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Field comparison and crop production modeling of sweet corn and silage maize (Zea mays L.) with treated urban wastewater and freshwater

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Abstract

In Australia, interest in wastewater reuse has grown. While wastewater can potentially offer a nutrient advantage over conventional irrigation, crop yield increases may be offset by effects of high salinity. Effects of wastewater irrigation on crop production and soil health were investigated in two ways: a field experiment addressing short-term effects and modeling longer-term impacts. The field experiment was established at the Shepparton Wastewater Treatment Plant in Shepparton, Victoria, to compare effects of wastewater irrigation to conventional irrigation. Silage maize and sweet corn (Zea mays L.) were grown over the summer of 2012–2013 under the following flood irrigation treatments: wastewater and freshwater with and without fertilizer. Both harvests produced yields and qualities comparable to commercial farm standards, and no significant differences were found between water types. Maize production with long-term wastewater irrigation at various salinities was modeled, and no significant yield losses were observed after 50 years of simulated irrigation. Topsoil electroconductivity doubled after the field trial and simulation results predicted significant soil salt accumulation by factor of 2. Mean wastewater sodium absorption ratio of 4.52 and electroconductivity of 1.52 dS/m indicate potential for sodicity-related soil problems for long-term irrigation. Management of soil health may be necessary.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to acknowledge the administrative support and research assistance from Goulburn Valley Water staff, particularly Stuart Harris, Peter Jackson, and Darren Sharman; field research assistance from Sampath Ariyatilaka, Kristal Burry, Gerlinda Sharman, and Viviana Valencia Zuluaga; irrigation support from Matt Wishart at Water Plus Irrigation and Doug Walker at Doug Walker Irrigation Design; earthworks services from Joe Closter at JP Closter Earthmoving; agronomic services from Dave Landmeter and Les Mitchell at Agrisearch; crop advice from Doug Clark at Pioneer; harvest assistance from Keit Kuuskmann, Stephanie Lie, Gregory Morin, Sandra Remmelgas, and Sven Ueckermann; laboratory assistance from Najib Ahmedy, Xing Chen, Ben Grasso, Carmel Lancaster, Helen Suter, and Tony Weatherley at The University of Melbourne; and equipment donations from Billabong Garden Complex. The Chroma Meter was kindly supplied by the Victorian Department of Environment and Primary Industries, and we thank Christine Frisina, Simone Kreidl, and Glenn Hale for training us in its use and providing useful advice on the quantification of color measurement. Neil Huth and Justin Fainges from Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation gave crucial technical assistance and advice in the APSIM modeling. Funding for this study comes from Goulburn Valley Water, the Dookie 21 initiative, and Gaye and John Gaylard.

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  1. Department of Agriculture and Food Systems, Melbourne School of Land and Environment, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, 3008, Australia

    Hoi-Fei Mok, Kithsiri Bandara Dassanayake & Andrew J. Hamilton

  2. Statistical Consulting Centre, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, 3008, Australia

    Graham Hepworth

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  1. Hoi-Fei Mok
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Mok, HF., Dassanayake, K.B., Hepworth, G. et al. Field comparison and crop production modeling of sweet corn and silage maize (Zea mays L.) with treated urban wastewater and freshwater. Irrig Sci 32, 351–368 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00271-014-0434-4

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