IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jagris/v12y2022i8p1106-d873263.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Effects of Different Wastewater Irrigation on Soil Properties and Vegetable Productivity in the North China Plain

Author

Listed:
  • Zhenjie Du

    (Farmland Irrigation Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Xinxiang 453002, China
    Water Environment Factor Risk Assessment Laboratory of Agricultural Products Quality and Safety, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Xinxiang 453002, China)

  • Shuang Zhao

    (Farmland Irrigation Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Xinxiang 453002, China
    Graduate School of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China)

  • Yingjun She

    (Farmland Irrigation Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Xinxiang 453002, China
    Graduate School of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China)

  • Yan Zhang

    (Farmland Irrigation Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Xinxiang 453002, China
    Water Environment Factor Risk Assessment Laboratory of Agricultural Products Quality and Safety, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Xinxiang 453002, China)

  • Jingjing Yuan

    (Henan Institute of Metrology, Zhengzhou 450000, China)

  • Shafeeq Ur Rahman

    (School of Environment and Civil Engineering, Dongguan University of Technology, Dongguan 523015, China
    MOE Laboratory for Earth Surface Processes, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China)

  • Xuebin Qi

    (Farmland Irrigation Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Xinxiang 453002, China
    Water Environment Factor Risk Assessment Laboratory of Agricultural Products Quality and Safety, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Xinxiang 453002, China)

  • Yue Xu

    (National Institute of Metrology, Beijing 100029, China)

  • Ping Li

    (Farmland Irrigation Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Xinxiang 453002, China
    Water Environment Factor Risk Assessment Laboratory of Agricultural Products Quality and Safety, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Xinxiang 453002, China)

Abstract

The interest in reusing wastewater for irrigation is being popularized in most countries. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of different wastewater and nitrogen fertilizer on soil fertility and plant quality, as well as to identify the optimal irrigation mode in the North China Plain. A total of nine treatments, including control (groundwater, no fertilizer), piggery wastewater, reclaimed water, and saline water, combined with nitrogen fertilizer (300 kg/ha and 200 kg/ha), were conducted in a greenhouse in 2019 (Xinxiang, Henan Province). Soil pH, electrical conductivity, organic matter, heavy metals contents, and cucumber yield and quality were analyzed. The results showed that: (1) compared with the underground water (control), soil pH value with a decrement of 0.21 units in piggery wastewater (PW), and 0.24 units in saline water treatments (SW). Soil electrical conductivity (EC) value significantly increased by 5.8~20.9% in PW and SW treatments, while there was no significant difference in EC in reclaimed water. The highest EC (770 µS/cm) was recorded in SW treatment. (2) No dramatic difference on the concentrations of soil lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) in the PW, RW, and SW treatments, compared with the control, but soil organic matter, copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn) concentrations in wastewater treatments were increased by 2.1~43.4%, 24.4~27.0%, and 14.9~21.9%, respectively. (3) There were no significant differences in cucumber yield and quality in RW treatment, while there was a slight decrease by 1.4% in yield in the SW treatment. The highest cucumber yield was observed in PWH treatment, with an increment of 17.5%. In addition, the contents of Vitamin C, soluble sugar, and protein were also improved by PW treatment. In this study, PW treatment showed the strongest ability to promote cucumber yield and quality, thus indicating that piggery wastewater irrigation with 300 kg/ha nitrogen would be the optimal practice in this region. Long-term study is necessary to monitor potential risk of heavy metals on the quality of soil and plant.

