Grey water impact on soil physical properties

Abstract

Due to the increasing demand for food produced by the increase in population, water as an indispensable element in the growth cycle of plants every day becomes a fundamental aspect of production. The demand for the use of this resource is necessary to search for alternatives that should be evaluated to avoid potential negative impacts. In this paper, the changes in some physical properties of soil irrigated with synthetic gray water were evaluated. The experimental design involved: one factor: home water and two treatments; without treated water (T1) and treated water (T2). The variables to consider in the soil were: electrical conductivity (EC), exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP), average weighted diameter (MWD) and soil moisture retention (RHS). The water used in drip irrigation high frequency was monitored by tensiometer for producing a bean crop (Phaseolous vulgaris L). As filtration system used was employed a unit composed of a sand filter (FLA) and a subsurface flow wetland artificial (HFSS). The treatments showed significant differences in the PSI and the RHS. The FLA+HFSS system is an alternative to the gray water treatment due to increased sodium retention.