Abstract:
Milk and meat processing
industries release large quantities of nutrientrich
wastewater with organic compounds
(proteins, fats, carbohydrates) in high
concentrations. Reusing and recycling this
biodegradable wastewater for crop irrigation
could be a sustainable solution once the
phytotoxic effects of wastewater on crops
have been investigated. Therefore, the aim of
this study was to evaluate the effects of milk
and meat processing wastewaters on
germination percentage, seed vigour indices,
the seedling tolerance index and the
phytotoxicity index of pea (Pisum sativum
L.), sugar maize (Zea mays saccharata),
purslane (Portulaca oleracea), wheat
(Triticum aestivum) and red spinach
(Amaranthus dubius). The two wastewater
types were collected at the inlet of the city’s
sewage system and analysed to determine
their physicochemical and microbiological
characteristics. The seeds of all five plant
species were irrigated with untreated
wastewater effluents. The highest -
germination percentages were obtained for
wheat (92%) and the lowest for red spinach
(2.5%). Wheat, purslane, pea and red
spinach samples irrigated with meat
processing wastewater had higher
germination percentages than samples
irrigated with dairy wastewater. A higher
phytotoxicity was observed for sugar maize,
followed by red spinach irrigated with both
types of wastewater. Future investigation
into the effects of effluent dilution on these
types of plants is recommended.
