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ECONOMIC BENEFITS FROM IRRIGATION OF MAIZE WITH TREATED EFFLUENT OF WASTE STABILIZATION PONDS

MOAZZAM ALI KHAN¹, S. SHAHID SHAUKAT¹ AND M. ALTAF KHAN²

Abstract: Shortage of fresh water is worldwide, particularly in the tropics. Treated wastewater can be utilized in arid regions not only as irrigation water but also as a liquid fertilizer. This investigation examines the applicability of waste stabilization pond (WSP) technology to obtain safe irrigation water and also determines the influence of treated wastewater on the growth parameters of maize. Irrigation with wastewater that contained sufficient quantities of N (21.02 mg/l), P (3.49 mg/l) and K (6.66 mg/l) significantly increased plant height, fresh and dry weight of leaves, leaf area as well as crop yield. The advantages of the use of treated wastewater as irrigation water and liquid fertilizer are presented and discussed.

¹Institute of Environmental Studies, University of Karachi, Karachi-75270 Pakistan.

²Department of Botany, University of Karachi, Karachi-75270, Pakistan