Suggested Citation

  • Zhenjie Du & Shuang Zhao & Yingjun She & Yan Zhang & Jingjing Yuan & Shafeeq Ur Rahman & Xuebin Qi & Yue Xu & Ping Li, 2022. "Effects of Different Wastewater Irrigation on Soil Properties and Vegetable Productivity in the North China Plain," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 12(8), pages 1-13, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jagris:v:12:y:2022:i:8:p:1106-:d:873263
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/12/8/1106/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/12/8/1106/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Paranychianakis, N.V. & Nikolantonakis, M. & Spanakis, Y. & Angelakis, A.N., 2006. "The effect of recycled water on the nutrient status of Soultanina grapevines grafted on different rootstocks," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 81(1-2), pages 185-198, March.
    2. Cabello, M.J. & Castellanos, M.T. & Romojaro, F. & Martnez-Madrid, C. & Ribas, F., 2009. "Yield and quality of melon grown under different irrigation and nitrogen rates," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 96(5), pages 866-874, May.
    3. Shibao Lu & Jianhua Wang & Liang Pei, 2016. "Study on the Effects of Irrigation with Reclaimed Water on the Content and Distribution of Heavy Metals in Soil," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-10, March.
    4. Zhang, Xiying & Qin, Wenli & Chen, Suying & Shao, Liwei & Sun, Hongyong, 2017. "Responses of yield and WUE of winter wheat to water stress during the past three decades—A case study in the North China Plain," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 179(C), pages 47-54.
    5. Tedeschi, A. & Dell'Aquila, R., 2005. "Effects of irrigation with saline waters, at different concentrations, on soil physical and chemical characteristics," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 77(1-3), pages 308-322, August.
    6. Ayoub, Salam & Al-Shdiefat, Saleh & Rawashdeh, Hamzeh & Bashabsheh, Ibrahim, 2016. "Utilization of reclaimed wastewater for olive irrigation: Effect on soil properties, tree growth, yield and oil content," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 176(C), pages 163-169.
    7. Murtaza, G. & Ghafoor, A. & Qadir, M., 2006. "Irrigation and soil management strategies for using saline-sodic water in a cotton-wheat rotation," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 81(1-2), pages 98-114, March.
    8. Katerji, N. & van Hoorn, J. W. & Hamdy, A. & Mastrorilli, M., 2003. "Salinity effect on crop development and yield, analysis of salt tolerance according to several classification methods," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 62(1), pages 37-66, August.
    9. Guangshuai Wang & Zhenjie Du & Huifeng Ning & Hao Liu & Sunusi Amin Abubakar & Yang Gao, 2021. "Changes in GHG Emissions Based on Irrigation Water Quality in Short-Term Incubated Agricultural Soil of the North China Plain," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 11(12), pages 1-12, December.
    10. Hussain, M. Iftikhar & Muscolo, Adele & Farooq, Muhammad & Ahmad, Waqar, 2019. "Sustainable use and management of non-conventional water resources for rehabilitation of marginal lands in arid and semiarid environments," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 221(C), pages 462-476.
    11. Libutti, Angela & Gatta, Giuseppe & Gagliardi, Anna & Vergine, Pompilio & Pollice, Alfieri & Beneduce, Luciano & Disciglio, Grazia & Tarantino, Emanuele, 2018. "Agro-industrial wastewater reuse for irrigation of a vegetable crop succession under Mediterranean conditions," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 196(C), pages 1-14.
    12. Xiaoman Qiang & Jingsheng Sun & Huifeng Ning, 2022. "Impact of Subsoiling on Cultivated Horizon Construction and Grain Yield of Winter Wheat in the North China Plain," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-13, February.
    13. Wang, Qingming & Huo, Zailin & Zhang, Liudong & Wang, Jianhua & Zhao, Yong, 2016. "Impact of saline water irrigation on water use efficiency and soil salt accumulation for spring maize in arid regions of China," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 163(C), pages 125-138.
    14. 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.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    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. Zhang, Junpeng & Wang, He & Feng, Di & Cao, Caiyun & Zheng, Chunlian & Dang, Hongkai & Li, Kejiang & Gao, Yang & Sun, Chitao, 2024. "Evaluating the impacts of long-term saline water irrigation on soil salinity and cotton yield under plastic film mulching: A 15-year field study," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 293(C).
    2. 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).
    3. Pedrero, Francisco & Grattan, S.R. & Ben-Gal, Alon & Vivaldi, Gaetano Alessandro, 2020. "Opportunities for expanding the use of wastewaters for irrigation of olives," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 241(C).
