Under the Patronage of the Secretary-Generalof the Ministry of Water & Irrigation

Regional Workshop on“Water Resources Management:

Needs & Prospects”

April 22 – 23, 2013Amman, Jordan

Water Resources Management :

Needs & ProspectsApril 22, Amman 0 Jordan

Munir RusanJordan University of

Science and TechnologyApril 22, 2013 –

Amman - Jordan

Sustainable Management of Treated Wastewater Irrigation

Time

Supply

Qu

an

tity

Demand

* Scarcity of water* Scarcity of water* Rate of supply < Rate of demand* Rate of supply < Rate of demand* Needs for new water resources* Needs for new water resources

Major Challenge Facing Agriculture Sector

Jordan is the fourth water poorest country in the World

Water scarcity is a regional & international problem

Agriculture sector is the main consumer Strong competition for water Least priority for Agric. Agric. Need to use untraditional resources (TWW, BW, SW, GW) TWW= Raw WW treated to certain level to meet guidelines for further reuse

Users of Water Resources:

Treated Wastewater (Jordan/2011) ≈ 80 MCM Account for ≈ 15 % IW

Treated Wastewater (Jordan by 2020) ≈ 200 MCMWater Consumption 2009, %

64%

39%

5% 1%

Agriculture Domestic Industrial Tourism

Benefits:

Conserves potable water

Safe & cheap disposal method

Pollution abatement

Economically attractive

Source of nutrients

Health & Env. Concerns

хSurface water utrophication

хGround water ontamination

хHeavy and toxic metals

хQuality of products

хPathogens & health hazards

хSoil salinization & nutrient imbalance in the soil

So TW

W ca

n't be m

anag

ed

as a

trad

ition

al IW

TWW is a source ofTWW is a source of1.1. Pollutants: In-organics and organicsPollutants: In-organics and organics2.2. PathogensPathogens3.3. SaltsSalts

4.4. WaterWater5.5. Beneficial organic compoundsBeneficial organic compounds

6.6. NutrientsNutrients1.1. Nutrients commonly imbalanced in TWWNutrients commonly imbalanced in TWW2.2. Nutrients can be in different forms (organic, inorganic, reduced, oxidized )Nutrients can be in different forms (organic, inorganic, reduced, oxidized )3.3. Excess of Zn, Cu, Fe will be harmful to plant before being harmful to Excess of Zn, Cu, Fe will be harmful to plant before being harmful to

animals and humansanimals and humans4.4. Excess of Cd and Ld, will show no toxic symptoms to plant, yet toxic to Excess of Cd and Ld, will show no toxic symptoms to plant, yet toxic to

animals and humansanimals and humans

So, there are benefits and concerns with WW reuse So, there are benefits and concerns with WW reuse

So TW

W sh

ould

be m

anag

ed

based

on n

utrien

ts co

ntent

Questions to be asked:Questions to be asked: Are TWW nutrients balanced ?Are TWW nutrients balanced ?Does the ratio fits the plant removal ? Does the ratio fits the plant removal ? Does the total quantity applied replenishes the removal of nutrient ?Does the total quantity applied replenishes the removal of nutrient ?

250 150 175

Nutrients Uptake by Crops Compared

to Nutrients Applied with TWW

------Nutrient-----A: (Input = Output) sustainable system

balanced system

B: (Input > Output) soil fertility increase imbalanced system

C: (Input < Output) nutrient depletion nutrient mining” imbalanced system B + C Soil degradation

Different scenarios for nutrient balance with WW irrigation

So, with TWW , we can't control inputs and outputs, but this can be achieved only with

mineral fertilizer & using organic sources as supplements

Can TWW be used as a fertilizer and irrigation water ?Can TWW be used as a fertilizer and irrigation water ?

Corn

cb

a a

c c

ba

0123456

PW PWF WW1 WW2

T p

er h

a

Grain wt

Stover wt

Vetch shoot wt

c

b

a

b

01122334

PW PWF WW1 WW2

T p

er h

a

JUST ResearchRusan & Ayadi, 2004

Plant Nutrients Uptake (kg/ha), Rusan & Ayadi, 2004

(PW=potable water; PWF=PW+fertilizer; WW1 and WW2 rates of wastewater application)

 TRTs PW PWF WW1 WW2

Corn:

N: Stover

Grain

P: Stover

Grain

K: Stover

Grain

 

19.8 c

41.9 b

3.30 b

6.07 b

25.5 b

5.0 b

 

20.2 c

43.3 b

4.92 b

6.10 b

30.0 b

6.1 b

 

 

35.30 b

69.30 a

10.85 a

14.23 a

110.9 a

11.9 a

 

 

46.1 a

76.9 a

14.3 a

15.7 a

123.8 a

15.2 a

 

