Potential use of graywater and brackish groundwater for cotton production
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Use of alternative sources, such as graywater and brackish groundwater for irrigation becomes more attractive as more natural fresh water resources are diverted for municipal, industrial and domestic uses. However, potential impacts of irrigation with these waters with elevated salinity on soil salinity and cotton performance needs to be evaluated before advocating their use on a large scale. This paper presents findings from a field experiment that was designed to assess the potential and feasibility of using graywater and brackish groundwater for irrigation of cotton. In this study treatments include irrigation supply with either graywater or brackish groundwater and soil conditioning with mulch. The results show that cotton plants irrigated with graywater grow about 5inches higher than those irrigated with brackish groundwater with no soil conditioning. However with soil conditioning cottons grew almost at the same rate regardless irrigation supply. For cotton irrigated with graywater in the plots with soil conditioning produced approximately 70% more lint than those with no soil conditioning. For cotton irrigated with brackish groundwater in the plots with soil conditioning produced 1.5 times higher lint than those without mulch conditioning. Soil salinity and sodicity were less than those of irrigation water supplies. The results show promising potential for graywater irrigation for cotton production. With mulch conditioning, brackish groundwater could be used more efficiently.
