EFFECT OF WASTE-WATER IRRIGATION ON MINERAL-COMPOSITION OF CORN AND SORGHUM PLANTS IN A POT EXPERIMENT

Effect of wastewater irrigation was investigated on mineral compositio n of corn and sorghum plants in a pot experiment. The ranges for the c oncentration of different minerals in corn plants were 0.67-0.89% calc ium (Ca), 0.38-0.58% magnesium (Mg), 0.09-1.29% sodium (Na), 0.81-1.87 % nitrogen (N), 1.81-2.27% potassium (K), 0.12-0.16% phosphorus (P), 1 90-257 mg/kg iron (Fe), 3.5-5.6 mg/kg copper (Cu), 37.1-44.5 mg/kg man ganese (Mn), 21.6-33.6 mg/kg zinc (Zn), 1.40-1.84 mg/kg molydbenum (Mo ), 11.0-45.7 mg/kg lead (Pb), and 2.5-10.8 mg/kg nickel (Ni). Whereas for sorghum plants, the ranges were: 0.56-0.68% Ca, 0.19-0.32% Mg, 0.0 2-0.27% Na, 0.69-1.53% N, 1.40-1.89% K, 0.10-0.14% P, 190-320 mg/kg Fe , 3.8-6.0 mg/kg Cu, 29.2-37.6 mg/kg Mn, 21.1-29.9 mg/kg Zn, 2.2-3.7 mg /kg Mo, 12.3-59.0 mg/kg Pb, and 2.5-15.2 mg/kg Ni. Heavy metals such a s cobalt (Go) and cadmium (Cd) were below detection limits at mg/kg le vels. The concentrations of Ca, N, K, P, Cu, and Mn in corn plants wer e in the deficient range except for Mg, Fe, Zn, and Al. The concentrat ions of Ca, N, P, K, Cu, Mn, Mg, and Zn in sorghum plants were in the deficient range except for Fe and aluminum (Al). The analysis of regre ssion indicated a strong interaction between Pb, Ni, Ca, and Fe in cor n and sorghum plants. In conclusion, waste water irrigation did not in crease mineral concentrations of either macro- and micro-elements or h eavy trace metals in corn and sorghum plants to hazardous limits accor ding to the established standards and could be used safely for crop ir rigation.