IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/agiwat/v178y2016icp239-247.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Impact of long-term wastewater irrigation on the physicochemical properties of humid region soils: “The Living Filter” site case study

Author

Listed:
  • Andrews, D.M.
  • Robb, T.
  • Elliott, H.
  • Watson, J.E.

Abstract

Increasing pressure on water resources is a significant challenge for the 21st century. Over the last decade, water reuse has offered a practical approach to wastewater effluent disposal while supporting agricultural production. Irrigation with wastewater can have negative impacts on the soil environment (e.g. increased salinity, reduced hydraulic conductivity) and these are well documented for soils in arid and semi-arid regions; but little research has been conducted for humid regions. Consequently, to understand the impact of wastewater irrigation on humid region soils, a field study was conducted at “The Living Filter” site (central Pennsylvania), where wastewater effluent has been used for irrigation for 50+ years. The study evaluated the differences in physicochemical soil properties throughout the soil profile (to a depth of 120cm) at wastewater irrigated sites and non-irrigated sites at different landscape positions (summits and depressions). Results showed that both the sodium adsorption ratio (irrigated: 4.93±1.22; non-irrigated: 0.88±1.03) and salinity (irrigated: 0.32±0.12dSm−1; non-irrigated: 0.07±0.03dSm−1) of soil extracts were significantly higher in the irrigated soil profiles compared to the non-irrigated soil profiles (but not with regards to landscape position). There was no observable treatment effect on saturated hydraulic conductivity, Ks, (irrigated: 1.96cmh−1; non-irrigated: 2.39cmh−1), but Ks had moderately strong inverse relationships with soil pH (R2=0.70) and percent organic carbon (R2=0.67). Overall, while salts are accumulating in these soils; our data suggest that long-term irrigation with wastewater has not negatively impacted the hydraulic conductivity of this humid region soil. Ongoing monitoring of soil physicochemical properties and wastewater parameters will be needed to maintain the long-term sustainability of the site.

Suggested Citation

  • Andrews, D.M. & Robb, T. & Elliott, H. & Watson, J.E., 2016. "Impact of long-term wastewater irrigation on the physicochemical properties of humid region soils: “The Living Filter” site case study," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 178(C), pages 239-247.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:agiwat:v:178:y:2016:i:c:p:239-247
    DOI: 10.1016/j.agwat.2016.10.001
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378377416303869
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.agwat.2016.10.001?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Suarez, Donald L. & Wood, James D. & Lesch, Scott M., 2006. "Effect of SAR on water infiltration under a sequential rain-irrigation management system," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 86(1-2), pages 150-164, November.
    2. Unesco Unesco, 2015. "Water for a Sustainable World," Working Papers id:6657, eSocialSciences.
    3. Muyen, Zahida & Moore, Graham A. & Wrigley, Roger J., 2011. "Soil salinity and sodicity effects of wastewater irrigation in South East Australia," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 99(1), pages 33-41.
    4. Toze, Simon, 2006. "Reuse of effluent water--benefits and risks," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 80(1-3), pages 147-159, February.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Phogat, V. & Mallants, Dirk & Cox, J.W. & Šimůnek, J. & Oliver, D.P. & Pitt, T. & Petrie, P.R., 2020. "Impact of long-term recycled water irrigation on crop yield and soil chemical properties," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 237(C).
    2. Xiaomin Gu & Yong Xiao & Shiyang Yin & Honglu Liu & Baohui Men & Zhongyong Hao & Peng Qian & Huijun Yan & Qichen Hao & Yong Niu & Hui Huang & Qiuming Pei, 2019. "Impact of Long-Term Reclaimed Water Irrigation on the Distribution of Potentially Toxic Elements in Soil: An In-Situ Experiment Study in the North China Plain," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(4), pages 1-12, February.
    3. Daniel, Timothy J. & Richendrfer, John & Falta, Ronald & Murdoch, Lawrence & Lin, Henry & Darnault, Christophe J.G., 2023. "Hydrogeologic and geomorphic processes in a karst landscape and seasonably-cold climate: Linking spatial distribution and morphometric dynamics of closed depressions to bedrock fractures in a wastewat," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 279(C).
    4. Zolfaghary, Parvin & Zakerinia, Mahdi & Kazemi, Hossein, 2021. "A model for the use of urban treated wastewater in agriculture using multiple criteria decision making (MCDM) and geographic information system (GIS)," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 243(C).
    5. Jiayu Lu & Hui Wang & Chuanwang Hu, 2022. "Changes in Physicochemical Properties of Typical Subtropical Soils under Different Treated Domestic Wastewater Irrigation Modes," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(16), pages 1-16, August.
    6. Feder, Frédéric, 2021. "Irrigation with treated wastewater in humid regions: Effects on Nitisols, sugarcane yield and quality," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 247(C).

