Soil Physicochemical Changes as Modulated by Treated Wastewater after Medium-and Long-Term Irrigations: A Case Study from Tunisia
Treated wastewater (TWW) is considered as an alternative for agricultural irrigation. The aim of this study was to understand the medium- and long-term effects of TWW on soil physicochemical parameters. Two perimeters (P<sub>1</sub> and P<sub>2</sub>)receiving TWW for 38 and...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2022-12-01
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| Series: | Agriculture |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/12/12/2139 |
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| author | Sinda Bekir Rahma Inès Zoghlami Khaoula Boudabbous Mohamed Naceur Khelil Mohammed Moussa Rim Ghrib Oumaima Nahdi Emna Trabelsi Habib Bousnina |
| author_facet | Sinda Bekir Rahma Inès Zoghlami Khaoula Boudabbous Mohamed Naceur Khelil Mohammed Moussa Rim Ghrib Oumaima Nahdi Emna Trabelsi Habib Bousnina |
| author_sort | Sinda Bekir |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Treated wastewater (TWW) is considered as an alternative for agricultural irrigation. The aim of this study was to understand the medium- and long-term effects of TWW on soil physicochemical parameters. Two perimeters (P<sub>1</sub> and P<sub>2</sub>)receiving TWW for 38 and 20 years, respectively, in Tunisiawere selected for study. In each perimeter, two water types were adopted: TWW and groundwater (GW). Soil physicochemical traits (pH, EC, and concentrations of Na<sup>+</sup>, K<sup>+</sup>, Ca<sup>2+</sup>, and Mg<sup>2+</sup>) were measured up to 100 cm, and three indexes were calculated: sodium adsorption ratio (SAR), cation ratio of structural stability (CROSS), and cation exchange capacity (CEC). Overall, all soil parameters were significantly affected in the irrigation area using GW. However, in the case of TWW, only the pH was found to be affected, increasing by 4.7% from P<sub>1</sub> to P<sub>2</sub>. Moreover, compared to GW, TWW enhanced the soil salinity by 127%, particularly at deeper subsoils. More interestingly, the results revealed an accumulation of Mg<sup>2+</sup>, Ca<sup>2+</sup>, and K<sup>+</sup> and a depletion of Na<sup>+</sup> at the soil surface. Notably, TWW showed the lowest CROSS and SAR indexes, indicating the benefits of applying TWW even after long-term use in improving soil physicochemical parameters such as sodicity and structural stability. Our results provide valuable information for decision-makers to use wastewater in irrigated marginal soils. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T17:26:02Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-719350b3ce9b437e87af27f49b5c61e2 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2077-0472 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T17:26:02Z |
| publishDate | 2022-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Agriculture |
| spelling | doaj.art-719350b3ce9b437e87af27f49b5c61e22023-11-24T12:42:04ZengMDPI AGAgriculture2077-04722022-12-011212213910.3390/agriculture12122139Soil Physicochemical Changes as Modulated by Treated Wastewater after Medium-and Long-Term Irrigations: A Case Study from TunisiaSinda Bekir0Rahma Inès Zoghlami1Khaoula Boudabbous2Mohamed Naceur Khelil3Mohammed Moussa4Rim Ghrib5Oumaima Nahdi6Emna Trabelsi7Habib Bousnina8Laboratory of Eremology and Combating Desertification, Arid Regions Institute, University of Gabes, Medenine 4119, TunisiaLaboratory of Eremology and Combating Desertification, Arid Regions Institute, University of Gabes, Medenine 4119, TunisiaHorticultural Sciences Laboratory, LR13AGR01, National Agronomic Institute of Tunisia, University of Carthage, Tunis-Mahragene 1082, TunisiaNational Research Institute of Rural Engineering, Water and Forestry, University of Carthage, LR 7 16INRGREF02, LR Valorization of Unconventional Waters, 