The Effect of Irrigation with Municipal Effluent on Physico-chemical Characteristics of Soil, Accumulation of Nutrient and Cd in Olive Trees (Olea europaea L.)

Land application of municipal effluent is potentially beneficial as an inexpensive nutrient source. To investigate the effect of seven years of irrigation with Southern Tehran municipal effluent treatment plant effluent on the physical and chemical properties of soil and accumulation of nutrient in olive trees, a study was carried out using a random-systematic pattern with three replications. Treatments included: 1) municipal effluent and 2) well water (control). To investigate soil physical and chemical properties, accumulation of nutrient and Cd in leaves and fruits, samples of soil (0-15, 15-30 and 30- 60 cm), leaves and fruits were taken from each plot in three replications. Samples were analyzed with standard methods. In order to normalize the data, an independent sample t-test was used. Results of this study indicate that application of municipal effluents increase the concentration of Mg, N, P, K, Ca and Cd in different layers of soil (0-15, 15-30 and 30-60 cm depths) and Olea europaea, s leaves and fruits. Irrigation with municipal effluent increased olive fruit yield and leave weight.