HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Vaisman, I. Articles by Feigin, A. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Vaisman, I. Articles by Feigin, A. Agricola Articles by Vaisman, I. Articles by Feigin, A.

Water Regime and Nitrogen Fertilization for Rhodes Grass Irrigated with Municipal Waste Water on Sand Dune Soil¹

ABSTRACT

The use of municipal waste water for crop irrigation has advantages in increasing water supply and reducing the need for fertilization application. The objective of this research was to develop management for using secondary effluent for crop irrigation while reducing pollution hazards.

A field experiment was conducted on a sand dune soil during 1978 and 1979 to determine the water requirement and fertilizer needs of Rhodes grass (Chloris gayana Kunth). There were four irrigation treatments, each at two levels of N fertilizer. The grass was irrigated with municipal effluent that received secondary treatment in settling ponds. The N concentration in the waste water used was about 18 mg/liter, which did not fully supply the needs of the crop. When 250 kg N/ha was added as (NH₄)₂SO₄, an optimum dry matter yield of 12.0 metric tons/ha was obtained when irrigation was applied on the basis of 0.8 pan factor. Higher rates of fertilization and water application resulted in N seepage below the root zone. Any additional water resulted in increased drainage.

Rhodes grass proved to be an efficient remover of N from effluent, and also prevented deep seepage and ground-water pollution.

Key Words: irrigation regime • pollution • seepage

¹ Contribution of the Inst. of Soils and Water, and Div. of Forage Crops and Range Manage., ARO, The Volcani Center, Bet Dagan, Israel.

² Soil Scientists, Inst. of Soils and Water, The Volcani Center.

³ Crop Physiologist, Div. of Forage Crops and Range Manage., The Volcani Center.

Received for publication March 16, 1981.