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Díaz, Francisco J. & Tejedor, Marisa & Jiménez, Concepción & Grattan, Steve R. & Dorta, María & Hernández, José M., 2013. "The imprint of desalinated seawater on recycled wastewater: Consequences for irrigation in Lanzarote Island, Spain," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 116(C), pages 62-72.
    2. Oliver Maaß & Philipp Grundmann, 2018. "Governing Transactions and Interdependences between Linked Value Chains in a Circular Economy: The Case of Wastewater Reuse in Braunschweig (Germany)," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(4), pages 1-29, April.
    3. Gorfie, Belihu Nigatu & Tuhar, Abraham Woldemichael & Keraga, Amare shiberu & Woldeyohannes, Aemiro Bezabih, 2022. "Effect of brewery wastewater irrigation on soil characteristics and lettuce (Lactuca sativa) crop in Ethiopia," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 269(C).
    4. Alrajhi, A. & Beecham, S. & Bolan, Nanthi S. & Hassanli, A., 2015. "Evaluation of soil chemical properties irrigated with recycled wastewater under partial root-zone drying irrigation for sustainable tomato production," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 161(C), pages 127-135.
    5. Erel, Ran & Eppel, Amir & Yermiyahu, Uri & Ben-Gal, Alon & Levy, Guy & Zipori, Isaac & Schaumann, Gabriele E. & Mayer, Oliver & Dag, Arnon, 2019. "Long-term irrigation with reclaimed wastewater: Implications on nutrient management, soil chemistry and olive (Olea europaea L.) performance," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 213(C), pages 324-335.
    6. Maaß, Oliver & Grundmann, Philipp, 2016. "Added-value from linking the value chains of wastewater treatment, crop production and bioenergy production: A case study on reusing wastewater and sludge in crop production in Braunschweig (Germany)," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 107(C), pages 195-211.
    7. Elgallal, M. & Fletcher, L. & Evans, B., 2016. "Assessment of potential risks associated with chemicals in wastewater used for irrigation in arid and semiarid zones: A review," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 177(C), pages 419-431.
    8. Zalacáin, David & Martínez-Pérez, Silvia & Bienes, Ramón & García-Díaz, Andrés & Sastre-Merlín, Antonio, 2019. "Salt accumulation in soils and plants under reclaimed water irrigation in urban parks of Madrid (Spain)," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 213(C), pages 468-476.
    9. Chaganti, Vijayasatya N. & Ganjegunte, Girisha & Niu, Genhua & Ulery, April & Flynn, Robert & Enciso, Juan M. & Meki, Manyowa N. & Kiniry, James R., 2020. "Effects of treated urban wastewater irrigation on bioenergy sorghum and soil quality," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 228(C).
    10. Roobavannan, M. & Kandasamy, J. & Pande, S. & Vigneswaran, S. & Sivapalan, M., 2020. "Sustainability of agricultural basin development under uncertain future climate and economic conditions: A socio-hydrological analysis," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 174(C).
    11. Heidarpour, M. & Mostafazadeh-Fard, B. & Abedi Koupai, J. & Malekian, R., 2007. "The effects of treated wastewater on soil chemical properties using subsurface and surface irrigation methods," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 90(1-2), pages 87-94, May.
    12. Daniele T. P. Souza & Eugenia A. Kuhn & Arjen E. J. Wals & Pedro R. Jacobi, 2020. "Learning in, with, and through the Territory: Territory-Based Learning as a Catalyst for Urban Sustainability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(7), pages 1-19, April.
    13. Caldera, Upeksha & Breyer, Christian, 2020. "Strengthening the global water supply through a decarbonised global desalination sector and improved irrigation systems," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 200(C).
    14. F. Akinola & F. & M. & O. Lasisi & B & S. Awe, 2021. "Impacts Of Dumpsite On Soil And Groundwater Quality: A Case Study Of Erinfun Community, Ado Ekiti, Southwestern Nigeria," Environment & Ecosystem Science (EES), Zibeline International Publishing, vol. 5(2), pages 112-116, August.
    15. Usman, Muhammad & Khalid, Khaizran & Mehdi, Muhammad Abuzar, 2021. "What determines environmental deficit in Asia? Embossing the role of renewable and non-renewable energy utilization," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 168(C), pages 1165-1176.
    16. Cavalcante, Ana Helena A. P., 2015. "Barriers and opportunities for climate adaptation: The water crisis in Greater São Paulo," The Constitutional Economics Network Working Papers 04-2015, University of Freiburg, Department of Economic Policy and Constitutional Economic Theory.
    17. P. van Rensburg, 2016. "Overcoming global water reuse barriers: the Windhoek experience," International Journal of Water Resources Development, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 32(4), pages 622-636, July.
    18. Wichelns, Dennis & Oster, J.D., 2006. "Sustainable irrigation is necessary and achievable, but direct costs and environmental impacts can be substantial," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 86(1-2), pages 114-127, November.
    19. Mabasa, Nyiko C. & Jones, Clifford L.W. & Laing, Mark, 2021. "The use of treated brewery effluent for salt tolerant crop irrigation," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 245(C).
    20. Maestre-Valero, J.F. & Gonzalez-Ortega, M.J. & Martinez-Alvarez, V. & Gallego-Elvira, B. & Conesa-Jodar, F.J. & Martin-Gorriz, B., 2019. "Revaluing the nutrition potential of reclaimed water for irrigation in southeastern Spain," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 218(C), pages 174-181.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:agiwat:v:178:y:2016:i:c:p:239-247. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/agwat .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.