Assessment of effect of treated sewage effluenton irrigation fields: A case study of Jodhpur
Keywords:
Domestic sewage, Soil parameters (N, P, K), Waste parameters ( pH ,B.O.D )Abstract
Mankind is currently confronted with one of the greatest challenges in its history, thus how to adequately
use its limited freshwater resources. In this context, the challenge is the shortage of water sources, which led to the use of
wastewater for agriculture purposes. The reuse of treated wastewater for irrigation is a practical solution to overcome
water scarcity, especially in arid and semiarid regions. However, there are several potential environmental and health
risks associated with this practices. Many cities and districts are struggling to balance water use among municipal,
industrial, agricultural, and recreational users. The population increase has not only increased the fresh water demand
but also increased the volume of waste water generated. Sewage, often untreated, is used to irrigate 10% of the world’s
crops, according to the first ever global survey of waste water irrigation. However, many farmers, especially those in
urban areas, use sewage because it is free and abundant, even during droughts, and, being full of nitrates and
phosphates, acts as an effective fertilizer. In addition, wastewater is a valuable source for plant nutrients and organic
matter needed for maintaining fertility and productivity of arid soils. Domestic wastewater contains essential plant
nutrients such as N, P, K and micronutrients which are beneficial for plants growth. The objectives of this study were to
evaluate the changes in soil parameters after discharging domestic wastewater on soil.
The paper aims to investigate the impact of domestic waste water for irrigation purpose on soil fertility. Now-a-days due
to the increasing the population, the demand of water has increased considerably resulting in the generation of more
domestic wastewater. The use of the domestic wastewater improves the physicochemical properties of the soil as
compared to the application of ground water. Domestic wastewater helps in better crop growth with increased fertility
status of the soil. Application of domestic water increases total N, P, K and organic carbon content of soil & thereby
increases the yield of crops compared to irrigation with ground water.
