Effect of kitchen wastewater irrigation on soil properties and growth of cucumber (Cucumis sativus)

Abstract

Scarcity of freshwater is becoming an increasing problem primarily in the arid and semi-arid regions of the world. The study was designed to investigate the effects of wastewater irrigation on soil properties and growth parameters of cucumber (Cucumis sativus) in southwestern Nigeria. The irrigation treatments consisted of kitchen wastewater, rainwater and groundwater in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) in three replications. Soil samples were collected in the 0 to 20 cm range, analyzed before irrigation application and after harvest according to USDA standard procedures while crop growth parameters were recorded 3, 5 and 7 weeks after planting. Soil pH decreased in all the soil samples after the different water applications, the lowest pH from kitchen wastewater. Electrical conductivity (EC) increased slightly in all soil samples, the highest EC value of 8.59 × 10-4 dS/m from groundwater irrigation. The sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) increased in all the irrigation treatments but was below the critical value of 13. The stem girth and leaf area were not significantly affected by water type (WT) during the three periods of evaluation but leaf numbers and plant length differ significantly at seven week of growth. Soil condition was not significantly impacted by the use of kitchen wastewater, however, appropriate wastewater treatment and water management practices have to be followed to remove the toxic elements which could be hazards to vegetable production and the environment. Key words: Wastewater, groundwater, electrical conductivity, sodium adsorption ratio.