| Abstract: | ABSTRACT: The domestic sewage of the city of Beer-Sheva, Israel, which is located in an arid region, is treated in a series of facultative ponds. The treated effluent is stored temporarily in an open surface earthen reservoir (about 0.5 ± 106 m3 in volume) and then used for irrigation. The effluent is applied via sprinkler and trickle irrigation systems. The main crops irrigated are cotton, wheat, alfalfa, and corn. Total cotton yield is over 5500 kg/ha, and the wheat grain yield is over 7500 kg/ha. The amount of effluent applied is about 6500 m3/ha for cotton (including preplant irrigation), and the wheat receives about 4500 m3/ha via irrigation and an additional 2000 m3/ha from precipitation. Due to the nutrient content in the effluent, the above yields are obtained without any additional fertilization. |
