Abstract
The effects of irrigating banana plants in the field with secondary treated sewage effluent were examined, using plots watered with sprinklers and drippers at a site on the north coast of N.S.W. A total of 1030 mm of effluent was applied over 19 months during which rainfall totalled 3231 mm. Water budget calculations indicated that c. 57% of the irrigation applied would have been lost as profile overflow, and only c. 43% transpired. An 84 year water budget indicated that profile overflow could average 751 mm/year without irrigation, and 929 mm/year if irrigated according to a slightly drier schedule than used in this study. Compared to typical characteristics of secondary treated effluent, the material used in this study was towards the dilute extreme of the normal range, and failed to supply the plants' requirements for most nutrients. Soil sodium increased by up to 5 x on the effluent plots during the trial, and remained at double the control level at the end. Exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP) values reached 4% during the trial, and remained at 2.5% at the end. No other soil parameters were affected substantially. Size of mature banana plants and number of bunches produced were not measurably affected by irrigation with effluent. The only plant chemistry parameter affected was leaf lamina boron concentration, which increased by almost 100% at times during the trial, and remained significantly elevated at the end. A possible hazard from irrigating with the effluent used may be the displacement from the profile of other cations by sodium. A separate lysimeter trial is underway to check for such an effect. Heavy metal and trace element concentrations in the effluent were such that it could take between 270 and 5000 years to exceed recommended cumulative loading limits if effluent use was appropriate to crop water requirements.
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Claims 14
Claim · model-written summary
About 57% of irrigation was estimated lost to profile overflow.
Verbatim
e0“c. 57% of the irrigation applied would have been lost as profile overflow”
t0“Irrigation of bananas”
Claim · model-written summary
About 43% of irrigation was transpired.
Verbatim
e0“only c. 43% transpired”
t0“Irrigation of bananas”
Claim · model-written summary
The water budget estimated 751 mm/year overflow without irrigation.
Verbatim
e0“profile overflow could average 751 mm/year without irrigation, and 929 mm/year if irrigated according to a slightly drier schedule”
t0“Irrigation of bananas”
Claim · model-written summary
The water budget estimated 929 mm/year overflow with irrigation.
Verbatim
e0“profile overflow could average 751 mm/year without irrigation, and 929 mm/year if irrigated according to a slightly drier schedule”
t0“Irrigation of bananas”
Claim · model-written summary
The dilute effluent failed to meet most plant nutrient requirements.
Verbatim
e0“the material used in this study was towards the dilute extreme of the normal range, and failed to supply the plants' requirements for most nutrients”
t0“Irrigation of bananas”
Claim · model-written summary
Soil sodium increased by up to fivefold on effluent plots.
Verbatim
e0“Soil sodium increased by up to 5 x on the effluent plots during the trial, and remained at double the control level at the end.”
t0“Irrigation of bananas”
Claim · model-written summary
Soil sodium remained double control at the end.
Verbatim
e0“Soil sodium increased by up to 5 x on the effluent plots during the trial, and remained at double the control level at the end.”
t0“Irrigation of bananas”
Claim · model-written summary
Exchangeable sodium percentage reached 4%.
Verbatim
e0“Exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP) values reached 4% during the trial, and remained at 2.5% at the end.”
t0“Irrigation of bananas”
Claim · model-written summary
Exchangeable sodium percentage was 2.5% at the end.
Verbatim
e0“Exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP) values reached 4% during the trial, and remained at 2.5% at the end.”
t0“Irrigation of bananas”
Claim · model-written summary
Other soil parameters were not substantially affected.
Verbatim
e0“No other soil parameters were affected substantially.”
t0“Irrigation of bananas”
Claim · model-written summary
Effluent irrigation did not measurably affect mature plant size or bunch number.
- Taxon
- banana plantse0
- Treatment
- irrigation with effluente0
- Outcome
- Size of mature banana plants and number of bunches producede0
- Direction
- not measurably affectede0
Not reportedComparator
Verbatim
e0“Size of mature banana plants and number of bunches produced were not measurably affected by irrigation with effluent.”
Claim · model-written summary
Leaf lamina boron concentration rose almost 100% during the trial.
Verbatim
e0“leaf lamina boron concentration, which increased by almost 100% at times during the trial, and remained significantly elevated at the end.”
t0“Irrigation of bananas”
Claim · model-written summary
Leaf lamina boron remained significantly elevated at the end.
Verbatim
e0“leaf lamina boron concentration, which increased by almost 100% at times during the trial, and remained significantly elevated at the end.”
t0“Irrigation of bananas”
Claim · model-written summary
Effluent metal loading was estimated to take 270 to 5000 years to exceed limits.
Verbatim
e0“it could take between 270 and 5000 years to exceed recommended cumulative loading limits if effluent use was appropriate to crop water requirements.”
t0“Irrigation of bananas”
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