SEWER WATER COMPOSITION AND ITS EFFECT ON SOIL PROPERTIES

Raw sewer water samples were collected from various sewer disposal sir es in Haryana where these waters are directly used for irrigating the crops. The chemical composition of the sewer waters varied from sire t o sire. Available nutrients, total nutrients, soluble and total metal ions also differed between sites. Soil samples (0-15 cm) were also col lected fi om fields irrigated with these waters and from nearby fields irrigated with canal/well waters to determine the changes in soil pro perties due to sewage irrigation. The physicochemical properties, DTPA extractable and total macronutrients, micronutrients and toxic metal ions (Cd, Ni) varied according to the composition of the sewer water a nd duration of irrigation, but did not affect plant growth, so were in non-toxic concentrations. (C) 1998 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.