Ahmed, A., Abd El-Wahed, M., Madbouly, S., Abdelgawad, Z. (2023). Effects of Untreated Wastewater Irrigation on Peanut (Arachis hypogea) Productivity and Human Health. Egyptian Journal of Botany, 63(1), 209-231. doi: 10.21608/ejbo.2022.124879.1931
Asmaa A. Ahmed; Mona N. Abd El-Wahed; Seliem M. Madbouly; Zinab Ahmed Abdelgawad. "Effects of Untreated Wastewater Irrigation on Peanut (Arachis hypogea) Productivity and Human Health". Egyptian Journal of Botany, 63, 1, 2023, 209-231. doi: 10.21608/ejbo.2022.124879.1931
Ahmed, A., Abd El-Wahed, M., Madbouly, S., Abdelgawad, Z. (2023). 'Effects of Untreated Wastewater Irrigation on Peanut (Arachis hypogea) Productivity and Human Health', Egyptian Journal of Botany, 63(1), pp. 209-231. doi: 10.21608/ejbo.2022.124879.1931
Ahmed, A., Abd El-Wahed, M., Madbouly, S., Abdelgawad, Z. Effects of Untreated Wastewater Irrigation on Peanut (Arachis hypogea) Productivity and Human Health. Egyptian Journal of Botany, 2023; 63(1): 209-231. doi: 10.21608/ejbo.2022.124879.1931
Effects of Untreated Wastewater Irrigation on Peanut (Arachis hypogea) Productivity and Human Health
1Botany Department, Faculty of Women for Arts, Science and Education, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt
2National Institute of Oceanography and fisher (NIOF), Egypt
3Botany Department, Women’s College, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt
Abstract
Wastewater irrigation is used by farmers when water becomes scarce. This work aims to study the effects of wastewater irrigation on the agrarian economy and human health. Irrigation water and soil samples were collected from the Shibin drain and the Al Sharqawia canal. The physicochemical features of the drainage water, canal water, polluted soil, and unpolluted soils were analyzed. The vegetative and productivity traits of peanut plants were evaluated including to their mineral nutrient content, primary metabolic products, and heavy metal content. Irrigation with wastewater resulted in lower pod, seed, and biomass productivity, with reductions of 50%, 52.5%, and 42.9% respectively. Chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b levels were also decreased but carotenoid levels were increased. Wastewater irrigation resulted in a decrease in carbohydrate content, crude protein, lipid, content crude energy, and growth energy, Heavy metal concentrations increased, specifically those of Fe, Mn, Zn, Co, Cu, Pb, and Cd. Peanut plants were found to accumulate heavy metals and store Zn, Mn, Cu, Pb, and Cd in their seeds, proving hazardous to human health. Irrigation with wastewater negatively impacts the general economy and human well-being; therefore, this study recommends the enactment of legislation that prohibits irrigation with untreated drainage and prevents the disposal of domestic, industrial, and agricultural wastewater into irrigation canals.