 1.20 and 1.23 dS/m and the sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) was 1.12, 1.54 and 1.18. Similarly, the pH values were measured as 8.56, 5.60 and 6.98, while Boron (B) showed as 0.44, 1.80 and 1.28 for W1, W2 and W3 respectively. The initial soil conditions (0i) were shown to contain CC (28 cells/100 mL), EC (0.69 dS/m), B (0.63 mg/L), pH (6.5), N (10.71 mg/L), P (10.42 mg/L) and SAR (0.88). The results obtained indicate that the Moringa seed solution at 40% had an appreciable effect on most of the quality parameters in the irrigated soil when compared with the initial values. © 2014 WIT Press.