Monitoring and assessment of treated river, rain, gully pot
and grey waters for irrigation of Capsicum annuum

Al-Isawi, R; Almuktar, S; Scholz, M

Abstract

This study examines the benefits and risks
associated with various types of wastewater recycled
for vegetable garden irrigation and proposes the best
water source in terms of its water quality impact on crop
yields. The aim was to evaluate the usability of river,
rain, gully pot, real grey and artificial grey waters to
water crops. The objectives were to evaluate variables
and boundary conditions influencing the growth of chillies
(De Cayenne; Capsicum annuum (Linnaeus)
Longum Group 'De Cayenne') both in the laboratory
and in the greenhouse. A few irrigated chilli plants
suffered from excess of some nutrients, which led to a
relatively poor harvest. High levels of trace minerals and
heavy metals were detected in river water, gully pot
effluent and greywater. However, no significant differences
in plant yields were observed, if compared with
standards and other yields worldwide. The highest
yields were associated with river water both in the
laboratory and in the greenhouse. Plant productivity
was unaffected by water quality due to the high manganese,
potassium, cadmium and copper levels of the
greywater. These results indicate the potential of river
water and gully pot effluent as viable alternatives to
potable water for irrigation in agriculture.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Apr 5, 2016
• Online Publication Date: Apr 13, 2016
• Publication Date: May 1, 2016
• Deposit Date: Apr 29, 2016
• Publicly Available Date: Apr 13, 2017
• Journal: Environmental Monitoring and Assessment
• Print ISSN: 0167-6369
• Electronic ISSN: 1573-2959
• Publisher: Springer Verlag
• Volume: 188
• Issue: 5
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-016-5285-4
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10661-016-5285-4
• Related Public URLs: http://link.springer.com/journal/10661
• Additional Information: Funders : Government of Iraq