The Response of Chickpea to Irrigation with Treated Waste Water

Abstract

In a three-year study, the response of four cultivars of chickpea, Bulgarit, WIR-32, Jordan and ICC 11293 to irrigation with TW (treated wastewater) and FW (freshwater), using surface and subsurface drip irrigation was investigated. Wastewater generated from Al-Quds university campus included black, grey and storm water was treated by small scale pilot plant. The wastewater pilot plant consists of tailored made secondary biological activated sludge process with daily capacity of 50 m3. The influent and effluent chemical and biological quality parameters were routinely monitored and analyzed. The data reveal that the average values for BOD, COD and EC for the effluent are 50 ppm, 136 ppm and 1.4 mS/cm over 2 years period. The results of chickpea growth parameters and the chemical and biological analysis of the seeds and leaves indicate that the cultivars Bulgarit and ICC 11293 can be irrigated with TW without any loss in yield and quality. Factor analysis reasonably favored Bulgarit Cultivar irrigated with treated effluent over other cultivars. WIR-32 and Jordan cultivars showed significant reduction in their growth parameters when irrigated with TW as compared with FW. Surface and subsurface drip irrigation gave similar results in most cases. Soil analysis in this study showed no significant difference between irrigation with TW and FW.