Assessment of diesel-contaminated domestic wastewater treated by constructed wetlands for irrigation of chillies grown in a greenhouse

Rawaa H.K. Al-Isawi, Miklas Scholz, Furat A.M. Al-Faraj

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

18 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

In order to avoid environmental pollution and eliminate the need for using fertiliser, this study assessed for the first time the optimum performance of mature (in operation since 2011) vertical flow constructed wetlands in treating domestic wastewater (with and without hydrocarbon) and the subsequent recycling of the outflow to irrigate chillies (De Cayenne; Capsicum annuum (Linnaeus) Longum Group ‘De Cayenne’) grown in a greenhouse. Various variables were investigated to assess the treatment performance. Concerning chilli fruit numbers, findings showed that the highest fruit yields for all wetland filters were associated with those that received inflow wastewater with a high loading rate, reflecting the high nutrient availability in treated wastewater, which is of obvious importance for yield production. Findings also indicated that wetlands without hydrocarbon, small aggregate size, low contact time and low inflow loading rate provided high marketable yields (expressed in economic return). In comparison, chillies irrigated by filters with hydrocarbon contamination, small aggregate size, high contact time and high loading rate also resulted in high marketable yields of chillies, which pointed out the role of high contact time and high inflow load for better diesel degradation rates.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)25003-25023
Number of pages21
JournalEnvironmental Science and Pollution Research
Volume23
Issue number24
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Dec 2016
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Agricultural water resources management
  • Capsicum annuum
  • Ecological sanitation
  • Environmental pollution
  • Hydrocarbon contamination
  • Nutrient and trace mineral control
  • Reed bed
  • Water reclamation

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Environmental Chemistry
  • Pollution
  • Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Assessment of diesel-contaminated domestic wastewater treated by constructed wetlands for irrigation of chillies grown in a greenhouse'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this