    4. Li, Jingang & He, Pingru & Chen, Jing & Hamad, Amar Ali Adam & Dai, Xiaoping & Jin, Qiu & Ding, Siyu, 2023. "Tomato performance and changes in soil chemistry in response to salinity and Na/Ca ratio of irrigation water," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 285(C).
    5. Feder, Frédéric, 2021. "Irrigation with treated wastewater in humid regions: Effects on Nitisols, sugarcane yield and quality," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 247(C).
    6. Hashmat, Sherjeel & Shahid, Muhammad & Tanwir, Kashif & Abbas, Saghir & Ali, Qasim & Niazi, Nabeel Khan & Akram, Muhammad Sohail & Saleem, Muhammad Hamzah & Javed, Muhammad Tariq, 2021. "Elucidating distinct oxidative stress management, nutrient acquisition and yield responses of Pisum sativum L. fertigated with diluted and treated wastewater," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 247(C).
    7. Cheng, Minghui & Wang, Haidong & Fan, Junliang & Wang, Xiukang & Sun, Xin & Yang, Ling & Zhang, Shaohui & Xiang, Youzhen & Zhang, Fucang, 2021. "Crop yield and water productivity under salty water irrigation: A global meta-analysis," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 256(C).
    8. Dong, Xinliang & Wang, Jintao & Zhang, Xuejia & Dang, Hongkai & Singh, Bhupinder Pal & Liu, Xiaojing & Sun, Hongyong, 2022. "Long-term saline water irrigation decreased soil organic carbon and inorganic carbon contents," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 270(C).
    9. Nicoleta Ungureanu & Valentin Vlăduț & Gheorghe Voicu, 2020. "Water Scarcity and Wastewater Reuse in Crop Irrigation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(21), pages 1-18, October.
    10. Li, Jianshe & Gao, Yanming & Zhang, Xueyan & Tian, Ping & Li, Juan & Tian, Yongqiang, 2019. "Comprehensive comparison of different saline water irrigation strategies for tomato production: Soil properties, plant growth, fruit yield and fruit quality," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 213(C), pages 521-533.
    11. Wang, He & Zheng, Chunlian & Ning, Songrui & Cao, Caiyun & Li, Kejiang & Dang, Hongkai & Wu, Yuqing & Zhang, Junpeng, 2023. "Impacts of long-term saline water irrigation on soil properties and crop yields under maize-wheat crop rotation," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 286(C).
    12. Chojnacka, K. & Witek-Krowiak, A. & Moustakas, K. & Skrzypczak, D. & Mikula, K. & Loizidou, M., 2020. "A transition from conventional irrigation to fertigation with reclaimed wastewater: Prospects and challenges," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 130(C).
    13. José Rato-Nunes & José Telo-da-Gama & David Peña & Luís Loures & Angel Albaran & Damian Fernández-Rodríguez & Luis Vicente & António López-Piñeiro, 2024. "Hedgerow Olive Orchards versus Traditional Olive Orchards: Impact on Selected Soil Chemical Properties," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 14(2), pages 1-19, February.
    14. Farhadi Machekposhti, Mabood & Shahnazari, Ali & Z. Ahmadi, Mirkhalegh & Aghajani, Ghasem & Ritzema, Henk, 2017. "Effect of irrigation with sea water on soil salinity and yield of oleic sunflower," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 188(C), pages 69-78.
    15. Katerji, N. & van Hoorn, J. W. & Hamdy, A. & Mastrorilli, M., 2004. "Comparison of corn yield response to plant water stress caused by salinity and by drought," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 65(2), pages 95-101, March.
    16. J. M. Aishwarya & R. Vidhya, 2023. "Study on the Efficiency of a Hydroponic Treatment for Removing Organic Loading from Wastewater and Its Application as a Nutrient for the “ Amaranthus campestris ” Plant for Sustainability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(10), pages 1-13, May.
    17. Al-Absi, K.M. & Al-Nasir, F.M. & Mahadeen, A.Y., 2009. "Mineral content of three olive cultivars irrigated with treated industrial wastewater," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 96(4), pages 616-626, April.
    18. Zhang, Zhe & Liu, Shengyao & Jia, Songnan & Du, Fenghuan & Qi, Hao & Li, Jiaxi & Song, Xinyue & Zhao, Nan & Nie, Lanchun & Fan, Fengcui, 2021. "Precise soil water control using a negative pressure irrigation system to improve the water productivity of greenhouse watermelon," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 258(C).
    19. Regmi, Rupesh & Zhang, Zhuo & Zhang, Hongpeng, 2023. "Entrepreneurship strategy, natural resources management and sustainable performance: A study of an emerging market," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 86(PB).
    20. El-Sayed Desoky & Abdel-Rahman Merwad, 2015. "Improving the Salinity Tolerance in Wheat Plants Using Salicylic and Ascorbic Acids," Journal of Agricultural Science, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 7(10), pages 203-203, September.

    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:gam:jagris:v:12:y:2022:i:8:p:1106-:d:873263. 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: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    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.