Effects of Using Wastewater Irrigation on the Chemical Characteristics of Soil Under Furrow and Drip Irrigation Methods

The importance and position of water in economical, municipal, agricultural and industrial scopes is evident. Nevertheless, the shortage of the water resources, will duplicate the importance of protecting measures of clean water. Irrigation with treated municipal wastewater is considered an environmentally sound wastewater disposal practice compared to its direct disposal to the surface or ground water bodies. In addition, wastewater is a valuable source of plant nutrients and organic matter needed for maintaining fertility and productivity levels of the soil. In this research, the effects of treated wastewater of Kerman city on chemical characteristics of soil using drip and furrow irrigations were investigated. Irrigation period was 6 days and lasted for 6 months. Samplings were done for the middle part of furrows in two depths of 0-30 cm and 30-60 cm in four irrigation treatments. The experiments were conducted in a split plot design based on the Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. Results showed the reduction of pH, and increment of salinity, phosphate phosphorus, nitrate nitrogen and heavy metals of using wastewater compare to well water. Moreover, the results indicate the increasing of accumulation of heavy metals in soil depth applying furrow irrigation in comparison to drip irrigation.