Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1
BS Students of Environmental HealthEngineering, Members of Student Research Committee, Sabzevar University of Medical Sciences, Sabzevar,Iran
2
BS Students of Environmental HealthEngineering, Members of Student Research Committee, Sabzevar University of Medical Sciences, Sabzevar,Iran.
3
Associate Professor,Environmental Health Engineering, Department of Environmental HealthEngineering, Faculty of Medical Sciences Sabzevar,Iran
Abstract
Background and Aims:The priority of wastewater reusein Iran is in theirrigation ofagriculturallands is. Water extraction from the wastewater is considered as one of the most important benefits of reusing of wastewater, especially in arid and semi-arid areas. Using of wastewater in agricultural fields brings about the reductioninfertilizercosts, promoting of the landfertility and increasing of the agricultural products. This study aimed to compare the sweet corn growth,irrigated with treated hospitalwastewater by Vetiver plants and reeds.
Materials and Methods: This study was apracticalstudyin a laboratory scale in which sweet corn growth, irrigated with treatedhospital wastewaterby Vetiver plantsand reeds using wetlandmethod,compared withthe ones irrigated withdrinking water. 3 pilot plants for sweet corn growth (with wastewaterirrigation) with the lengthof 100 cm, width of 50 cm and a height of 60 cm in a hydraulic retention time of 4 days and the soil containing a mixture of gravel, sand and clay were selected. The studywas performed over a period of three months. Durability,productivity and heightwere considered as the measures ofsweet corn growth.
Results: The results revealed that corn plants irrigated with treated wastewater by reeds and Vetiver wetland system showmore durability (in greenness and verdancy) compared with controlled plants, irrigated with drinking water.Furthermore, after 3 months of sweet corn irrigatedwith treated wastewater by Vetiver plantsshowedmore growth in terms of height, width, color, roots and leaves in comparison with sweet corn irrigated with treated wastewater byreeds.
Conclusion: The wastewater treated and purified by Vetiver System in terms of values and measures are close to the environmental protection agencystandards in Iran and consequently, this purification method can be proposed as a way ofirrigation in the agricultural fields
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