The study of urban wastewater, saline water and brackish water effects on some soil characteristics (Case study: Qom plain)

The used of unconventional waters in the agricultural lands not only reduces the environmental hazards but also increases the productivity. This research was aimed to assess the effects of wastewater, saline water and brackish water on some soil properties including organic matter, bulk density, and electrical conductivity. Therefore, five study sites were selected. The treatments consisted of control, irrigation with saline water, brackish water, and wastewater as well as mixed irrigation of wastewater and saline water. Five profiles were dug in the study sites. In each profile, two samples were taken from two depths of 0-30 cm and 30-60 cm. The results showed that irrigating with wastewater led to improved soil properties in terms of organic matter and bulk density, as compared with other treatments. There was no significant difference in pH among all treatments. However, the amount of Electrical Conductivity of saline water in surface and deep layers of soil was 17.57 ds/m and 5.5 ds/m, respectively. This large difference between the two depths in saline water treatment represents the EC downward trend from surface to depth. This trend was constant for the brackish water and wastewater treatments.