Impact of Blended Treated Wastewater and Irrigation Frequency on Corn Production and Soil Nutrients

Abstract

This research investigates the impacts of blended treated wastewater (TWW) reuse with freshwater (FW) and irrigation frequency on corn (Zea Maize L.) crop yield and NPK (nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium) soil content. The experiment comprised of three irrigation frequencies IF1: daily, IF2: every other day, and IF3: every 3 days; and five blended water treatments T100(100%TWW), T75(75%TWW and 25%FW), T50(50%TWW and 50%FW), T25(25%TWW and 75%FW), and T0(100%FW), in four replications. Results indicate that the significant effect of the irrigation frequency was mainly on corn cobs yield and consequently crop yield. Crop yield increases as the ratio of TWW increased in the blended irrigation water, with the highest significant yield (58,036 kg/ha) by using pure TWW(T100) and the lowest yield (37,695 kg/ha) was obtained by using FW (T0). Regardless of the irrigation frequency, the highest soil NPK content was obtained by using pure TWW (T100), while the lowest NPK soil content was obtained by using FW treatment (T0). Available soil N, P, and K contents in T100 treatment were significantly higher than that in T0 treatment by 50.4%, 62%, and 53%, respectively. Thus, the use of TWW in agricultural irrigation could provide a good balance of plant nutrients which can markedly increase crop yield and reduced the need for expensive commercial fertilizers.