17 Rue HédiKarray, 8 BP No. 10, Ariana 2080, TunisiaLaboratory of Eremology and Combating Desertification, Arid Regions Institute, University of Gabes, Medenine 4119, TunisiaNational Research Institute of Rural Engineering, Water and Forestry, University of Carthage, LR 7 16INRGREF02, LR Valorization of Unconventional Waters, 17 Rue HédiKarray, 8 BP No. 10, Ariana 2080, TunisiaHorticultural Sciences Laboratory, LR13AGR01, National Agronomic Institute of Tunisia, University of Carthage, Tunis-Mahragene 1082, TunisiaHorticultural Sciences Laboratory, LR13AGR01, National Agronomic Institute of Tunisia, University of Carthage, Tunis-Mahragene 1082, TunisiaLaboratory of Eremology and Combating Desertification, Arid Regions Institute, University of Gabes, Medenine 4119, TunisiaTreated wastewater (TWW) is considered as an alternative for agricultural irrigation. The aim of this study was to understand the medium- and long-term effects of TWW on soil physicochemical parameters. Two perimeters (P<sub>1</sub> and P<sub>2</sub>)receiving TWW for 38 and 20 years, respectively, in Tunisiawere selected for study. In each perimeter, two water types were adopted: TWW and groundwater (GW). Soil physicochemical traits (pH, EC, and concentrations of Na<sup>+</sup>, K<sup>+</sup>, Ca<sup>2+</sup>, and Mg<sup>2+</sup>) were measured up to 100 cm, and three indexes were calculated: sodium adsorption ratio (SAR), cation ratio of structural stability (CROSS), and cation exchange capacity (CEC). Overall, all soil parameters were significantly affected in the irrigation area using GW. However, in the case of TWW, only the pH was found to be affected, increasing by 4.7% from P<sub>1</sub> to P<sub>2</sub>. Moreover, compared to GW, TWW enhanced the soil salinity by 127%, particularly at deeper subsoils. More interestingly, the results revealed an accumulation of Mg<sup>2+</sup>, Ca<sup>2+</sup>, and K<sup>+</sup> and a depletion of Na<sup>+</sup> at the soil surface. Notably, TWW showed the lowest CROSS and SAR indexes, indicating the benefits of applying TWW even after long-term use in improving soil physicochemical parameters such as sodicity and structural stability. Our results provide valuable information for decision-makers to use wastewater in irrigated marginal soils.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/12/12/2139water reusesandy soilphysicochemical parametersirrigation perioddepth |
| spellingShingle | Sinda Bekir Rahma Inès Zoghlami Khaoula Boudabbous Mohamed Naceur Khelil Mohammed Moussa Rim Ghrib Oumaima Nahdi Emna Trabelsi Habib Bousnina Soil Physicochemical Changes as Modulated by Treated Wastewater after Medium-and Long-Term Irrigations: A Case Study from Tunisia Agriculture water reuse sandy soil physicochemical parameters irrigation period depth |
| title | Soil Physicochemical Changes as Modulated by Treated Wastewater after Medium-and Long-Term Irrigations: A Case Study from Tunisia |
| title_full | Soil Physicochemical Changes as Modulated by Treated Wastewater after Medium-and Long-Term Irrigations: A Case Study from Tunisia |
| title_fullStr | Soil Physicochemical Changes as Modulated by Treated Wastewater after Medium-and Long-Term Irrigations: A Case Study from Tunisia |
| title_full_unstemmed | Soil Physicochemical Changes as Modulated by Treated Wastewater after Medium-and Long-Term Irrigations: A Case Study from Tunisia |
| title_short | Soil Physicochemical Changes as Modulated by Treated Wastewater after Medium-and Long-Term Irrigations: A Case Study from Tunisia |
| title_sort | soil physicochemical changes as modulated by treated wastewater after medium and long term irrigations a case study from tunisia |
| topic | water reuse sandy soil physicochemical parameters irrigation period depth |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/12/12/2139 |
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