Nutrient Balance+250 kg N with WW- 123 kg N crop uptake 127 kg accumulation

+150 kg P2O5- 30 kg P2O5 120 kg accumulation

+175 kg K2O- 139 kg K2O 36 kg accumulation

Crop Nutrient ImbalancesCrop Nutrient Imbalances

N P2O5 K 2ONitrogen Balance Corn/WW

N K 2OP2O5

Mismatch between WW nutrients and crop requirements

+P

+K

+K-N

=N

=P

Phosph. Balance Corn/WW

CdPb

Treatments

  PW PWF WW1 WW2

Fe: Stover

Grain

 Mn: Stover

Grain

 Zn: Stover

Grain

 Cu: Stover

Grain

386 b

136 b

259.1 b

18.18 b

211.1 b

67.58 b

21.32 b

24.32 b

470 b

156 b

283.1 b

18.29 b

250.3 b

73.17 b

25.27 b

27.17 b

1009 a

245 a

422.2 a

32.82 a

329.4 a

99.70 a

31.11 a

38.32 a

1081 a

254 a

451.5 a

35.70 a

324.3 a

110.0 a

31.48 a

40.74 a

Micronutrient uptake (g ha-1) by corn, Rusan et al., 2004(PW=potable water; PWF=PW+fertilizer; WW1 and WW2 rates of wastewater application

What is the source of the micronutrients/HMs ?Is it the SOIL or WW ?

M = Mn, Fe, Cd, Pb etc

CHELATE WW

Possible WW Effect on Bioavailability

LSD.05=8.5*103

0

20

40

60

80

100

0 20 40 60 80 100

Time after incubation, hours

Total

colifo

rm, C

FU/g

x1

03

LSD.05=0.48*103

01234567

0 50 100

Time after incubation, hours

Fae

cal c

olifor

m, C

FU

/g

x103

a

b

c c

b a

b a a aab

0

1

2

3

4

5

PW WW1 WW2

Tot

al a

nd fae

cal c

olifor

m,

CFU

/g x

103

TC at 0-5cm TC at 5-15cmFC at 0-5cm FC at 5-15cm

Soil EC, dS/m

0.00

0.50

1.00

1.50

2.00

2.50

PW PWF WW1 WW2

Treatments

EC

00-30 cm

30-60 cm

Survival of microorganism in soil

Accumulation of microorganism in soil

Malkawi & Rusan, 2004

How TWW irrigation can be managed sustainably and to produce good quality feed ?

Answer : TWW-Best Management Practices (BMPs)

Sustainable and Efficient System

SourceRate

Time

Place

Following the principles of the “4 R Nutrient Stewardship” that is to apply the right source, right rate, right time, and right place of nutrient application (which is the foundation of the BMPs and the assurance of the sustainability and efficiency of the system

WW is closely associated with WW is closely associated with goals/pillars of sustainabilitygoals/pillars of sustainability

Sustainable management of TWW reuse must support cropping systems that contribute to all three pillars, that is being economically feasible, socially acceptable and environmentally friendly this can be achieved by application the right S+R+T+P

WW Irrigation

CONCLUSIONS: TWW irrigation should be managed based on nutrient content

TWW can be used as a supplement source of nutrient

Adopting 4R Nutrient Stewardship enhances benefits of TWW and minimizes potential risks associated with TWW reuse

Sustainable management of TWW irrigation should leads to a sustainable system that is economically feasible, environmental sound and meets the needs of the society

Thanks for Thanks for your attentionyour attention

Right Source Right Source

WW composition greatly variesWW composition greatly varies

WW must be treatedWW must be treated

WW should contain no toxic substancesWW should contain no toxic substances

WW should supply nutrient available formsWW should supply nutrient available forms

WW should suit soil physical and chemical propertiesWW should suit soil physical and chemical properties

With WW, Target Yield need to be defined : Economically Max vs. Environmentally Max

X

X

X1 X2 X3 X4 Rate of growth factor

Critical Level

No response

Cro

p R

esp

onse

Toxicity

X

Econ. Max yieldEnv. Max yield

Right Rate To define the right rate, one needs to assess:Water requirement Plant nutrient demand WW nutrient content ratioIW requirement & Irrigation frequency Consider the EC of WW and LFAdjust rate by the crop coefficient (Kc) Define the Target yield

Biol. Max yield

High Response

Right TimeRight Time Match timing of crop uptakeMatch timing of crop uptake Assess dynamics of soil nutrient supplyAssess dynamics of soil nutrient supply Consider nutrient mobility in the soil and plantConsider nutrient mobility in the soil and plant Consider possible accumulation of certain nutrients in products Consider possible accumulation of certain nutrients in products Frequency of WW irrigation Frequency of WW irrigation Consider Kc of each growing stage : Consider Kc of each growing stage :

Initial Dev

elop

men

t Midseason Late-season

Time of season (days)

Kc

ETC = KC ETo

Initial Dev

elop

men

t Midseason Late-season

Time of season (days)

Kc

Right Place Right Place Recognize root-soil dynamics.Recognize root-soil dynamics. Limit potential off-field transport of nutrientsLimit potential off-field transport of nutrients Method of irrigationMethod of irrigation Soil physical and chemical conditions:Soil physical and chemical conditions:

Texture, Structure, Soil Cracking CEC, Slope, distance from Urban .. etc Texture, Structure, Soil Cracking CEC, Slope, distance from Urban .. etc