Assessment of reclaimed municipal wastewater application on rice cultivation

Environ Manage. 2009 Jan;43(1):135-43. doi: 10.1007/s00267-008-9221-4. Epub 2008 Oct 23.

Abstract

Field research was carried out to assess the effects of the application of reclaimed municipal wastewater on rice cultivation in Thessaloniki, Greece during a 2-year period (1999-2000). Effects on production cost, soil composition, and health risk were examined. A randomized complete block design was used for the paddy field with three treatments and four replicates. The treatments were (1) river irrigation water with N-P fertilization, (2) reclaimed wastewater irrigation with surface N fertilization, and (3) reclaimed wastewater irrigation without fertilization. The results showed that the total production cost decreased 8.8% and 11.9% by applying the second and third treatments, respectively, compared to the first treatment, without significant differences in the agronomic and rice quality traits. Soil composition showed discrepancies between the 2 years and the three treatments, whereas the pathogens of the reclaimed wastewater and rice tissues posed a low human risk when taking the needed precautions.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Agriculture / economics
  • Agriculture / methods*
  • Enterobacteriaceae / isolation & purification
  • Fertilizers / analysis
  • Fresh Water / chemistry*
  • Fresh Water / microbiology
  • Greece
  • Oryza / growth & development*
  • Soil / analysis
  • Waste Disposal, Fluid / methods*
  • Water Purification / methods*

Substances

  • Fertilizers
  • Soil