Impact of Urban Wastewater on Soil Properties and Lepidium sativum in an Arid Region

The reuse of wastewater for purposes such as agricultural irrigation can reduce the amount of water that needs to be extracted from environmental water sources. The aims of the study were the effects of municipal wastewater on soil properties and Lepidium sativum. Soil samples of 0 to 20 cm depth were taken from agricultural field in Isfahan (center of Iran). Lepidium sativum was transplanted in pots containing 7 kg of these soils. The experiment consisted of two treatments (with three replications) including soil irrigation with water (T1) and soil irrigation with wastewater (T2). After 30 days, samples were taken for testing. Soil properties such as electrical conductivity, organic matter, total nitrogen, sodium ions, chloride ions and heavy metals were measured. Morphological parameters of Lepidium sativum and accumulation of heavy metals in this plant were measured. The evidences provided by this experiment indicated that the application of wastewater caused an increase of EC, OM, TN, Cl, Na, Cr, Ni, Fe, Mn and Zn in soil. The irrigation with wastewater caused accumulation of heavy metals in Lepidium sativum. Accumulation of heavy metals in roots was important than in leaves. Results also showed that Lepidium sativum irrigated with wastewater caused an increase of root length and shoot length.