A Jalali, M Galavi, A Ghanbari, M Ramroudi, M Yousef Elahi,
Volume 14, Issue 52 (7-2010)
Abstract
Using treated wastewater led to increasing crop yield, but it may causes heavy metals accumulations and also their toxicity in soil and plant. In order to investigate the effects of wastewater on yield, forage yield components, and heavy metals concentrations in stem and leaf of sorghum, an experiment was conducted in the agricultural Research Institute of Zabol University in 2006-2007, using a randomized complete block design with four replication. The irrigation treatments were: 1) well water for whole growing season as control (T1), 2) well water for all growing season along with NPK application (T2), 3) wastewater during the first half of growing season (T3), 4) wastewater during the second half of growing season (T4), 5) wastewater and tapwater alternately (T5) and 6) wastewater for whole growing season (T6). The results showed that irrigations with wastewater and well water alternately and wastewater for whole growing season produced the maximum forage yield and the maximum heavy metal accumulation in plant organs observed by irrigation with wastewater for hole growing season, and wastewater and well water alternately. There was significant increase between T5 and T6 relative to control and other treatments. The elements concentration such as Cu, Pb and Fe in leaf was more than stem, but Zn and Ni concentration in stem were more than leaves. There were no significant differences for Mo and Cr concentration between stem and leaf. Forage yield in T6 and T5 relative to T2 were increased 38.96 and 51.95 percent respectively. In all irrigation treatments the amount of elements and heavy metals in sorghum were lower than standard limits. Based on the results, alternative irrigation method (T5) is recommended for forage sorghum production.
