Back to Contents

FREE FULL TEXT PDF

IRRIGATION OF SORGHUM CROP WITH WASTE STABILIZATION POND EFFLUENT: GROWTH AND YIELD RESPONSES

MOAZZAM ALI KHAN, S. SHAHID SHAUKAT, OMME HANY AND SURIYA JABEEN

Abstract: The effect of treated wastewater and equivalent basal fertilizer on growth, yield and nutrient quality of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) was investigated under field conditions. Treated wastewater significantly increased plant height, stem thickness, number of grain/panicle, grain weight/panicle and 1000 grain weight of sorghum, while basal fertilizer only elevated grain weight/panicle compared to controls. Among the nutrient quality parameters only total sugar content was significantly increased by the treated wastewater over the controls. Other nutrient quality parameters including crude proteins, nitrogen free extract, ether extract and crude ash remained unchanged following the treatments. These results are discussed in the light of previous studies and the potential of wastewater resource in irrigated agriculture is discussed.

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